Educational Background
Application Deadlines
International Baccalaureate
Transfer of Credits
Application Requirements
Transcript/Grade Sheets
English Language Requirements
Certification of Finances
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Letter of Recommendation
Portfolio and Audition Requirements
Visas
Health and Accident Insurance
Wire Transfer of Funds
Support Services
About Philadelphia
Regional Attractions
Housing
Climate
Traveling to Campus
Resources
Educational Background
Students wishing to enter an undergraduate (bachelor’s degree) program at The University of the Arts must have completed all of their country’s primary and secondary school requirements. To enter a graduate program, students need to have completed a full course of higher education and have earned the first academic or professional degree.
Application Deadlines
Due to lengthy procedures needed to receive and evaluate credentials from other countries, international students are advised to apply well in advance of their desired date of admission.
Students may apply for admission in the fall term (September through December) or spring term (January through May) to all undergraduate departments except Theater Arts, Writing for Film and Television and Industrial Design, which generally accept students only in the fall. The deadlines for priority consideration of undergraduate applications are April 1 for fall admission and November 1 for spring admission.
International Baccalaureate
The University of the Arts recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) and awards 6 credits toward its humanities requirements for a score of 4 or better in an HL (High Level) IB examination and 3 credits for a score of 4 or better in an SL (Subsidiary Level) IB examination. Credit is not awarded in Studio Art.
Transfer of Credits
International students who wish to be considered for advanced standing and receive transfer credit for university level coursework already completed should submit a Comprehensive Course-by-Course report from World Education Services (WES). It is the applicant's responsibility to contract with WES directly for this service. Instructions and application for foreign credentials evaluation can be obtained directly from:
World Education Services
Bowling Green Station
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087
Telephone: 1.212.966.6311
Fax: 1.212.739.6100
http://www.wes.org/
Application Requirements
Application for Admission
Fill out the application form completely, in English, and mail it with the $75 application fee to the address below. Please submit the application fee in the form of a check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank payable to The University of the Arts. Mailing Address: Office of Admission, University of the Arts, 320 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USA
Transcript/Grade Sheets
All International applicants must provide a complete, notarized transcript from every school attended on the high school /secondary and post-secondary level. Transcripts are official documents that must be signed by the authority in each school you have attended.
English Language Requirements
International students whose native language is not English must submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A TOEFL score of 550 paper-based/ 213 computer-based/ 79 internet-based or an IELTS score of 6.0 and above is required for all admission.
In lieu of TOEFL scores for undergraduate applicants, the University will accept as proof of competency in English the successful completion of Level 112 in the English language program offered by any of the more than 20 ELS Language Centers located throughout the United States. Information about ELS Language Centers can be obtained directly from:
ELS Language Centers
400 Alexander Park
Princeton NJ 08540-6306
1.609.750.3500
http://www.els.com/
info@els.com
Certification of Finances
The University requires that all international applicants submit proof of sufficient available funds to cover all of your educational and personal expenses while studying at The University of the Arts. This will be referred to as your Certification of Finances. A Certification of Finances form will be sent to you upon receipt of your application. This form must be completed in English and notarized by your bank official.
This statement must declare the availability of U.S. $45,000 to cover the costs of one year of education and personal expenses. The I-20 form cannot be issued without a valid Certification of Finances.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
International students may be considered for merit-based scholarships covering partial tuition costs. Need-based financial aid, however, is not available, and on-campus jobs are extremely difficult to obtain. It is therefore very important to plan your expenses carefully. The U.S. Government prohibits off-campus work during the first nine months of an F-1 student visa. After that you may apply for jobs that are directly relevant to your studies. Keep in mind that these opportunities are rare and should not be calculated into your budget.
Letter of Recommendation
You are required to submit at least one letter of recommendation from an instructor with whom you have worked in an artistic capacity. Letters written in languages other than English must be translated by a certified translator. Both the original and the certified translation must be included in the application.
Portfolio and Audition Requirements
International students must satisfy the same portfolio and audition requirements as all other applicants. Click here for detailed information on these requirements.
Visas
The University of the Arts Office of Admission notifies students of their acceptance to the University by sending them a written offer of admission. To accept this offer, you should return the letter and all required documents and necessary deposits to The University of the Arts. The University will then send you a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20AB). You must take the Form I-20AB along with financial documentation to the United States Consulate in your country in order to obtain an F-1 Student Visa, which will be issued for the length of your program at UArts; the I-20 form cannot be issued without a valid Certification of Finances.
It is very important to obtain the F-1 Visa before you leave your home country. Once you are in the United States, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)makes it difficult to convert a Visitor’s Visa to an F-1 Visa. In the event that you must enter the country on a Visitor’s Visa, have "Prospective Student" stamped on the visa page.
