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International Student Requirements

International Student Admissions Requirements

Dear applicant! Thank you for making Life University your education destination in the United States. Below are the admissions and I-20 Certificate of Eligibility processing deadlines for international students who need to apply for an F-1 student visa. You will notice that the Life University admissions deadline ends later than the admissions deadline for international students. F-1 visa interview time is lengthy; therefore, we want to make sure that our international students are accepted early to sign up for visa interviews and make all other necessary arrangements on time. Please email questions at international@life.edu.

With best regards, the Department of International Programs.

AT LIFE UNIVERSITY, WE HOST STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

We truly value our international students, and their experience at LIFE U. Therefore, we have a designated team for International Admissions and International Student Enrollment to assist you with the enrollment process. Life University welcomes international applicants with a variety immigration statuses including DACA and undocumented students and others.

Please email your international student admissions related questions to international@life.edu  or directly to the attention of International Admissions Counselor Nigar Gafarzada at Nigar.Gafarzada@LIFE.edu, or call on the phone at 770-426-2807, or our toll-free number at (800) 543-3202.

GENERAL ADMISSION APPLICATION PROCESS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS


Admissions Documents for International Applicants

Below is the general list of admissions documents for international applicants. Please email Nigar.Gafarzada@LIFE.edu to receive a tailored list for your specific situation.

Life University
Office of Enrollment
1269 Barclay Circle
Marietta, GA 30060

  • Transcripts from international high schools and colleges and universities must be received with the official evaluation report from the foreign credential evaluation company either via at Admiss@LIFE.edu or post-mailed to the address above. Please see the Transcript Evaluation section below for more details on international transcripts.
  • A course by course or comprehensive TRANSCRIPT EVALUATION that demonstrates your official graduation date, and final GPA.
Note: The transcripts from some colleges in Canada are exempt from the credential evaluation requirement. Please see a list of exempt colleges here.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TEST OPTIONS

Option 1

Life University now accepts Duolingo English Proficiency Test results as a part of the international admissions process. A minimum score of 85 or higher on the Duolingo is required. The Duolingo English Test is a fast, convenient and affordable test that is available online and on demand. The Duolingo English Test can be taken online from a computer with a camera. You should be in a quiet, well-lit room with your device for about 1 hour. Certified results are available within 2 days and can be shared instantly with LIFE University. You can get started by visiting go.duolingo.com/applicants.

  1. Go to: go.duolingo.com/applicants and register
  2. Click: Take a test
  3. Click: Purchase the test
  4. Click: Take the test and save the results and exit

Option 2

Life University also accepts TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). A score of a 500 or higher, 173 or higher on the computer-based TOEFL, or 61 or higher on the Internet-based test is acceptable.

  • Please send the test scores via the https://www.ets.org/toefl  by accessing your account and selecting Life University/ The Life University TOEFL code is 5358.

Option 3

Life University also accepts IELTS (International English Language Testing System). A minimum score of 5.5 on the IELTS is required.

Please order a paper report of the test scores by accessing your account at https://www.ielts.org/en-us and send to this address:
Life University
Office of Enrollment
1269 Barclay Circle
Marietta, GA 30060

Note: The following category of international applicants are exempt from the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement

  1. Please see the attached list to determine if you qualify for the ELP.
  2. International students who have taken 24 or more credit hours in an American college and/or have passed English Composition I, English Composition II or equivalent classes. Please email us for the details.
  3. International students who have received a four-year degree from the United States are also exempt from an English language proficiency exam.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT)

The following two categories of international applicants are required to submit either SAT or ACT scores to Life University.

  • International Freshman applicants. If you have graduated from high school in the last five (5) years and did not earn any college credit hours
  • International Freshman -Transfer applicants: If you have graduated from high school in the last five (5) years and have earned less than 24 transferable to Life University college credit hours. Please email us for the details.

NOTE: LIFE UNIVERSITY WAIVES SAT/ACT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 2022-2023 APPLICANTS DUE TO THE COVID-19. However, if you have taken any of these tests, please send the score by accessing your College Board account to Life University.

