International

Your New Home Away From Home

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If you haven’t already, go ahead and review our admission policies. These are requirements every student attending Tusculum is expected to meet.

All Tusculum University international students are required to have health insurance. In order to remain enrolled in classes, please complete the Health Insurance Waiver Form and email to the Office of Admission at admission@tusculum.edu.

Steps to Admission

The below steps can be found within our university catalog.

STEP 1: Submit Application

A complete Tusculum Application for Admission must be submitted. Please include your name, exactly as it is noted on your application on all documents you submit.

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STEP 2: Submit Academic Transcript

First-Time Freshman

  • Arrange for your secondary school to send your official transcripts directly to Tusculum. If the transcripts are not in English, please include English translations. Students from educational systems with external exams should submit certified external exam results (i.e., GCE/AS results, CBSE Board exams, etc.). You must submit official transcripts from any dual enrollment/other schools attended (if applicable).
  • If you have attended more than one high school, you must submit records from each school if the grades/marks are not listed on your current high school transcript.

Transfer International Students

  • Transfer students with less than 24 transferable semester hours must also submit a high school transcript (see above). Transcripts are required from ALL post-secondary institutions which have been attended.
  • Post-secondary transcripts in a language other than English must be certified by a NACES accredited evaluation company. Tusculum recommends World Education Service OR Educational Credential Evaluators, but students are free to choose from an NACES accredited company.

If an applicant is discovered to have falsified their academic documentation, Tusculum reserves the right to deny admission or dismiss the student from their course of study.

Submit by Mail

If transcripts are mailed, they must be official with an original signature of the school official(s) or the school seal on the transcript and sent directly from the school or submitted in an envelope sealed by the school. Transcripts are not considered official if they are issued to the student. Transcripts should be mailed to the following address:

Tusculum University
Office of Admission
P.O. Box 5051
Greeneville, TN 37745

STEP 3: Submit Official ACT or SAT Score(s)

All international applicants are required to submit either official ACT or SAT score(s). Applicants do not have to send both. Our office will accept scores from both the old and new SAT tests.

Applicants should be mindful of the Tusculum International Student application deadline of June 1 when scheduling the ACT or SAT. The optional ACT or SAT writing/essay section are neither required nor recommended. The SAT II Subject Tests are also not required.

Tusculum University will consider all official test scores from multiple tests dates. The highest composite score from among each test will be used. There is no limit to the number of test scores you may submit with your application.

For students graduating from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, we will waive the ACT/SAT requirement.

NOTE: If you have used a different name (nickname, middle name, etc.) when taking the ACT/SAT, you will need to notify our office by sending an email to admission@tusculum.edu.

ACT/SAT scores must be sent to us directly from the testing agencies to be considered official.

Tusculum Test Codes

SAT=1060
ACT=21

STEP 4: Submit Proof of English Proficiency

International applicants (from a country whose primary language is NOT English) must submit proof of English proficiency, which may be demonstrated by one of the following:

  • Official Internet-Based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 68 or higher.
  • An attested or watermarked copy of an IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) exam score of 6.0 or higher.
  • Official iTEP (International Test of English Proficiency) score of 3.5 or higher.
  • Official computer-based GTEC (Global Test of English Communication) score of 1200 or higher.
  • A “C” or better in transferable English Composition courses (two semesters) at an accredited U.S. college or university.
  • A “C” or better on the UK system AS or A-Level English Exams (not ESL), or Hong Kong system HKALE English Exam.
  • The ELS Language Center’s Master level 108 class with a grade of “C” or higher.
  • IB (International Baccalaureate) 1 English grade result of 5 or better.
  • A student transferring 30 or more semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university is not required to provide English proficiency scores.

All official scores must be submitted to Tusculum University directly from the testing service and test must have been taken within the last 5 years.

Students scoring below these required minimums will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Admission and Standards Committee and recommend an admission decision to the Provost. The evaluation will consider country of residence, language of previous instruction, other standardized test scores, and English course grades. An interview using an approved evaluation service may be used as an additional evaluation tool. The cost will be paid by the student. Please note the findings of this interview will be used in conjunction with all other above scores and materials.

All language proficiency exams must be taken within 5 years of the time of application.

STEP 5: Submit Verification of Financial Support and Proof of Health Insurance

After admission has been granted, the international student will submit the Certification of Finances form and $150.00 enrollment deposit. The Certification of Finances form must be submitted along with the student’s bank deposit information from a bank or similar financial institution. If there is a U.S. based sponsor, the Certificate of Finances form should be completed by the sponsor and submitted along with a letter of support. All financial arrangements must be confirmed before the student arrives at Tusculum. All international students must have current health insurance. Students may provide proof of coverage on parent’s insurance (clearly showing coverage in the U.S. and a submitted waiver), or purchase student insurance at Tusculum. International student insurance MUST be provided in order to remain enrolled in classes. Once the admitted student has submitted the enrollment deposit and financial arrangements, Tusculum will issue the Form I-20 which is used to secure the student visa.

When You Arrive...

Prospective and current international students are responsible for staying informed of the United States Department of Homeland Security and regulations for the International Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). It is your responsibility to obtain your visa, file your I-901 form and pay the mandatory SEVIS fee, and make any necessary travel arrangements.

Students admitted to study in the U.S. on an F-1 visa must attend Tusculum on a full-time basis to remain in good status. International students may not engage in unauthorized employment.

Within one week of the start of class, students must submit proof of health insurance coverage (see above).

When arriving by air, students should fly into Knoxville’s McGhee-Tyson Airport (TYS) or the Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI). Prior to scheduling your flight, you should check with the Office of Admissions. Tusculum will provide transportation from the airport to our campus. We will have two scheduled pick-ups two days prior to the beginning of class. If you arrive at a different time, you must make your own travel arrangements.