Transfer students must inform the USCIS of a change in educational institutions. To do this, you can use UArts' I-20AB form to re-enter the country (as long as your visa is valid) or you can bring the I-20AB to the UArts International Student Office.
The University of the Arts is required by law to cooperate with the United States Department of Justice and the USCIS regarding rules and regulations governing foreign students. The University’s International Student Advisor will counsel you on immigration regulations.
Health and Accident Insurance
All international students are required to secure health and accident insurance coverage, in case of illness or injury. Your parents or guardians may already have an insurance policy that is valid in any country, including the United States, or you can check with the United States Information Agency (USIA), which will be able to provide you with policy options.
In the event of a minor illness or accident, The University has an on-campus registered nurse as well as a contractual agreement with Jefferson Family Medicine Associates (JFMA), located at 1100 Walnut Street, a short walk from campus. These doctors may be seen by appointment for a limited number of times at no charge; fees will be charged for any necessary X-rays or laboratory work.
Wire Transfer of Funds
The most convenient method for international students to pay their expenses is through wire transfer. When wiring funds to the University, be sure that your name and social security or system identification number is referenced on the transaction. This will ensure that the funds are posted to the correct account. Contact the Office of Admission if you need your system identification number.
To complete the transaction, your bank will need the following information:
Commerce Bank
C/O The University of the Arts
ABA Number: 031201360
Account Number: 361230956
Swift Code# CBNAUS33
Support Services
The University of the Arts is proud of its international population. In an effort to meet the special needs of the international student, the University has developed a network of personnel and offices to provide specialized services to students from abroad.
These services are coordinated through the International Advisor, whose goal is to help students from abroad adjust to life in the United States. In addition to serving as a student liaison and advocate, the International Advisor assists students in securing the services they need. The Advisor is available to answer questions about visa and travel, cross-cultural understanding, and other aspects of daily life.
UArts offers a one-week orientation session that helps students acquaint themselves with Philadelphia, the campus, and other international students. Other programs for international students include ESL tutorial assistance and Immigration Service advisement.
About Philadelphia
The United States' sixth largest city, Philadelphia is also one of its most historically and culturally significant. Its highlights include sites that played a central role in the nation’s founding and that continue to attract visitors from around the world, as well as landmarks in the life of the arts. These include The Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which is home to the Philadelphia Orchestra; and the Academy of Music, the main stage for the Pennsylvania Ballet.
The University of the Arts is located near the center of Philadelphia, in a neighborhood called the Avenue of the Arts. Numerous galleries, American and international restaurants, cafes and bars, and independent theaters, cinemas and venues for music and dance lie within easy walking distance.
Regional Attractions
UArts is not only at the heart of all that Philadelphia has to offer, but also at the center of the eastern seaboard of the United States. A 90-minute train ride north or south will take you to New York City or Washington, D.C. The Pennsylvania countryside features some of the most beautiful vistas on the East Coast. The Pocono mountains, which offer skiing and hiking, can be reached in two hours; the ocean beaches of the New Jersey shore, in an hour-and-a-half or less.
Housing
The University of the Arts offers undergraduate students on-campus housing in apartment-style dormitories with a kitchen and, in some cases, a sitting area. Laundry facilities are provided on the premises and a residential advisor staffs each floor. Though UArts provides help in finding off-campus housing, undergraduate students are advised to live on campus for their first year.
Climate
Philadelphia’s moderate climate ranges from a high of 38º C in July and August, to a low of -10º C in January and February. Most winters include a few snowfalls. You'll need a warm winter coat, a raincoat or umbrella, and some lightweight cottons or linens for the heat of summer.
Traveling to Campus
If you are traveling by air, fly into Philadelphia International Airport. A taxi from the airport will cost about $27 plus tip. You may also take the SEPTA train to Center City from the airport, which runs every half-hour. Take the train to Suburban Station, exit the station at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard, and walk south on 16th Street until you reach Pine Street. Then turn left and walk two blocks to Hamilton Hall, the University’s main building.
If you're coming to UArts by train, take a taxi from Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station to the UArts campus (about $10).
Philadelphia’s Greyhound bus station is at 10th and Arch Streets. A taxi from the station to the UArts campus will cost about $8 plus tip. You can also walk from the station. Walk six blocks south on 10th Street to Pine Street. Then turn right on Pine St. and walk five blocks west until you reach Broad Street and Hamilton Hall.
Resources
EduPASS - The SmartStudent Guide to Studying in the USA
ELS Language Centers
World Education Services
Test of English as a Foreign Language
International Education Finance Corporation
Directions
Privacy Policy
Site Map
©2008 The University of the Arts
320 South Broad Street • Philadelphia, PA 19102