Frequently Asked Questions
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International Students at Edinboro University
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Edinboro University located?
- How can I apply for admission to Edinboro University?
- What documents are needed to complete my application?
- What if I have credits from an international school?
- If I am applying as an undergraduate student, what TOEFL score is necessary for entrance to Edinboro University?
- If I am an undergraduate student, what is the cost for the first year?
- What programs of study are offered at Edinboro University?
- When are Edinboro University's application deadlines?
- Where can I stay? Can I live off campus?
- What if I arrive early?
- What are meal plans and flex dollars?
- What is the advance deposit requirement?
- How can I apply for F-1 Student Visa?
- What travel arrangements should I make?
- What medical history and health insurance coverage do I need?
- How will I be able to manage my finances?
- What happens at Orientation?
- What is a "credit"?
- How will I be graded in class?
- What are transcripts?
- What if I lose my student identification (ID) card?
- Can I work while attending school?
- Can I receive any scholarships from Edinboro University?
Where is Edinboro University located?Edinboro University is located in northwestern Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is located in the eastern part of the United States. The states of Ohio and New York border Pennsylvania.
Mileage from major cities to Edinboro University:
- Erie, Pennsylvania - 23 miles
- Cleveland, Ohio - 95 miles
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 110 miles
- Buffalo, New York State - 114 miles
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - 281 miles
- Washington, D.C. - 355 miles
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - 388 miles
- Newark, New Jersey - 405 miles
- New York, New York - 414 miles
How can I apply for admission to Edinboro University?
You must begin by completing our International Student Application. With this application, Edinboro University requires that you submit an official copy of your academic credentials (a transcript or record of your grades) from the secondary school(s) you attended.
Proof of financial support is also required. You may send a bank statement, affidavit of support, and/or letters from sponsors stating that sufficient funds are available to finance your education to fulfill this requirement.
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is offering an ESL Bridge Program for accepted international students who would like to improve their academic English and become familiar with our campus prior to the start of the Fall semester. This program is also available to students with a TOEFL score between 475-499 (paper based), 151-172 (computer based) or 52-60 (internet based) who would like to enroll at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Upon successful completion of the bridge program, students who previously scored 475-499 are guaranteed enrollment in Edinboro University of Pennsylvania for the fall semester. The overall goal of this bridge program is to prepare students for university coursework. More information regarding this program can be found at: English as a Second Language Bridge Program.
Finally, if English is not your official language, you must complete a TOEFL examination and receive a score of at least 500 (paper-based) or 173 (computer-based) and Edinboro University must receive an official report of your TOEFL score.
Edinboro University must receive all of these documents, along with a non-refundable application fee of $30 (U.S. Dollars) in the form of a certified check or bank draft payable to Edinboro University of Pa., before your application will be processed.
What documents are needed to complete my application?
The documents listed do not have to be sent together; they should be mailed when each is completed.
- International Student Application Form.
- Official transcript(s) or certified copy of secondary and post secondary (if attended) academic records, in English.
- Official report of your score on the TOEFL examination.
- Proof of financial support (bank statement, affidavit of support, and/or letter of support).
- Application fee of $30 (US dollars) made payable to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
What if I have credits from an international school?
The Undergraduate Admissions Office at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania REQUIRES that all internationally-educated applicants have their foreign credentials evaluated by an accredited credential evaluation service. Transfer applicants must have a "Course by Course Report" completed by the service. Freshman applicants must have a "Document by Document Report" completed. Many Edinboro University applicants choose World Education Services (WES) as their evaluation service. They can be contacted at WES. For other accredited foreign credential evaluation services, please check with NACES.
All applicants whose native language is not English should submit to the University official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). If the TOEFL is unavailable, please contact the International Student Services Office for an alternative assessment method. The TOEFL website is: http://www.toefl.org. English is an official language in many countries and is used by millions of people as a second language. Second language speakers of English are not necessarily fluent in Standard Academic English. For undergraduate applicants our TOEFL requirement is 61 for iBT/New Generation, 173 computer-based or 500 paper-based. For graduate applicants our TOEFL requirement is 79-80 for iBT/New Generation, 213 computer-based or 550 paper-based.
This program is also available to students with a TOEFL score between 475-499 (paper based), 151-172 (computer based) or 52-60 (internet based) who would like to enroll at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Upon successful completion of the bridge program, students who previously scored 475-499 are guaranteed enrollment in Edinboro University of Pennsylvania for the fall semester.
If I am an undergraduate student, what is the cost for the first year?
The current cost of studying at Edinboro University for one full year is $21,098.88.
What programs of study are offered at Edinboro University?
Edinboro offers more than 100 associate (two-year), bachelor's (four-year) and master's (graduate) degree programs. See the complete listing here.
When are Edinboro University's application deadlines?
Because of the extensive amount of time it takes to secure travel arrangements and acquire a Visa, students should submit all requested information by June 1 for the Fall semester and October 15 for the Spring semester.
Where can I stay? Can I live off campus?
