Applicants are classified as international if they are not United States citizens, do not hold dual citizenship (U.S. and another country), are not permanent residents, and if they are applying for an F-1 student visa or a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa (exchange visitors are classified as either scholar or student). International students must meet University admission requirements and admission criteria for the program to which they apply and satisfy the following:

1. International students must have all credentials and admission information submitted to Graduate Studies prior to the published deadline on the Graduate Studies website for international students.
2. An international applicant must be academically eligible for admission to the program at the level of entrance requested by the applicant.  An international student must demonstrate the required level of academic preparation as evidenced by official copies of any academic records needed to ascertain the comparability of the level and quality of the student's previous education and achievement to that program required for other students.  Credit earned from institutions outside the U.S.A. must be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by World Education Services, Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., or any other evaluation company approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).  The applicant pays for this service and is responsible for contacting the evaluating agency directly and ensuring that an unopened, official copy of the academic credentials are submitted to FGCU by the application deadline. 
3. International students currently attending any institution in the United States must submit an FGCU International Student Visa Clearance Transfer Form to be completed by the current school the student attends.  The school official must designate Florida Gulf Coast University as the "transfer to" institution and must confirm the student's status as an F or J visa holder.
4. Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency in accordance with University policy, and will be required to submit acceptable TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores unless the country of origin uses English as the official language. A minimum score of  213 is required on the computerized TOEFL, 79 Internet-based TOEFL, and 550 on the paper based TOEFL. With the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies or assigned designee, and the appropriate dean, applicants may furnish satisfactory evidence of English competency in lieu of the TOEFL. Examples of satisfactory evidence include, but are not limited to, completion of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System, (www.IELTS.org) with a minimum score of 6.5: completion of English Composition I and English Composition II (ENC 1101 and ENC 1102, or equivalent) with a grade of C or higher; and/or a minimum of 60 credits satisfactorily completed at an accredited institution of higher education where all courses are taught in English. For information on the TOEFL, contact TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08541, USA. The University’s institutional code for the transmittal of the TOEFL is #5125. Official test scores must be submitted to Graduate Studies by the deadline for the specific entry term. 
5. In order for the University to issue a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or a DS 2019) to an international applicant, the applicant must file a Confidential Financial Statement from the applicant's financial institution confirming the availability of sufficient resources to cover tuition, fees, books, room and board, health insurance, and other living expenses while enrolled at the University.
6. Each international applicant determined to be academically and financially eligible for admission must submit a health history form including proof of immunizations, as required by the University, prior to enrollment.
7. For a J-1 student, the Confidential Financial Statement must document that the applicant is directly or indirectly financed by the U.S. Government, the government of his/her home country, or an international organization of which the U.S. is a member (by treaty or statute); or that he/she is substantially supported by funding from any source other than personal or family funds.
8. No international student in F or J non-immigrant status shall be permitted to register or continue enrollment without demonstrating that he/she has adequate medical insurance coverage for illness and accidental injury and which meets the following minimum requirements:
   1. Coverage Period: Policies must provide, at a minimum, continuous coverage for the entire period the insured is enrolled as an eligible student, including annual breaks during that period.  Payment of benefits must be renewable.
   2. Basic Benefits: room, board, hospital services, physician fees, surgeon fees, ambulance, outpatient services, and outpatient customary fees must be paid at 80% or more of usual, customary, and reasonable charge per accident of illness, after deductible is met, for in-network, and 70% of more of usual, customary, and reasonable charge for out-of-network providers per accident or illness.
   3. Inpatient Mental Health Care: Must be paid at 80% in-network or 60% out-of-network of the usual and customary fees with a minimum of 30-day cap (40 preferably) sessions per year.
   4. Outpatient Mental Health Care: must be paid at 80% in-network or 60% out-of-network of the usual and customary fees for a minimum of 30 (preferably 40) sessions per year.
   5. Maternity Benefits: must be treated as any other temporary medical condition and paid at no less than 80% of usual and customary fees in-network or 60% out-of-network.
   6. Inpatient/Outpatient Prescription Medication: Must include coverage of $1000 or more per policy year.
   7. Repatriation: $10,000
   8. Medical Evacuation: $25,000
   9. Exclusion for Pre-Existing Conditions: First six months of policy period, at most.
   10. Deductible: Maximum of $50 per occurrence if treatment or services are rendered at the Student Health Center, maximum of $100 per occurrence if treatment or services are rendered at an off-campus ambulatory care or hospital emergency department facility.
   11. Minimum Coverage: $200,000 for covered injuries/illnesses per policy year.
   12. Insurance Carrier must, at a minimum, meet the rating requirements specified in Part 62.14(c)(1) of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
   13. Policy must not unreasonably exclude coverage for perils inherent to the student's program of study.
   14. Claims must be paid in U.S. dollars payable on a U.S. financial institution.
   15. Policy provisions must be available from the insurer in English.
9. International students are subject to the same University policies and procedures that apply to all students, such as admission, enrollment, immunization, etc. Additionally, international students are obligated to follow and comply with the laws and regulations set by the U.S. Department of State, The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Application deadlines for international students:

• If currently outside the United States:
  Fall Semester                   May 1
  Spring Semester              September 15
  
• If currently in the United States:
  Fall Semester                  June 1
  Spring Semester             October 15
  
• Please note that program deadlines supersede these deadlines when the program deadline is earlier in the year.

* FGCU is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students.