International Students
General Information for International Students
For admission purposes we consider an international applicant to be anyone who does not hold U.S. citizenship status, regardless of his or her legal status or location of residence. Students who are not U.S. citizens should apply as an “international student”.
Basic Requirements for All Programs
Middle and high school students from any country can enroll in any credit bearing and/or summer non-credit program(s)* if they meet the following basic requirements:
- Be in the age group required for the program of interest
- Have an English proficiency equivalent to 79 TOEFL iBT (See “Language Proficiency” section for other accepted scores)**
*Credit bearing programs such as Summer College, UM High School, and Jumpstart have additional admission requirements that international students must meet.
**Students applying to any Intensive English Program are not required to meet the English proficiency requirements.
Language Proficiency Requirements
To be able to participate in any of our programs, a student must present ONE of the following:
| Tests scores | Language Verification Form | Language Exemption |
|---|---|---|
|
A language instructor, college counselor or the institution director can complete and submit the language verification form. |
Applicants who are citizens of, or who have earned a diploma (elementary, junior high, middle school) from, or are currently studying in the following countries are exempt: American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada (Except Quebec), Dominica, Grenada, Grand Cayman, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Malta, Monserrat, New Zealand, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Trinidad/Tobago, Turks and Caicos Island, United Kingdom, U.K. Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands. |
Non-Credit Summer Programs
A list of one-week and non-credit opportunities can be found at the high school or middle school web sites. Program applications can be accessed by clicking “Register” on the selected program web page.
Application Process
A list of one-week and non-credit opportunities can be found at the high school or middle school web sites. Program applications can be accessed by clicking “Register” on the selected program web page.
In addition to the program application, international students must submit the following documents to our secure upload site:
- A copy of the student’s passport (biographical page only)
- A copy of the student’s current visa
- A copy of any accepted language proficiency examination (listed above) or language proficiency form
- A copy of an international health insurance card (if available at the time of application)*
- A medical form with accompanying documents
* Due to the high cost of medical care in the United States, we strongly recommend that all students purchase health insurance for the week(s) the student will be on campus. All students must carry their insurance card in case of a medical emergency.
Medical Information
The university makes health decisions regarding COVID-19 based on CDC recommendations. Please visit the University’s COVID-19 Protocol webpage for the most up-to-date health recommendations or contact precollegeintl@olemiss.edu for more information.
Visa Information
Students applying to non-credit programs can attend under a B1 tourist visa or any other visa the student holds at the moment. The Office of Pre-College Programs will provide an acceptance letter to the program that can be used to apply for a tourist visa; however, the university does not have control over the Embassy’s decision to grant the visa.
Credit Summer Programs
Please visit each program’s website to learn about specific admission criteria (Note: Some programs are offered to Mississippi residents and/or U.S citizens only).
Application Process
Please visit the website for the program you are interested in to learn about the application process.
Visa Information
Immigration laws require all international students enrolled in credit courses that meet or exceed 18 hours of in-class work (full-time student) to enter the United States under an F-1 student visa.
Applicants to any summer credit-bearing programs (i.e. Summer College, Lott Leadership Institute or UM Summer Language Institute) must obtain a student visa. Students registered for summer credit-bearing programs are not allowed to attend on a tourist visa.
Note: If an international applicant is residing and attending school in the United States, this applicant does not require a new visa to attend.
How to obtain an F1 student visa
The Office of International Students and Scholar Services will issue the proper legal document after the applicant has been admitted to the program. This legal document, known as Form I-20 in support of the F-1 visa application will be sent to the applicant. This form and admission letters must be taken to the local U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for a visa.
Note: While we provide tips to help international students prepare for a successful visa interview, whether or not a visa is issued is solely between the U.S. Consular Officer and the student.
Canadian Citizens are not required to obtain an F-1 student visa to enter the United States; however, you will need to pay your SEVIS fee and present the receipt and I-20 at the U.S.-Canada land border or airport of entry to the country and make sure you are admitted as an F-1 student.
Important note: Obtaining a visa can take a long time due to US embassies around the world being backlogged. We strongly suggest completing the application process by the date listed on each program’s website and starting the visa process as soon as the UM documents are received. Late admissions do not guarantee obtaining a visa on time to attend the program.
If you have questions regarding visas and/or visa application, please contact our office at precollegeintl@olemiss.edu or call 1+662-915-7621.
Official Transcripts
Students will be required to submit an official transcript of the number of high school years they have at the moment of application.
- Official transcripts and/or degree certificates are those issued directly by the institution at which the coursework was or is being completed, holding original seals and/or stamps and/or signatures.
