Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I find information?

    In the top left hand corner of every page of the 熊猫在线视频's website there is a magnifying glass icon.  Click on the icon and a search bar opens at the very top of the page.  Enter your search term here.

    Common search terms students find helpful include:

    Password reset

    Enrollment verification

    Placement exams

    Who is my advisor

    Registration guide

  • I want to study at UAA, what do I need to do?

    For the most complete information on becoming an international student please visit our home page.

    The first thing to do is to apply to UAA  /admissions/. (Note: there are different application submission deadlines for international students)

    Then use the search tool on our website to find your program to learn about the additional application requirements for your degree program.

    Once you have been granted admission to UAA, and you have provided the financial supporting documents, you will be given an I-20 which will enable you to get a visa and come to the US to attend UAA.

  • How do I know if I am an international student?
    We define an international student as someone either seeking an F-1 student visa, a J-1 visa for scholar or exchange student, or someone who already has an F-1 student visa. If you hold a different type of visa, a green card, or are a refugee, you are not considered an international student for admission purposes at UAA.
  • How do I get a student visa?
    After you are accepted by the University and receive the Form I-20 from the University, you must apply for your nonimmigrant 鈥渟tudent鈥� (F-1) visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest your home. You must bring the necessary supporting documentation to your visa appointment, including your college acceptance letter, proof of payment of SEVIS fee, passport, your I-20 Form and appropriate financial documentation. Required documents depend on the country, so it is recommended that you check with the US Consulate or embassy to determine what you need before your appointment.
  • How can I get an I-20?
    To get an I-20, you need to be admitted to UAA and provide financial paperwork showing your ability to study at UAA for at least one year.
  • I need an I-20 right away, how quickly can you provide it to me?

    An I-20 can only be issued after you have been admitted to UAA and have provided financial paperwork showing your ability to study at UAA for at least one year.

    Once you have been admitted and we have your financial paperwork, you should receive an email within a week providing you information about your I-20.

  • I already have a visa; do I need to get a student visa?

    You need to have a visa that allows you to study in the US if you plan on taking courses at UAA. Most dependent and worker visas allow for study in the US. 

    J-1 interns and au pairs are allowed to study while in the US.

    If you are on a tourist visa (B-1 or B-2) you are not allowed to study in the US any subject that is academic in nature.

  • I鈥檓 already here in Anchorage, but I need to change my visa to a student visa; what do I do?

    First, you need to be admitted to a degree program at UAA. If you are not currently a degree-seeking student at UAA, follow the instructions for admission and obtaining an I-20.

    If you are already a degree seeking student at UAA, you will need to provide financial documents to the International Student Services Office in order to get an I-20. Once you have the I-20, you can apply for a Change of Status with USCIS.

  • I鈥檓 here visiting; can I just take a class or two?

    You need to have a visa that allows you to study in the US if you plan on taking courses at UAA. Most dependent and worker visas allow for study in the US. 

    J-1 interns and au pairs are allowed to study while in the US.

    If you are on a tourist visa (B-1 or B-2) you are not allowed to study in the US any subject that is academic in nature. This limits your ability to study at UAA to recreational courses.

  •  I already have a Bachelor鈥檚 (or Master鈥檚) Degree from another country, what can I study at UAA?

    Anyone who has graduated high school can apply for an Associate's or Bachelor's Degree, even if they already have a Bachelor's Degree or higher.

    Persons who have the equivalent of a US Bachelor's Degree (as determined by WES for foreign schools) can apply for Master's or Doctoral degree programs.

 

Please refer to the UAA Admissions website and their Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about admission into certain programs.


  • What are the application deadlines?
    For spring admission (classes starting in January) you must submit your application by November 1; for fall admission (classes starting in August) you must submit your application by June 1.
  • Do I have to have all of my documentation and test scores submitted by the application deadline?
    There are separate deadlines for submission of paperwork.  If you are applying for fall semester all documentation must be received by UAA by August 1; if you are applying for spring semester all documentation must be received by December 1.  If you are unable to obtain your visa and arrive by the announced date that international students must be in Anchorage you must postpone your admission.
  • How long does it take to hear about my admission decision?

    It depends on how quickly we receive your documents. We cannot give you admission if we don鈥檛 have all the documents we have requested. In most cases, these documents will be a WES evaluation and a TOEFL or IELTS score.

    • Once WES receives all their required documents, it takes them about 1 week to get the report to UAA.
    • It takes about 3-4 weeks to receive a TOEFL or IELTS score report after you have taken the exam.
  • I have applied to UAA; when am I going to get my admission?

    It depends on how quickly we receive your documents. We cannot give you admission if we don鈥檛 have all the documents we have requested. In most cases, these documents will be a WES evaluation and a TOEFL or IELTS score.

    • Once WES receives all their required documents, it takes them about 1 week to get the report to UAA.
    • It takes about 3-4 weeks to receive a TOEFL or IELTS score report after you have taken the exam.
  • My family is very poor. Can the application fee ever be waived? 
    Unfortunately, no. Higher Education in the United States is expensive. As part of your visa requirements, you are expected to be able to fully fund your education and living expenses in the United States. This includes the application fee for admission to UAA.
  • Do I need to translate all of my documents?
    World Education Services (WES) requires that all academic documents be translated by a certified translator.

    Financial documents may be submitted in their native language, but ISS may request a translation from the student if needed.

  • May I scan my documents to you? 
    • Academic Records and Transcripts need to be officially sent by the US school or WES. UAA does not accept academic records, transcripts, or WES evaluations directly from the student.
    • TOEFL and IELTS scores must come from the testing service. UAA does not accept unofficial TOEFL or IELTS Scores. UAA does not accept student copies of test scores.
    • All other documents may be scanned and sent to uaa.international@alaska.edu.
  • Do you require the ACT or SAT? 
    No. UAA does not require these scores for admission.
  • I already have a Bachelor鈥檚 (or Master鈥檚) Degree from another country, what can I study at UAA? 

    Anyone who has graduated high school can apply for an Associate鈥檚 or Bachelor鈥檚 Degree, even if they already have a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree or higher.

    Persons who have the equivalent of a US Bachelor鈥檚 Degree (as determined by WES for foreign schools) can apply for Master鈥檚 or Doctoral degree program.

 

  • What transcripts/academic records are required for admission?

    High School/Secondary School Transcripts

    All international transcripts are required to be evaluated by .

    • If you have less than 1 year of college or university level education, you must submit your high school/secondary school transcripts.  Please see this page for transcript requirements.
    • A final transcript will be required after graduation.  You will not receive your I-20 until we receive your final transcript.

    College/University Level Transcripts

    • Final and official transcripts are required from every higher education institution that you attended.
    • If you are still taking classes please wait until your final grades have  posted to your transcript.  Neither WES nor UAA will accept final transcripts.  A final transcript will be required after grades are posted for a complete admission and to receive your I-20.
  • Where do I send my transcripts?

    US Schools

    • Official transcripts should be sent directly by the school to UAA and the Office of Admissions.

    Non-US Schools

    • Students that have graduated high school or attended a post-secondary institution outside of the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by  (WES). Instructions on how to do this can be found on their website.

    Do not submit your foreign transcripts directly to UAA.

  • What is WES?

    World Education Services () is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with international education achieve their higher education and professional goals by evaluating and advocating for the recognition of international education qualifications.

    With a staff representing 37 nations and speaking over 40 languages, WES has delivered evaluations to more than one million people worldwide, which are widely recognized by more than 2,500 educational, business and governmental institutions throughout the U.S. and Canada.

  • Do I need to get a WES evaluation?
    If you attended a school outside the US you will need a WES evaluation.
  • Do I have to submit all of my transcripts/academic records?
    Yes. Board of Regents policy states that all students must submit transcripts from ALL colleges, universities, schools, tech schools, etc. before they enroll.
  • Can I pretend I never went to college and submit only my high school transcripts to UAA?
    No, UAA has a honor code that goes along with the admissions process that requires applicants to certify that your application is true and complete. This honor code allows the university to revoke your credits/degrees earned if it is ever revealed that you submitted false records. 
  • I have studied at a college before, but I want to start over and not count my previous college experience. Is that possible? 
    No. Even if you feel that your past college experience does not fit in with your new educational goals, it is still a part of your academic record and it needs to be disclosed to UAA at the time of admission. UAA uses the National Clearinghouse system which can alert us to previous college enrollments. 
  • I only have high school records; do I really need to get a WES evaluation?
    Yes, if it is not from a US school, you will need a Document-by-Document evaluation of your high school record. This ensures that you have the equivalent of a US High School Diploma. 
  • I am from an English speaking country; do I really need to get a WES evaluation?
    Yes. Even though your academic records are in English, the grading scale and credit system of your country may be significantly different than the US educational system. Therefore, to ensure we have a full understanding of your academic history, we need to have a WES evaluation.  Please contact the Office of the Registrar for English transcripts from Canada. 
  • I can鈥檛 get my transcripts from my school; what do I need to do?

    All non-US coursework must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES). Make sure you are reading the correct submission instructions for your country. Sometimes, the record you need comes from a governmental body and not directly from the school.

    Most schools, including international schools, have information on their website about how to obtain academic records.

 

 

  • How much does it cost to attend?

    In order to obtain an I-20 students must show a year's worth of funding (2 semesters).

    In addition to Tuition, Books, and Fees, students must also be able to pay for lodging and meals, and day-to-day expenses including health insurance.

    Please refer to this page to see an estimate of what it will cost to attend UAA for 1 year (prices in USD).

  • Does UAA have any scholarships for international students?

    Need-based financial aid is not available for international students. We recommend that international students research scholarship opportunities that may be available in their home countries to study in the U.S.

    Here are some links to scholarship and financial resources for international students. These links are provided for your information only. These resources are not affiliated with or approved by 熊猫在线视频.

    • Envisage International Corporation -
    • EduPass Scholarships for International Students -
    • International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search -
  • My family is very poor. Can the application fee ever be waived?
    Unfortunately, no. Higher Education in the United States is expensive. As part of your visa requirements, you are expected to be able to fully fund your education and living expenses in the United States. This includes the application fee for admission to UAA.