ACT:  https://my.act.org/account/signin?location=https://my.act.org
The ACT code for Life University is 0845

English- ACT subscore of 18
Math- ACT math score of 20
Reading – ACT subscore of 18
ACT composite score – 19

 SAT: https://www.collegeboard.org/
The SAT code for Life University is 7006

SAT writing/language subscore of 25
SAT math score of 510
SAT reading subscore of 25
Required SAT total score – 910

However, you are required to take the institutional ACCUPLACER test once arrived on-campus before your classes start. Please email us for the details.

Accuplacer Writeplacer score of 6
ACCUPLACER Next Generation Math of 245

Program-Specific Requirements

Program-specific additional documents may be required based on the applicant’s program of study. Please click the relevant program webpage below and email us for the details.

Doctor of Chiropractic applicants, please access additional forms herehttp://www.life.edu/admissions-pages/admissions-information/admission-forms/  

Graduate Programs requirements, please click on a specific program
http://www.life.edu/admissions-pages/graduate-requirements/

Undergraduate Program requirements, please click on a specific program/ admission type http://www.life.edu/admissions-pages/undergrad-requirements/

Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 VISA

Please note that the information in this section is applicable to only F-1 visa students. Other categories of international students, please see further below.

 All international applicants who need a F-1 student visa need to apply for the Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status. 

Required Documents

A PDF copy of the following documents must be emailed directly to the attention of Sairagul Matikeeva-Kinney at Sairagul.Matikeeva-K@LIFE.edu and copy at International@LIFE.edu.

    • A Bank letter showing US $30,000 (undergraduate programs), $31,000 (graduate programs), and $50,000 (Doctor of Chiropractic Program). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires international students show the University evidence of adequate financial resources to provide for at least one year of full-time education, travel, and living expenses as estimated below. A financial statement, a standard bank letter on letterhead with your or your sponsor’s name (names) must state that you (your sponsors) have established sufficient funds in USD to support your education in the United States and must be submitted to Life University to receive an I‐20.
      • If you are bringing your immediate family (spouse and children), please add $6,200 for spouse, $9,800 for spouse and child, $13,400 for spouse and two children, $3,600 for no spouse and one child, $7,200 for no spouse and two children.
      • If you are a recipient of any scholarship that covers your first year expenses fully or partially then please send a copy of the award letter stating the source of the scholarship and award amount.
    • A Sponsor Letter. A sponsor affidavit is also required unless the funds are in the student’s name. Please see here for the LU Sponsor Form. Acceptable affidavits include a personal letter, a financial guarantee from an institution, a US I‐134 form (if your sponsor is the U.S. citizen https://www.uscis.gov/i-134). Please follow the instructions on the form.
    • Transfer Eligibilty. F-1 students who are transferring from another U.S. college and graduating from a U.S. high school must fill out and send the Transfer Eligibility form.

The following are the fees payable before you start your quarter at Life University.

  • The SEVIS fee of $350 unless you have an active I-20 from the U.S. college or high school at the time of acceptance at Life University. The I-901 SEVIS Fee is mandated by Congress to support the program office and the automated system that keeps track of students and exchange visitors and ensures that they maintain their status while in the United States. each student or exchange visitor issued an initial Form I-20 or DS-2019 on or after September 1, 2004, is responsible for paying this fee to SEVP. You must pay this fee before your interview in the U.S. Embassy. Processing of the SEVIS fee takes up to 3-5 business days. Please visit here for more information https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html
  • Enrollment fee. To secure a place in the entering class and save your seat at Life University, all newly admitted students are required to submit their $125 (non-refundable and non-waivable) Enrollment Fee. Please see your acceptance letter from LIFE U for the additional information on how to pay the Enrollment fee. Please email us for the details.

