International Undergraduate Student Admission

Definition

Applications from individuals who plan to enroll while residing in the United States on a non-immigrant visa are processed as international students. International students can apply by submitting the online International Student ApplyTexas Application or Common App.

All international students, including first-time freshmen and transfer students, must prove proficiency in English by submitting scores from an approved English language proficiency exam.  Approved English language proficiency exams include: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test (DET), PTE Academic, iTEP Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced. Passing an approved English language proficiency exam does not guarantee admission to UT San Antonio.

Approved English Language Proficiency Tests
for Undergraduate Applicants		 Minimum Test Scores
TOEFL Internet-Based Test (IBT), taken prior to January 21, 2026 79 or greater
TOEFL Internet-Based Test (IBT), taken on or after January 21, 2026 4.0 or greater
IELTS 6.5 or greater
Duolingo English Test (DET) 95 or greater
PTE Academic 58 or greater
iTEP Academic 3.8 or greater
Cambridge C1 Advanced minimum scale 180 grade C or higher
SAT 500 or greater on the critical reading section
ACT 21 or greater on the English component
TOEFL Paper-Based Test (ITP)* 550 or greater
*

Effective January 21, 2026, the TOEFL iBT adopted a revised scoring scale. Minimum score requirements are applied based on the scoring scale in effect at the time the examination was taken.

*

TOEFL Paper-Based (ITP) examination is accepted for UT San Antonio Academic English Program or UT San Antonio International Pathway applicants.

The English language proficiency exam score requirement will be waived if:

  • The applicant must have graduated from a high school in the United States or in one of the English‑speaking countries listed below. The applicant must also have completed at least two full years of standard English courses.
  • The applicant completed college-level English Composition I with a grade of "B-" or better.
  • The applicant scored 500 or greater on the evidence-based reading/writing section of the SAT.
  • The applicant scored 21 or greater on the English section of the ACT.
  • The applicant graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher in the United States or in one of the English-speaking countries listed below. 

Applicants from the following countries are exempt from submitting English language proficiency exam scores:

  • American Samoa
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Botswana
  • Canada (except Quebec)
  • Dominica
  • Fiji
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Grand Cayman
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Trinidad/Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Uganda
  • United Kingdom
  • U.S. Pacific Trust
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

International First-Time Freshmen

Applicants for admission to UT San Antonio as international first-time freshmen must:

  1. Have qualifications equivalent to those of students entering from accredited secondary schools in the United States, as determined by the UT San Antonio International Undergraduate Admissions.
  2. Submit all application materials, including application for admission, nonrefundable application fee, official secondary school transcripts/marksheets/certificates, official English language proficiency exam scores, and all supporting documents to International Undergraduate Admissions.

International undergraduate admission to UT San Antonio is offered to academically qualified international applicants. Completed applications are evaluated through an individual review process after all supporting admissions materials are received by International Undergraduate Admissions. Students who are admitted to the UT San Antonio are not guaranteed admission to a specific academic program.

All supporting material should include the student’s full name and date of birth as it appears on the application. The supporting materials should be mailed to: The University of Texas at San Antonio, Admissions Operations, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249.

Consult the UT San Antonio International Undergraduate Admissions website for detailed freshman admission criteria.

International Transfer Students

Transferring from schools outside the United States: International transfer students who have earned 30 or more transferable credit hours from an accredited college or university in a country other than the United States must have a 2.25 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, as determined by International Undergraduate Admissions. A foreign credential evaluation is required for any non-U.S. college, university or other post-secondary school transcript. UT San Antonio undergraduate admissions accepts evaluations from Foreign Credential Services of America (FCSA) or any NACES-approved agency. Please check www.naces.org for the most updated member list.

Transferring from schools within the United States: International transfer students who have earned 30 or more transferable credit hours from an accredited college or university in the United States must have a 2.25 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale for all college work attempted.

Freshman-Transfer: Students with less than 30 semester credit hours earned at the time of applying must meet freshmen and transfer admission requirements.

Transfer Coursework

Upon admission, UT San Antonio grants credit for college-level transfer coursework earned with a grade of “D” or higher from accredited colleges and universities. Applicability of such coursework toward the UT San Antonio degree plan is at the discretion of the major academic department.

Admitted students may submit a petition to the appropriate major academic department for the evaluation of transfer coursework earned from a non-accredited international institution or completed as part of a professional undergraduate degree (e.g., Medicine, Law, Dentistry). Such coursework will be reviewed on an individual basis, and credit may be awarded at the discretion of the department. UT San Antonio reserves the right to refuse recognition of credit from any institution if it is determined that the coursework does not meet departmental standards of level, rigor, quality, comparability, and degree program relevance. General information about transferring courses may be found in the UT San Antonio Undergraduate Catalog.

Shorelight Education Applicants 

Qualifying students may apply for admission directly to UT San Antonio or apply through Shorelight Education. Undergraduate international students, regardless of their English language proficiency level, can participate in the personalized programs and services offered by Shorelight Education. These supportive services include admission support, enrollment services, academic support, and career development. UT San Antonio will accept degree equivalencies and course evaluations as determined by Shorelight Education for admission purposes.

It is important that all materials submitted to UT San Antonio or to Shorelight Education are complete and accurate. Incomplete applications cannot be processed, and those with inaccurate information may be canceled.

International Application Deadlines

Fall Semester June 1
Spring Semester November 1
Summer Semester April 1