If you are a freshman and under the age of 22, you are required to live on campus for at least one academic year. On campus housing is available in one of the six residence halls. Housing accommodations require a $75 deposit at the time you submit your advance tuition deposit.
All on-campus residents are asked to sign a Housing and Food Service Agreement for one academic year. Each room is furnished for two students with two beds, dressers, desks, chairs and closets/wardrobe. Rooms are also equipped with free local telephone service. Internet connection is available in all of the rooms at a reasonable cost. Mail/post is delivered and picked up at all residence halls Monday through Friday. All residence halls are coed, which means that both men and women are in the same residence halls, however on different floors. More information can be found at Residence Life and Housing.
Students who will be living in a residence hall will be provided housing at no additional charge when arriving the week before classes begin. A nightly fee will be charged if housing is needed earlier.
What are meal plans and flex dollars?
As an on-campus resident you are required to purchase a meal plan. There are many types of meal plans that you can choose from when arriving at Edinboro University. The options are:
- The Highlander - 19 meals per week with $150 flex
- The Fighting Scot - 14 meals per week with $150 flex
- The Tartan - 10 meals per week with $150 flex
- The Bagpiper - 125 meals per semester with $150 flex
- The Nessie - 75 meals per semester with $150 flex
- The Kiltie - 5 meals per week and $150 flex
- The Celtic Coin - Purchase as little as $100 flex; however, average student spending suggests a minimum of $500 per semester. Get Bonus Bucks when you add $250 or more to your flex. The more you add to flex, the more you earn in Bonus Bucks!
Flex Dollars is a pre-paid account that offers meal plan members the opportunity to make purchases above the dining hall options that are covered on your meal plan. These flex dollars can be used at the convenience store, Van Go, Faces and MacCato's Bog.
Resident Students are required to purchase a 19, 14, 10 or 125 block standing reservation. Vist their website at: www.dineoncampus.com/edinboro for more information.
How Can I Apply for F-1 Student Visa?
You may have already received your Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Students Status) from Edinboro University. In order to obtain an F-1 Student Visa you must apply for one at a United States Consulate or Embassy within your home country. The following documents should be brought with you when you go to either of these government offices:
- A valid passport
- Your Edinboro University Form I-20
- Financial documentation to support the I-20. You will need to provide proof of support for at least one full year of study. Examples include a bank statement, an affidavit of support from a sponsor and/or letters stating that you have been awarded a scholarship.
- Documentation showing your intention to return to your country of residency after completing your education within the United States. Examples include papers showing that your family owns either a home, business, or other property within your country, a letter from a potential employer willing to consider you for a position after your return, or a letter from an educator stating that the knowledge you seek is greatly needed in your country.
If you have I-20 Forms from more than one college/university in your possession and have not yet decided where to attend, please note that you must attend the school whose I-20 Form you use when applying for entry to the United States. You may not use one school's I-20 to enter the United States and then, upon arrival, attend the other school. By law, you are only authorized to attend the school whose I-20 you used upon entry.
Consult U.S. Embassies Website for updates on country-specific visa processing requirements.
What travel arrangements should I make?
Your travel arrangements should be made from your home to your final destination of Erie, Pennsylvania, or Edinboro, Pennsylvania. Erie is located approximately 20 miles north of Edinboro. However, you will have to fly to a larger airport first. We recommend Pittsburgh International Airport, Buffalo Niagara International Airport, or Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
AIRLINES with service to Erie International Airport:
- Northwest Airlink/Mesaba3
- U.S. Airways/Piedmont
- Continental Express
GREYHOUND BUS LINE also provides service from larger cities to Erie and Edinboro. They can be reached at 814-725-8701 or 1-800-231-2222 (in the United Sates).
FULLINGTON TRAILWAYS also provides service from larger cities to Erie and Edinboro. They can be reached at 1-800-942-8287.
The Office of International Student Services will provide transportation from Erie to Edinboro University for those students who inform us of their travel arrangements in advance. A member of our office or community will be at the bus terminal or airport when you arrive. In order for us to accommodate your arrival, we need to know your specific arrangements.
What medical history and health insurance coverage do I need?
In order to serve international students' medical needs and provide our university physicians with information relative to their personal medical history, it is required upon enrollment that you have your family physician complete a Confidential Health Record. The Emergency Treatment Authorization form may be completed by you or your parent(s). These forms will be collected at the student orientation.
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (EUP) requires J and F visa holders to maintain adequate insurance coverage. International students must maintain valid medical insurance for the entire period of their enrollment at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. For each semester of enrollment J and F students must provide proof of insurance coverage to the International Student Services Office.
These requirements have been established in an attempt to provide the best medical care possible and to avoid excessive medical costs in the event of an illness or accident.
How will I be able to manage my finances?
Upon arrival to the United States you will need to have U.S. currency (dollars) available to you; however, it is not recommended that you carry large amounts of currency with you while traveling. An alternative to carrying "cash" you may:
- Direct transfer of funds - You can have the funds directly transferred from your home country bank to your Edinboro Student Account with the University.
