Undergraduate Application Process

How To Apply

To be considered for undergraduate admission all prospective international students must meet the minimum standards of admission and must submit the following:

1. Application.  An undergraduate international application with both pages completed and signed.
2. Application Fee of $75 (non-refundable).
3. Copy of Passport Please copy the biographical data page of your passport and submit with application.
4. Transcripts.  Official report of evaluated transcripts issued directly to Lamar University by the evaluating agency.
5. Academic Standardized Test Scores.  Official SAT or ACT score reports must be issued directly to Lamar University by the testing agency. Lamar University’s institution code is 6360.
6. Language Proficiency.  Most international students whose first language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Lamar University must receive the official test scores issued directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) before admission can be granted. Test scores are valid for two (2) years from the test date. ETS will not issue official scores that are more than two years old. Language test scores are not required of those international students who have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from a university where English is the language of instruction (e.g., universities in the United States, Canada, and England).
7. Writing Test Scores.   International students who do not score at least a 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE) portion of the TOEFL will be required to take a placement exam upon arrival on campus before they will be allowed to register for classes. Students who score below a 5.5 on the writing section of the IELTS will also be required to take the placement exam. Those who score below the stated standards will be placed in an English writing class.

8. THEA.   Undergraduate students who have not previously earned university credit must take the Texas Higher Education Assessment. This academic based placement test is not part of the application and can be taken upon arrival at Lamar University. For more information on this test please go to THEA web site.
9. Proof of Financial Resources.   International students must prove that they have the financial resources to attend Lamar University. As part of the application process, international students must submit an original Financial Statement Form that asks for personal, family, and/or sponsor financial information and a bank verification of financial holdings. All international students are required to have health and accident insurance for themselves and all their dependent family members in the United States. Insurance must be purchased at the University during the registration period. For more information about financial commitment and amounts please see the Financial Information section of the web site.

Applicants may find it useful to use our application materials checklist found in the applications form section. Once the application materials have been received, the office of international student services will send the applicant an email with a notice of any missing materials. From the time the application file is complete students can expect at least two weeks of processing time before they receive an acceptance or denial notice via email.

 

Application Forms

• Undergraduate International Application
• Additional Departmental Requirements (Please see your academic department's web site)

Transfer Student Form
• SEVIS Transfer in Form

 

Admission Deadlines

Mailing Your Application. If you are sending your application documents by regular mail, please send to the address listed on the application. If sending by courier, you must send to:

Lamar University International Student Services 211 Redbird Lane Beaumont, Texas 77710 U.S.A.

Deadlines. Applicants must submit materials by the deadlines below. Any application submitted beyond the deadline will be considered for admission on a rolling basis if processing time allows; if processing time does not allow the application will be considered for the following semester. Please remember it is in the student’s best interest to submit materials in a timely manner due to the lengthy visa process.

	Begins:	Apply By:
Fall Term	August	April 15th
Spring Term	January	September 1st
Summer Term	May	January 15th

 

Admission Standards

Applicants who attended colleges or universities must furnish certified translations of their academic records. Applicants who have attended foreign secondary schools must have their transcripts both translated and evaluated.  Undergraduate admission will be based on the completion of a secondary education program certified by a professional evaluator to be equivalent to a United States high school diploma.  Undergraduate applicants must also produce a minimum SAT score of 950 (950 minimum for the combined score of the Critical Reading and Math sections) or a minimum ACT score of 20.  In addition, the following English language standards must be met through either the TOEFL or the IELTS tests:

English Minimum Requirement

ACADEMIC LEVEL	TOEFL Paper-Based	TOEFL Internet Based	TOEFL - Writing	IELTS Composite	IELTS - Writing
Undergraduate Regular Admission	500	61	5	6.0	6.0
Undergraduate Bridge Program	475	51		5.5

 

Bridge Program

The Academic Bridge Program exists for special applicants who have not passed the TOEFL entrance requirements for regular admission, but are considered worthy prospects for success at Lamar University.  The Bridge Program recognizes that English test scores should not in every case eclipse all other evaluations of an applicant’s academic potential.  Admission to the Bridge Program allows concurrent enrollment in English language and academic courses – so that students may begin working towards a degree while improving their English skills for full time academic enrollment.  Bridge students maintain full-time enrollment status by taking 50% academic coursework and 50% language classes until they can pass the minimum TOEFL or IELTS requirement for regular admission.  To qualify for the Bridge Program at the undergraduate level, students must have the equivalent at least 475 on the TOEFL (please reference chart above) and an SAT score of 300.      

Transfer Students

International students who plan to transfer to Lamar University from another college or university in the United States must have completed at least two regular semesters with at least 30 semester hours of transferable work. An average of C (2.0) on all work attempted is required. Applicants may be required to submit recommendations from teachers or foreign student advisors. The usual transfer standards apply except that tests may be required if unconditional eligibility is not established. Students should be aware that certain departments may require higher academic proficiency for admission to their program.

International students who plan to transfer to Lamar University from a college or university outside of the United States must have their transcript professionally evaluated by an evaluating agency. An average of C (2.0) on all work attempted is required. All admissions requirements for regular undergraduate admission apply to international transfer students except the SAT/ACT requirement may be waived if the student is eligible to transfer 18 or more credits to Lamar University. Students should be aware that certain departments may require higher academic proficiency for admission to their program.

 

Admissions Appeals

Prospective students who have been denied admission to Lamar University have the right to appeal. The Appeals Committee considers appeals on an individual basis and makes recommendations to the Office of Admissions. Contact the Office of International Student Services (118 Wimberly Building) for complete details on the appeals process.