International Students

With students from over 26 different countries, Wheeling University is a global community where diversity is celebrated and students from all faiths, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds call campus home. WU provides an environment of safety and support for our students as they transition to a new country, and our faculty strives to help prepare them to be men and women for others. Questions about admissions requirements, documentation, travel, and more can be answered here. Request information to learn more, and we look forward to welcoming you to Wheeling!

Admissions Requirements

Wheeling University welcomes applicants from around the world. General admission requirements are:

International Freshman Requirements

1. Fill out a free application below.
2. Official secondary school transcript or national exams with certified English translations
3. Certification of proficiency in English as a second language through a TOEFL, IELTS, DET, SAT, ACT or PTE Academic exam
4. Secondary school GPA of 2.75
5. If English is your native language, WU requires a 940 SAT or higher (verbal and math) or an ACT composite score of 20 or above
6. If English is not your native language, WU can accept a TOEFL, IELTS or DET in lieu of the SAT or ACT. Wheeling University requires a TOEFL score of 80 iBT, 213 on the computer-based test, or 550 on the paper-based test. WU also accepts an IELTS score of a 6 or higher, or a score of at least 105 on the DET or a score of 53 or higher on the PTE Academic.

International Transfer Requirements

1. If you attended any post-secondary institution in the U.S., provide official transcripts directly from each institution attended
2. If you attended any post-secondary institution outside the U.S., you must:
   
   • Have your transcripts evaluated by a World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ece.org) and sent directly to Wheeling University
   • Provide a TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, or ACT or DET score report if your native language is not English

Immigration Documents

International student who are accepted to Wheeling University need to obtain immigration documents in order to study in the United States. You will need to complete the following steps:

1. Get an I-20 Form: To obtain an I-20 form, you must provide evidence of financial support of one academic year, a copy of the identification page of your passport, and your $200 tuition deposit to Wheeling University.
   
2. Arrange the Shipment of Your I-20 Form: Wheeling University has contracted with eShipGlobal to arrange the shipment of your I-20. You will need to follow these instructions below to receive your original I-20:
   
   • Register and activate your account through eShipGlobal
   • Click the “Receive” option.
   • Type “Wheeling” in the search box, or select it from the drop down list.
   • Select “Wheeling University” and then “Continue.”
   • Select Enrollment and then “Continue.”
   • Complete the shipping form using your student ID number. Select “Ship/Quote.”
   • On the confirmation page, check your shipment details.
   • On the same page, complete the credit card information form.
   • Select “Confirm” to advance to the shipment summary page.
   • Wheeling University will automatically be notified by eShipGlobal that you have requested your documents via express mail. You can track your shipment using the tracking number provided.
   • Receive your documents in 3-5 business days from the date of mailing
     
3. Pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS): All international students must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. You can pay the fee online at fmjfee.com.
   
4. Apply for an F-1 Student Visa: All students, besides citizens of visa-exempt countries, need to apply for an F-1 student visa. STUDY IN THE STATES, an official website by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, provides thorough information on studying in the U.S. and how to APPLY FOR A STUDENT VISA. Please refer to this website for guidance and instructions.
   
   *Incoming students are responsible for the costs associated with obtaining their I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee, and student visa fees.

International Student Orientation

Wheeling University hosts a new student orientation specifically for international students. You must attend this orientation, especially if you have not registered yourself in SEVIS when you arrived on campus. Please review to the following links for the International New Student Guide, International Student Handbook, and the Pre-Departure Orientation before arriving to campus and attending the International Student Orientation.

• International New Student Guide
• International Student Handbook
• Pre-Departure Orientation