Mandatory Health Insurance Policy

All F-1 visa students must have a health insurance policy that meets the following minimum requirements: Deductible: $100-$500; Medical Benefits: Minimum $50,000-$100,000; Medical Evacuation: $25,000-$50,000. The proof of coverage is due during the mandatory SEVIS check-in followed by the international student orientation at the beginning of each quarter. Please email your health insurance policy from your home country at international@life.edu if the policy is accepted in the U.S. See below the link for a F-1 student health insurance provider Professional Service Inc. (PSI) and select a plan that satisfies the following requirements.

  • Both accident and sickness coverage
  • Minimum benefit $250,000 per policy year
  • A deductible of $500 or less and/or co-pay per individual, per year
  • In-patient and outpatient, mental and nervous disorder benefits
  • Prescription Drug Coverage
  • Pay benefits worldwide
  • Medical evacuation to one’s home country and family reunification of not less than $50,000*
  • Provision for repatriation of remains of not less than $25,000*

Below is the contact information for Professional Service Inc. (PSI) health insurance company that offers affordable and comprehensive health insurance for international students and their immediate families. 

FYI: PSI is not affiliated with Life University.

PSI International Student & Scholar Health Insurance
8206 Leesburg Pike, Suite 305
Vienna, VA 22182
https://www.psiservice.com/plans
Contact: luis@pisiservice.com

Admissions Information for the Other Categories of International Students

Life University accepts international applicants who hold a variety of immigration and nonimmigration statuses.

NONIMMIGRANT VISA HOLDERS
Nonimmigrant visa holders are the citizens of other countries who enter the U.S. on a temporary basis – whether for tourism, business, temporary work, or study. Once a person has entered the U.S. in nonimmigrant status, they are restricted to the activity or reason for which they were allowed entry.

Non-immigrant visa holders include principals and dependents of P-1, L-1, H-1, E-1, J-1, G-1, G-5, O, U,T, V, R, S and others who can study in the United States. Please see the attached for the complete list of nonimmigrant visa holders here.

Admissions Checklist for Nonimmigrant VISA Holders

Please see below for the list and see above  General Admission Application Process for International Students section for the detailed information

Admissions Checklist for Immigrant VISA Holders

Permanent Residents are Lawful permanent residents (LPRs), also known as “green card” holders, are non-citizens who are lawfully authorized to live permanently within the United States.

Please see below for the list and see above  General Admission Application Process for International Students section for the detailed information

Other Categories of International Applicants

Life University welcomes the following categories of international applicants and does not make lawful status in the U.S. a condition for admission. We are committed to making every effort to ensure that undocumented students have similar academic, cultural and social  experiences as all of other students.

There are currently no state or federal laws prohibiting Life University  from admitting and enrolling undocumented students, and  LU  have no legal obligation to notify immigration officials of the presence of undocumented students on campus. According to  FERPA and Life University policy, we will not share information on the immigration status of undocumented students to any third party unless legally required by subpoena, warrant, or court order, or if approved by a student. Undocumented students are eligible for a 20% tuition discount just like all other international students and can definitely apply for private aid and scholarships.

Please see below for the list and see above  General Admission Application Process for International Students section for the detailed information.

ADMISSIONS CHECKLIST FOR UNITED STATES CITIZENS who hold foreign academic credentials

The following categories of the United States citizens are not international applicants. However, in addition to the admissions requirements, they have to provide a comprehensive foreign credential evaluation of their high school or college credentials when it is applicable. Please email us for more details at international@life.edu.

  • United States born citizens who graduated high school or college outside of the United States
  • Naturalized citizens of the United States who were foreign born and raised in a foreign country and graduated from high school or college in a foreign country
  • United States citizens having earned college credit hours as an exchange student in a foreign country

CONTACT US

Life University
1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, GA, 30060
Enrollment Office
Department of International Programs

International@LIFE.edu
Toll free: 800-543-3202

Sairagul Matikeeva-Kinney, Ph.D., Director of International Programs, PDSO
Email: Sairagul.matikeeva-k@life.edu
Phone: 770-426-4330

Nigar Gafarzada, International Admissions Counselor
Email: Nigar.Gafarzada@LIFEe.edu
Phone: 770-426-2807