Special Information for International Students

There are some special considerations that apply to International Students.

TOEFL

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam is required for international students whose native language is not English.  The TOEFL test is now administered in two ways: a traditional paper and pencil test, and a new computerized test.  The numerical scores on the two tests are not the same.  A score of 600 on the paper and pencil test is equivalent to a score of 250 on the new computerized test.  These scores are the minimum TOEFL scores that the University routinely accepts.  In unusual circumstances, the department is sometimes able to obtain exceptions to this requirement, though only when the shortfall is modest, and the application is in other respects extraordinary. 

ESL

We have found that being skilled in the writing and speaking of English is vital to the success of our graduate students. Good English-language skills help students qualify for and succeed in teaching positions, find better jobs when graduating from the program, and "sell" their research to colleagues.

When new international students arrive in August, they take the University of Virginia English Language Proficiency Exam and the SPEAK test, which are administered by the Center for American English Language and Culture (CAELC). The CAELC may make recommendations for further English study, and we view these recommendations as requirements. We have developed a special ESL course, LING 108, which the CAELC recommends to many of our students. LING 108 is for Economics graduate students only and was designed not to overburden students with a heavy academic workload.

The SPEAK test is given to all current and prospective Teaching Assistants (TAs). A student must earn a minimum score of 55 on the SPEAK test in order to be a TA. Current TAs will not lose their TA position if they score below 55; however, they must meet the ESL requirements recommended by the CAELC (such as successful completion of LING 108 or other ESL course, or achieving a score of 55 or better on a future SPEAK test). Students who are not TAs will not be eligible for TA positions until they meet their ESL requirements. More information regarding CAELC testing can be found here: http://www.virginia.edu/provost/caelc/services.html

We expect all of our international students to work hard at improving their English skills, whether it be through the LING 108 course or through other opportunities available to students.

MAILING DELAYS

A second problem for  international students involves mailing delays.  Please apply early; some international mail delays are three weeks, even with airmail.  If your completed application is not in our hands by February 1, it reduces your chances of getting financial aid.

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL AID FORM

A third problem for international students is that the supplemental financial aid form seems to require you to document a specific level of financial support at the time of application, which is often before you receive our financial aid offer or fellowships from other sources.  The best response to this dilemma is probably to list a combination of:  1) the fellowship amount(s) that you have applied for from international agencies, home-country sources, etc., and 2) personal or family assets.

 The documentation that you provide to the Graduate School on sources of support is used for visa purposes.  The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service will not issue a student visa to any student for whom the sum of financial aid received (including aid from the University of Virginia) and personal/family resources listed is insufficient to support them in the United States.  The exact level of support required by the INS will be specified in the admission information that you will receive.  Financial aid awards in the Department of Economics are made with full knowledge of INS requirements, and we will not knowingly offer aid which leaves the candidate unable to meet INS requirements.  Our financial aid decisions are usually made in early April.

For further information, visit the the web page of Virginia's International Studies Office.