Information for International Students (Computer Science Applicants)
UofSA welcomes international students from all over the world! We will make every effort to assist you during the application, evaluation, immigration, and enrollment processes.
UofSA has filed a Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Department of Homeland Security) and is awaiting the adjudication of the petition. Once the approval is authorized, UofSA will be able to issue I-20 SEVIS forms to all eligible international applicants seeking F-1 visa status. This includes international students coming from outside the U.S. and those who are already in the U.S. attending other SEVP-approved schools but wish to transfer to UofSA.
Below we detail requirements for international students. We also strongly encourage you to visit https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov website to understand the United States Government’s guidance for international students.
Attendance Requirements for International Students
All international students will be required to attend the program as full-time students. For the purpose of maintaining the F-1 status, this would entail enrolling in a minimum of 3 courses of 3 credits each (9 credits) for each regular semester (Fall and Spring). A student needing more time to complete a thesis requirement beyond the regular program length of two years, will need to enroll in at least 3 units (3 credit hours) during the continuation phase.
International Application Process:
To begin the international application process, the materials listed below must be submitted to the UofSA Admissions Office via our online application portal at the time of your online application submission. Please note that GRE is not required for admission into any of our programs.
Required International Admission Application Materials:
• A completed application / Application fee
• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate course work
• Undergraduate degree in computer science or related field, along with a grade point average of 3.0
• Two letters of recommendation from those familiar with the student on a professional basis
• TOEFL (If applicable) An applicant must pass with a score of 497 or better for the paper-based test, or 60 or better the Internet test.
You will also need to upload your passport details and scan your passport biographical page with your photo in it.
English Language Proficiency:
To provide evidence of English Language Proficiency in the classroom, international students must submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) test scores as required above. Exemptions may be made for applicants who have studied in English speaking countries, countries where English is an official language, or where the government requires 11 years of mandatory English instruction (Norway, for example, and other countries in Scandinavia), at the discretion of the specific graduate program.
Countries Where English is an Official Language
If you are a citizen and have completed secondary school in one of these countries you may be admitted for graduate study at UofSA without presenting additional evidence of English proficiency:
Botswana, Gambia,Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
English-Speaking Countries, Commonwealths, and Territories:
We recognize the following countries as predominantly native-English speaking. For applicants who are citizens of these countries and/or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s degree, or one or two years or more of study (please see the school or college to which you are applying), no further evidence of English proficiency is required.
American Samoa
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Canada
Dominica
Grand Cayman Islands
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
Mariana Islands
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Montserrat
New Zealand
Palau
Saint Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
South Africa
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales
United States of America (except Puerto Rico)
Please note: The University reserves the right to request additional English proficiency exams from any applicant based on the entirety of the application review; or, if the applicant’s proficiency in English should prove inadequate after admission to a program.
International Graduate Financial Requirements
In your online application account, please upload proof of funds (bank statements, bank letter, scholarship letter) in the section for Certification of Finances. Proof of funding is required in order for your application to be reviewed for admission.
Certification of Finance – for F1 Student Visas
All international students seeking an F1 student visa are required by the U.S. government to submit a Certification of Finance (COF), also called “Proof of Funds”, so that UofSA can issue an I-20 form to you upon admission. The I-20 is needed to schedule a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The COF is evidence that you have sufficient funds to pay for tuition and living expenses for the first year of graduate studies at USoFA.
In your application account, please upload your COF documents (bank statements, bank letter, scholarship letter) in the ‘International Applicant Requirements’ section.
Proof of Funding Details
Bank statement or Bank letter with the account holder’s name, currency type and account type in English should be uploaded. The document must be dated within 12 months of your program start date, and should show the minimum (or higher) amount required for the first year of studies in your program.
Estimated Total Expenses for a First Year Student starting the program in Spring 2023
Tuition $27,000.00 ($13,500 per year)
Application Fee $25.00 This fee is Non-Refundable. (One time for New Students)
Registration Fee $75.00 This fee is Non-Refundable for the program, (One time for New Students)
Living Expenses (rent for shared housing, utility, food at home, health insurance) $18,000
Other Expenses (books, transit pass, eating out, entertainment, etc.) $1,402 ($2,804 for two years)
Estimated First Year Total Expenses for 2023 $33,002
Dependents – If you have dependents who will need an F-2 visa, please provide additional proof of funding to cover their expenses. If you are awarded a scholarship that includes funding for your dependents, they will need to be listed on the scholarship letter.
For a 9-month program add an additional $5,400 per dependent adult. For a 12-month program include an additional $7,200 per dependent adult. Child dependents require an additional $400 for each month of the first year of your studies ($3600 for a 9-month program and $4800 for a 12-month program).
Valid account types include checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, certificates of deposit (CDs), money market accounts and cash in investment accounts. U.S.-based salary pay stubs are accepted to cover living and other expenses. Funds in stocks/investments, bonds, lines of credit, real property or statements of income are not accepted.
Scholarship letters are also accepted from governments and other organizations. The letter must be in English and indicate the amount of funds awarded.
Sponsors – If you have a sponsor, they must provide a signed statement that says: “I agree to financially support [your name] during your graduate studies at UofSA” for you to upload. Their name and signature on the letter must be in English characters with the date. Upload this letter to the application in the Certification of Finances section, along with their bank documents.
Estimated Cost of the Program including tuition, fees, and living expenses:
The following are estimated cost of the program:
Tuition $27,000.00
Application Fee $25.00 This fee is Non-Refundable. (One time for New Students)
Registration Fee $75.00 This fee is Non-Refundable for the program, (One time for New Students)
Living Expenses (rent for shared housing, utility, food at home, health insurance) for two years (the regular length of the program) $36,000.00
Other Expenses (books, transit pass, eating out, entertainment, etc.) $2,804.00
Estimated Two Year Total Expenses $65,904.00
Dependents – If you have dependents who will need an F-2 visa, please provide additional proof of funding to cover their expenses. If you are awarded a scholarship that includes funding for your dependents, they will need to be listed on the scholarship letter.
For a 9-month program add an additional $5,400 per dependent adult. For a 12-month program include an additional $7,200 per dependent adult. Child dependents require an additional $400 for each month of the first year of your studies ($3600 for a 9-month program and $4800 for a 12-month program).
Employment while being a student on an F-1 Visa
According to the Department of Homeland Security (https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov), an international student on an F-1 visa can work during or after study with permission. According to the Department of Homeland Security, an international student on an F-1 visa can participate in four types of work:
⦁ On-Campus
⦁ Off-Campus if there is a demonstrable economic hardship
⦁ Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
⦁ Optional Practical Training (OPT).
On-Campus Employment
All F-1 degree seeking students may work on campus without prior approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Eligible F-1 students should take the following steps in seeking on-campus employment:
-Search for a job on campus, and get a job offer.
-Complete USCIS Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, according to the instructions found online. Once you have completed section 1 of the form, take your form and supporting documents to the Student Support Services. This step must be complete before you begin working.
-Obtain a Work Clearance form at Student Employment and give it to your on-campus supervisor.
-Have your employer complete the Student Employment Confirmation Letter
-Submit an on-campus employment request so an advisor can sign it. Once you have downloaded the completed form, you are ready to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN).