Frequently Asked Questions - International

There are two methods available for international applicants who seek admission to OSUIT.

1. Apply Online- One of the quickest ways to submit an international student application is to carefully set up an account on the OSUIT website. Upon submission of your electronic application, International Student Services will review the information you’ve entered and contact you with a request for more documentation in addition to the online content you provide. Start your online application or click the “APPLY NOW” link in the top right-hand side of this page.
2. Paper Application- If you would like to complete our paper application, please download the 6-page form, answer all sections, and return it to us at osuit.international@okstate.edu. You may also send the original application to us by airmail at: International Student Services, Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, 1801 East 4th Street, Okmulgee, OK 74447-3901, USA. Access the paper application.

OSUIT’s academic year operates on a 12-month cycle including three full 16-week terms. ​International Student Services accepts applications from abroad according to the following deadline sequence: Fall start document submission deadline- July 1, Spring start document submission deadline- November 1, Summer start document submission deadline-March 1. Please note submitting your application earlier than the deadline is highly recommended and encouraged in order to ensure sufficient time for your visa interview and travel.

Transfer students who are already present in the United States as an F-1 visa international student, must submit an application within the approved end of program/OPT grace period, break, or minimum 1-week prior to the OSUIT program start date, whichever comes first.

You will need an F-1 Student visa to study in the USA. The U.S. government issues student visas. A school cannot give visas but does provide a very important document called an I-20. OSUIT is approved by the US government to enable student visa applications. When a student is admitted, OSUIT will provide the required I-20 document. Then the student must apply directly to the US embassy (preferably in his or her home country) to receive the visa. The process is as follows:

1. Student is admitted to OSUIT
2. OSUIT creates a form I-20 for the student
3. The student pays a fee to the US government (called a SEVIS fee – currently $200)
4. The student submits Form DS-160 to the US embassy or consulate
5. The student schedules a visa appointment with a US embassy or consulate
6. The student attends the visa interview and brings required documentation
7. The US government officer makes a decision whether to give the student a visa

The I-20 form is required before you can apply for a visa. You have to be admitted to OSUIT and provide financial certification before OSUIT is allowed to issue an I-20 document.

The number of credit hours a student takes in a trimester is called the “course load”. International students are required by US immigration law to enroll in at least 12 credit hours per trimester. This means the student will go to class at least 12 hours each week, most likely divided between 4 courses of 3 credit hours each. The most common course load is 12 to 16 credit hours, although it is possible to take up to 19. At OSUIT special permission is required to enroll in 20-22 credit hours in a trimester.

To estimate your total tuition & fees at any university, multiply the cost per credit hour by 12. This is your minimum tuition. Multiply the cost per credit hour by 15-19 to estimate possible maximum tuition & fees.

Simply complete the process online, print the PDF generated by the site, and take it to your bank to initiate the payment. Your bank will then process your payment to OSUIT through Western Union Business Solutions.

You do not submit any of your bank information online. Only the student name, contact info, and OSUIT Student ID # is needed to identify the student’s account to be credited. Western Union will generate a currency conversion quote and reference transaction number on the PDF payment form. The form is not effective unless you present it to your bank.

The currency conversion will be done by Western Union and the final total payment will be quoted in your own currency. If your country or currency is not available, choose “any other country (USD)”. In this case your own bank will convert the currency to send the correct total US dollars. (your bank may charge a fee for exchange services)

Additional information available from Western Union Business Solutions.

Prior to a student’s arrival in the USA, payments from an international location must be made using Western Union Business Solutions. Sponsors based in the USA can make payments on the student’s behalf with a check drawn on a US bank. Credit card payments are no longer accepted unless using MasterCard, Discover and American Express through the Parent/Guest Payment method in Web 4 Students. Please note a 2.75% or $3.00 minimum convenience fee will be added to all credit card payments through Web 4 Students.

After a student’s arrival in the USA, payments from international sponsors can still be made using Western Union Business Solutions. The student can also open a US bank account and make payment by check (funds from abroad can be wired directly to the student’s personal account). After a student enrolls, the student or sponsor can make payment online using a credit card through OSUIT’s Web for Students Portal (this option is only offered to currently enrolled students).

Yes.  OSUIT offers a partial scholarship (tuition waiver) for international students, lowering tuition costs by $500 USD each term. This competitive financial aid can be granted to new international student applicants who provide required documentation prior to the submission deadline and who become selected by the international tuition waiver committee. Students receiving the tuition waver will be notified of the award prior to the first day of his or her program start date.

International students might find it interesting to know that all of OSUIT’s Bachelor of Technology and Associate in Applied Science programs include internships. If an internship is part of the study program, the student will gain work experience with an employer. International students are eligible to receive payment from their internship employer, however, authorization must first be obtained through International Student Services before the first day on the job. International students must meet the one academic year physical presence requirement before part-time off-campus employment authorization can be considered in the form of Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

After graduating, it is also possible for international students to apply for a post-graduation full-time internship of one year. Students in STEM fields who complete a bachelor degree program can apply to extend their work authorization for an additional 24 months, totaling 36 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT).

If you will be coming with your family you will be eligible for family housing and you will not be required to purchase a cafeteria meal plan.

If you are bringing dependents, your financial certification documents must include $6,500 per year for the first dependent and an additional $5,000 per year for each additional dependent. You might not spend that much but you must have that amount available in your bank account for admission and visa purposes. You are only required to show financial resources for one year. However, you are encouraged to think about your total future costs to be sure you can complete the program.

Yes, there is a process to request transfer credit or advanced placement.; OSUIT requires both original transcripts from the student’s previous school and an official transcript evaluation from an approved agency such as WES or ECE (When requesting a transcript evaluation, students should choose “course-by-course” service). These materials must be reviewed by the OSUIT registrar and by the related OSUIT academic department. OSUIT may request additional information such as course syllabus and course descriptions. If the content, difficulty, amount of instruction, and final grade are considered equivalent to an OSUIT course, transfer credit will be granted. OSUIT cannot guarantee that students who request transfer credit will receive it. The OSUIT registrar authorizes the final decision based on the review process as described above.

OSUIT programs balance theoretical knowledge with applied skills knowledge or “hands-on” learning. Applicants with prior studies at an equivalent academic level in their home country should make note of this skill-centered distinction as a potential talking point during an F-1 visa interview assuming admission is eventually granted.

A transcript evaluation is ONLY required if the student is applying for a tuition waiver (scholarship) or transfer credit. A transcript evaluation is not required for admission to OSUIT.

A transcript evaluation can be done for both high school (secondary) and college/university (post-secondary) courses. The evaluation is done by a third party agency that is an expert on education systems in many countries. The evaluator can explain how education in a specific country compares to education in the US. The agency evaluates a student’s transcript and prepares a report that shows how the student’s courses in his or her home country compare with American university courses. The evaluator will consider the course content, difficulty, time spent in class and other aspects. The report will also convert the student’s final scores or grades to the US GPA system.

If a transcript evaluation is required, the student must apply to the agency directly and pay the costs of the service. The student should request that an original report be sent to OSUIT and should provide the mailing address of the OSUIT international office.

OSUIT recommends WES and ECE for transcript evaluation agencies. WES stands for World Education Services and the website is www.wes.org ECE stands for Educational Credential Evaluators and the website is www.ece.org

If you prefer to use a different agency, please contact International Student Services to check if the agency is approved.

•  61 TOEFL internet based
• 500 TOEFL paper based
• 5.5 IELTS

Yes, if you are studying English in Oklahoma we would love to meet you! You have the opportunity to visit our campus, meet faculty face-to-face, and really find out if OSUIT is right for you. Contact us and we can arrange an appointment for you at our campus or make a presentation at your English language school.

Also, if you are studying at an approved Intensive English Program in the state of Oklahoma, you may be eligible for admission with a lower TOEFL or IELTS score. Please make sure your school is on this list (link to list). If your school is on the approved list, you may show English proficiency by the following process:

First, take the TOEFL or IELTS and score at least:

• TOEFL 48 interned based
• TOEFL 460 paper based
• IELTS 5.0

Next, successfully complete an approved Intensive Language Program (IEP) for 12 weeks.

• At least 8 weeks must be at an advanced level
• the IEP must be approved

To be admitted to OSUIT under this option, you must take the TOEFL exam before you begin an Approved IEP. You will not need to take the TOEFL again after completing the IEP.

There are many good English language programs in Oklahoma. Some recommended options are

• The Language Company in Edmond
• ESL at Tulsa Community College in Tulsa

These programs are both approved for OSUIT’s alternative English proficiency policy. OSUIT is happy to refer our applicants personally to these schools, just let us know if you would like a referral.

Let us know if you choose to study English in Oklahoma. We would love to meet you!