What do students say about University of Louisville online classes? Almost all online learners have pleasant learning experiences at UofL. Based on various student reviews, University of Louisville online courses are very user friendly. As online learning is independent of time and location, learners don’t gather in a classroom. They can enjoy maximum flexibility in scheduling their classes.

Online learners also speak highly of UofL’s online course delivery system, Blackboard, allowing students to interact directly with instructors and classmates. Well, University of Louisville online learning has received superior rating among students. Are UofL online classes available to international students?

International students are hoping to find positive answers. However, differences exist between international and domestic students who’d like to take online classes at University of Louisville.

How to apply for admission?

International students’ application for admission is typically the same as domestic students’. The admission requirements usually depend on your specific degree program. Whether you’re domestic or international students, your application for admission will be rejected unless you meet the requirements. This is quite fair for international students.

However, there’re some extra admission requirements for international students who’re ready to be enrolled in an online degree program at the University of Louisville. Unlike domestic students, international students will have to pay a non-refundable fee as part of the online application. You cannot ask for a refund when your application is rejected.

As for some international students, English serves as their second language. These students must show evidence of sufficient proficiency in the English language when submitting applications. These students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

English proficiency will be demonstrated if you submit TOEFL scores of 213 or higher on the computer-based test, 79 or higher on the internet-based test, or 550 or higher on the paper-based test. In fact, the requirement on TOEFL scores is not that strict as you think. The requirement aims to ensure that your English language skills are up to the level demanded by your degree program.

NOT all students have to submit their TOEFL scores. Some applicants may be holding a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited college or university in the United States. They will be exempt from the TOEFL requirement. Of course, there’s no TOEFL requirement for domestic students.

University of Louisville also has special criterion for international applicants who’re applying for a graduate program. These students will be asked to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The required scores may vary with different degree programs. For example, if you’re earning a Master of Science degree in computer science, the general test score on the GRE must be of 1000 or more.

Are tuition rates the same?

The tuition rates for both international and domestic students are almost the same. If you do not enter the United States and take online courses only, undergraduate courses will cost $456.3 per credit hour. The tuition rates for graduate courses are $660.4 per credit hour.

The only difference is that international students have to pay an extra of $0.3 and $0.4 for undergraduate and graduate courses respectively. However, most international students do not qualify for federal financial aid. There’re some exceptions for sure.

In order to be eligible to receive any form of federal financial aid, an international student must have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Citizenship ad Immigration Services (USCIS) that shows one of the following designations:

• Refugee

• Asylum Granted

• Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending

• Conditional Entrant (issued before April 1, 1980)

• Victims of human trafficking, T-visa holder

Is it possible to transfer credit?

Many international students are eager to know the possibility of transferring credit earned at institutions outside of the United States. University of Louisville says yes to their request. Foreign students will need to submit a complete academic record to be reviewed for the awarding credit. It can be a part of the admission process.

What does a complete academic record include? If credit transfer is preferred, you must prepare all official transcripts of courses of study completed and degrees or certificates earned at the secondary or collegiate level.

University of Louisville requires all foreign students applying for undergraduate programs to submit all official transcripts of records from schools attended, including secondary schools, colleges, universities or professional schools.

For students applying for admission to a graduate program, secondary school records are usually not needed. But you must provide official transcripts of all credit earned since secondary schools. If your academic credentials are not in English, a notarized verbatim English translation is required together with official transcripts.

Many undergraduate applicants have attended post-secondary schools, colleges, universities or professional schools outside the United States. These foreign students will be asked to submit their academic records to the World Education Services or Educational Credentials Evaluators for a “course-by-course evaluation”.

After successful evaluation, you’ll be able to transfer credit earned before to your current degree program. Many students may be surprised that they have to prepare so many documents to transfer credit. All the efforts are worth it in regardless of the fact that the whole process seems to be a bit complicated.

Are online courses offered for foreign students with F or J visa?

A lot of foreign students are completing their degree programs totally online from outside the United States. University of Louisville allows these students to take as many online courses as they’d like for academic credit toward their degree. However, restrictions apply to non-immigrant F or J visa holders.

Many online courses do not require physical attendances or examination toward completion of the classes. University of Louisville offers many of these online courses and other forms of distance education courses. However, non-immigrant F or J visa holders cannot take more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per semester.

If you’re an F-1visa holder enrolled in a language program, any of your online or distance education classes won’t be counted toward classroom hours or credit. For F or J visa holders in the last semester, they are not permitted to enroll in an online course or other forms of distance education even when only one course is required toward the completion of the degree program.

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