Incoming Students

Incoming exchange students must secure nomination from the Study Abroad office at their home institution in order to begin the application process. Study Abroad students may contact WVU Education Abroad with written approval from their home institution. In addition, students must meet a 2.5/4.0 GPA and meet WVU's English proficiency requirements in order to participate. Important dates and deadlines can be found in the Quick Reference Fact Sheets attached above. Most Incoming Exchange and Study Abroad students will travel to the U.S. on a J-1 visa. Information and processing of U.S. visa documentation is provided by the Office of International Students and Scholars. Upon admission, you will receive information on how to apply for documentation to support your J-1 visa

Students are expected to arrive approximately 1 week before classes begin to attend New International Student Orientation. WVU will arrange shuttles services for students on a specified date before orientation from the Pittsburgh International Airport. Students arriving to the Dulles International Airport (3.5 hour driving time) or Morgantown Municipal Airport (10 minute drive) will need to make personal arrangements for transportation to campus. Students need to be mindful of dates and travel restrictions placed by their visa to remain in good standing.

Incoming Exchange and Study Abroad Students are required to register in full-time, on-campus credit hours during their time at WVU. As a part of the online application, you will need to complete a Course Request List. You can find past course offerings using the class schedule search. Please use the following guidelines when searching for courses:

• Select “WVU Campus Course” under Campus.
• Undergraduate level courses are numbered 100-499.
• Graduate level are numbered 500+
• Only students participating in a virtual exchange should select online coursework. Those traveling to campus are required to take face-to-face classes.
• Full time for undergraduates requires 12 WVU credit hours.
• Graduates must register in 9 WVU credit hours.

Students are encourage to select on-campus housing options for the full WVU student experience. Stalnaker Hall houses the Global Live, Learn Community bringing together students seeking diversity, global conversations, and interest in travel. To live in an on-campus residence hall, you must complete the online housing application. Students living in residence halls are required to purchase a dining plan. Students seeking off-campus accommodations can find more information through the Off-Campus Housing Office.

All students at West Virginia University are required to have health insurance. Students are automatically enrolled in the university student health insurance coverage. Students may request a waiver by submitting their current insurance information for review. More information can be found here.

Exchange students at WVU have a variety of ways in which they can prove their English proficiency. The following are the approved methods:

• Submitting a test score that meets WVU’s English requirements for degree-seeking students.
• Submitting an expired test score (but less than 5 years old) that would have met WVU’s English requirements for degree-seeking students.
• Being a resident and/or enrolled in an institution in a country where English is the official language OR the language of instruction in higher education.
• Being currently enrolled in or will have successfully completed the equivalent of one semester/term of instruction in English at a four-year college or university. (Requires confirmation from home institution that course instruction was in English.)
• Showing that admission to the home institution required a level of English proficiency equivalent to WVU’s standards for degree-seeking students.
• Transcripts that evidence the equivalent of 12 hours or more of credit where English was the language of instruction.
• Transcripts that show the equivalent of WVU’s English 101 and 102 courses, with a grade of B or better in both.
• Scores on commonly accepted national or institutional English exams that show proficiency equal to that required of WVU’s degree-seeking students. (For example, the British GCSE/IGCSE.)
• Showing evidence of being a native English speaker.
• - Submitting a test score that meets WVU’s English requirements for degree-seeking students.

The allowed exceptions for incoming exchange students is for undergraduate exchange only. We will be requiring test scores graduate exchange students moving forward.

WVU will NOT accept letters from instructors, faculty members, administrators, guidance counselors, etc., as proof of English proficiency. For questions, contact educationabroad@mail.wvu.edu

Effective: 19 August 2021.