- Officially certified transcripts and/or degree certificates are hard-copy photocopies of the original, or official transcripts or degree certificates which are certified by the issuing institution (this is common in cases where one and only one official transcript and/or degree certificate is ever issued); by the U.S. Consulate’s Education/Culture Departments or its official representatives; or by select U.S. sponsoring agencies such as Fulbright, IREX, etc.
Note: Students applying to an Intensive English Program do not need to submit an official transcript.
Medical Information
Insurance
The University requires all international students in credit programs to be enrolled in a health insurance plan as a condition of program enrollment and maintenance of visa status. All international students attending Summer College, Lott Leadership Institute or UM Summer Language Institute will be enrolled in the health insurance plan made available through the Office of Pre-College Programs. Participation is mandatory.
Most insurance companies in the United States cover a percentage of primary care costs as well as most costs related to injury and treatment of illness. A percentage of the cost of diagnostic tests is also typically covered. It is the student’s responsibility to pay the remaining balance of any medical care beyond insurance coverage before leaving the program. Because of the high cost of medical care in the United States, we strongly recommend that all international students secure additional international insurance coverage for major medical emergencies. Exemptions to be enrolled in the university health insurance may be considered on an individual basis.
Required Immunizations for International Students
The State of Mississippi requires all students — regardless of place of origin — to show proof of the following vaccinations in order to be enrolled in classes:
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
These immunizations are typically administered in the form of a single vaccine (MMR) given in two doses. The first dose must have been given AFTER the first birthday. Immunizations taken prior to the first 12 months after birth will not count towards the required doses.
Accepted proof of vaccination could be one of the following:
- Proof of vaccinations on immunization card
- Official lab results showing serologic confirmation of immunity
- Medical records of having had these diseases.
Students unable to provide proof of immunity will be required to take one or more doses of the MMR vaccine upon arrival at the student’s own expense.
Medical Exemptions: Exemptions for the required MMR doses will be accepted only on medical grounds with a written statement from the family doctor explaining the conditions that do not allow the student to take this vaccination. If there is a temporary restriction, the doctor should also establish when the student can receive the shot.
TB Skin Testing
It is also a requirement for students to get a blood test (Interferon gamma release assay) and a chest X-ray upon arrival to check for the presence of tuberculosis.
These two tests are given at the Student Health Center on campus during a single visit. The cost of these tests is already included in the cost of the program. It is possible for applicants to get a QuantiFERON TB blood test in their home country and submit a negative result along with the application documents. By submitting this result, the price will be adjusted and the student will only get the X-ray on campus.
Note: A student will be unable to enroll in any class if the MMR immunizations and/or TB tests are not completed. If any MMR immunization is missing, we strongly encourage students to get the needed doses before coming to the program.
COVID-19 Vaccine
We strongly recommend students get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the time students attend any summer program.
JumpStart for Recently Admitted Students
Any student applying to JumpStart must be admitted as a freshman to the University of Mississippi. The student has the responsibility to notify the Office of International Students and Scholar Services of the student’s participation in this program so an I-20 is issued with the correct start date.
Special Programs for International Students
The Office of Pre-College Programs offers middle and high school institutions around the world specialized summer programs based on their students’ specific academic needs. We work directly with each institution to design a program based on the institution’s academic objectives.
We partner with the UM Intensive English Program and/or other departments on campus to offer these experiences.
Sample courses we have previously offered institutions include:
- Introduction to Engineering (ESL focus)
- Southern Studies and Current Events (ESL focus)
- International Relations (based on home institution’s curricula)
- Citizenship, Responsibility, and Civil Society (based on home institution’s curricula)
Application process, eligibility, admission, length of program, pricing, and logistics will be determined by the particular details of the customized course or courses. The minimum required number of students to run a specialized program is 10.
For more information, please contact our office at precollegeintl@olemiss.edu
Additional Support and Information for all Students
Steps to obtain an F-1 student visa
After the UM program application is approved, the candidate will receive the following documents:
- I-20 form
- Acceptance letter from the University
After receiving their documents, students should immediately:
- Review the form I-20 to make sure all the information is correct.
Check if your name, birthdate, program, and program dates are accurate. If there is a mistake, contact your international admissions counselor immediately at precollegeintl@olemiss.edu. - Pay the required SEVIS fee to the U.S. government and obtain a receipt.
This payment should be made at the SEVIS website. To obtain a I-901 form and to complete the $350 SEVIS fee to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate visit SEVP website . Receipt of this payment will be needed to schedule the visa appointment. - Complete online visa application forms and set up an F-1 visa appointment with a U.S. embassy or consulate.
To find an embassy or consulate in your home country visit the US Embassy website. - Present the following documents at your visa appointment:
- I-20
- SEVIS fee receipt
- Acceptance letter
- Proof of funding
- Valid passport (with an expiration date minimum of 6 months after the end date of the program)