- Traveler's Checks - If you must carry a large sum of money with you, traveler's checks are a safe way in which to carry it. Traveler's checks may be exchanged for cash at any bank and are accepted by many stores. However, it is advisable that you purchase them in U.S.A. currency. Most banks outside major cities are unable to exchange foreign currency upon demand. You may have to wait as long as 5 business days in order to complete the exchange. If your traveler's checks are in US dollars, your money should be immediately available to you.
- U.S. Currency and Cash - You should carry a small amount of US currency with you when you travel to the US. As long as you do not intend to take a taxi from the airport to the University, $100.00 should be a reasonable amount to carry with you. This should be carried in small denominations such as $20, $10, $5, and $1, as well as some change in the form of coins.
- Credit Cards - Credit cards are widely accepted at stores and restaurants in the US. If you wish to have one, you may find it more convenient to apply for a credit card in your home country. Some of the more popular and most widely accepted credit cards are American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover Card. It is convenient to have a credit card, however, it is not necessary to have a credit card in order to function in the United States.
- Personal Checks and Currency not in U.S. Dollars - US Banks will accept both of these forms of money, however, your money will not be immediately available to you. Personal checks will require between 2 and 4 weeks before being cleared and available for you to spend. Currency that needs to be exchanged into US dollars will require approximately 5 days for the exchange to be complete. Only major banks in large cities will be able to exchange money in the same day.
Orientation is offered each fall for all new international students. During the orientation period, you will have the opportunity to meet with the Office staff and other helpful individuals. Orientation time has been reserved to accomplish important University procedures such as registering for classes, paying tuition bills (full payment of fees for one semester are due upon registration of classes), opening bank accounts, and buying textbooks. This time will also be used to introduce students to the various University facilities, services, and offices. Students will be able to purchase necessary items such as notebooks, pens, pencils, sheets, blankets, towels, pillows, and so forth.
Most colleges and universities use a credit system in which each course is allotted a specific number of credit hours; representing the number of hours the student spends in class each week. The norm is 3 credits per course and a normal workload for an undergraduate student would be between 12 and 15 credits, which is 4 or 5 classes (normally) meeting 12-15 hours per week. For a graduate student it is usually between 9 and 12 credit hours each semester.
How will I be graded in class?
The professor evaluates academic performance in each course by using number or letter grades. At the end of the semester you will receive a number of credits corresponding to the courses that you have successfully completed. Your credit hours are multiplied by your grades, which will in turn determine your "grade point average" (GPA). GPA's are used to give an overall indication of your total academic performance and are used by the admissions office and employers interested in your academic history.
The grading system by Edinboro University can be seen in the following table:
Grade Points Undergraduate Graduate A 4.0 Excellent Excellent B 3.0 Good Good/Average C 2.0 Average Passing D 1.0 Passing Failing F 0.0 Failing Failing Undergraduates are expected to complete their studies with a C or better average; graduates are expected to complete their studies with no less than a B average.
A transcript is a list of your academic credentials. This means that the college wants to see a copy of all your grades (e.g. school grades, college grades, previous university grades, etc).
What is the advance deposit requirement?
Our standard practice is to send all admitted students an email requesting an advanced deposit. Our intent is to get the information to you quickly as airmail is not always timely.
In addition to your official acceptance letter you need to have a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status - For Academic and Language Students issued by Edinboro University, commonly referred to as an I-20. This certificate is needed for you to apply for a student visa at the US Embassy/Consulate in your country. To obtain the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status - For Academic and Language Students from Edinboro University we require an advance deposit of $500.00 (USD). Upon receipt of this advanced deposit EUP will issue your I-20 and a receipt.
If you are unable to secure a student visa, $400.00 (USD) of your advance deposit will be refunded less any processing fees. The refund will be processed after we receive your written request to cancel your acceptance.
If you accept our offer of admission, you must comply with the advanced payment requirement. This requirement is not intended to be an inconvenience. Rather, it is meant to demonstrate your strong intention to attend EUP.
What if I lose my student identification (ID) card?
Report any lost, stolen or misplaced ID card to the Access Office in Van Houten Dining Hall immediately. This will protect your account balance for both flex and meals against fraudulent use.
Can I work while attending school?
The USCIS rules and regulations allow an F-1 student to work on-campus up to 20 hours per week when school is in session and full-time during school vacations. You may seek on-campus employment but there are no guarantees that you will secure employment, as opportunities are limited. It is important for you to realize that on-campus employment will not pay you enough to meet your educational expenses. It will earn you funds to utilize as "spending money" for personal needs.
Can I receive any scholarships from Edinboro University?
You will be considered for our International Scholarship. Upon your official acceptance to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania you could qualify for the International Scholarship valued at $5,177.00 (subject to change without notice) per academic year. Also, this award will continue throughout your undergraduate academic career (maximum of four years) at Edinboro University as long as you achieve satisfactory academic standing, as outlined in the University Catalogue. If selected for the International Scholarship, you will receive a scholarship award letter. As an international student, you do not qualify for any type of U.S. government aid.
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