International Applicants
International Freshman and Transfer
For Fall 2009 applicants, please use the Freshman or Transfer application to apply for as an international applicant.
If you are applying for Spring 2009, please use this link to our Spring 2009 International application .
A complete Application for Admission for International Students includes:
- Application Fee
- Required Essay
- Official Records of Study
- Demonstration of Proficiency in English
- Recommendation
- Certification of Finances
An explanation of each element of the complete application follows:
Application for Admission
The Application for Admission must be completed in full and signed by the applicant (signature required for paper version only). You can mail it to the Office of Admission or submit the application electronically.
Important — Please make sure that the family name (last name) and given name (first name) on your application for admission exactly match the names on your passport. This will ease processing of your immigration documents if you are admitted and choose to enroll.
Required Essay
Provide a brief statement (approximately 500 words) explaining your reasons for seeking further education and your reasons for requesting admission to the University of the Pacific. If your native language is not English, you may seek assistance in writing the statement.
Official Records of Study
You should arrange for the Office of Admission to receive official or certified copies of your academic records for all secondary and post-secondary (including college, university, institute or professional school) study. Official or certified copies of results of public or external examinations you have taken are also required. These should be sent, whenever possible, by the examining authority itself.
Records should list the subjects studied and the grade or mark received. Records should include copies of degrees, diplomas or certificates received. The University expects official copies of the original document in the official language of the educational system. If that language is not English, an official translation should be attached.
You may submit officially certified or attested photocopies of original records. If your application is approved, you will be expected to present the originals to the Admission Office for inspection prior to registration. If you have completed post-secondary study outside the U.S., you will probably be required to provide the University with course descriptions, study plans and other information about your study before transfer credit for the study can be considered.
Scholastics Assessment Test (SAT) / ACT
All freshman applicants to the Pre-Pharmacy Advantage, Accelerated Pre-Dentistry, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, or Dental Hygiene programs must submit either Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT Reasoning Test) or the ACT (Writing section included) scores. To receive further information in connection with this requirement, please contact the Office of Admission.
English Language Proficiency
If your native language is not English, you must submit official results of one of the following in order to receive consideration for admission:
- Internet-based TOEFL score of 52
- Computer-based TOEFL score of 150
- Paper-based TOEFL score of 475
- IELTS score of 5
With these scores, you would be required to take the University's ESL placement exam if you are admitted. You may also be required to take additional ESL classes during your first term at the University.
Scores of 80/213/550/6.5 will exempt you of the ESL placement exam and further ESL classes.
Information about TOEFL can be located online at http://www.ets.org/toefl; information about IELTS can be located at http://www.ielts.org.
Recommendation
The recommendation form must be completed by a counselor, principal, director or other responsible official of the institution in which you are currently enrolled or which you last attended. If you have been out of school for more than two years and have been employed full-time, you may ask your employer to complete the form.
Certification of Finances
Total cost of attending University of the Pacific can be found here. University costs rise approximately 3% each year. Unless you are a U.S. citizen or unless you have been classified by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service as a permanent resident, you must certify that you have sufficient financial resources for each year of your intended stay in the U.S. by completing item 20 carefully.
In addition, you must provide the University with a recent financial guarantee or recommendation in the form of a letter from a financial institution showing the specific dollar amount per year available to you and the duration of its availability. If your study will be sponsored by a government agency or foreign embassy the letter of sponsorship must show the term for which you are applying for admission, the academic major or field of study to be sponsored and the length of sponsorship.
The University may require further certification of finances or advanced payment of tuition and fees from students whose funds originate in countries where severe currency restrictions exist. If you will be accompanied in the U.S., allow $3,000-3,500 per year for each dependent and be sure to answer item 20 carefully. The University cannot send you forms for your student visa until complete financial certification has been obtained.
Financial Assistance
The University usually restricts its scholarships or other financial assistance to students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States. However, some limited scholarship funding is available to international students, including merit-based and athletic scholarships. To be considered for a merit-based scholarship, you must simply submit an application for admission and all supporting items. You will be notified of an award if you admitted and qualify for an award..
Additional Requirements for Certain Programs
Applicants to the Conservatory of Music
Those interested in applying to the Conservatory of music must present evidence of musical talent and achievement by performing an audition. Those planning to major in composition must also submit an original composition. Instructions are available from the Office of the Dean of the Conservatory of Music or at http://www.pacific.edu/audition
Pacific Legal Scholars Candidates
Strong candidates applying for the Pacific Legal Scholars Program will be expected to complete an interview either on campus or by phone after the application is complete (items listed above have been received by the University of the Pacific). The Director of the program will contact prospective students for the interview during the spring semester. Additional information on the Pacific legal Scholars Program can be found here.
Housing
University of the Pacific is a residential university. Most of its students live on the University campus in residence halls operated by the University’s Housing Office. Most residence halls are coeducational (for both men and women), but the University also has facilities exclusively for women. The University requires all first- and second-year students to live in University housing. Exceptions may be given to those living with their parent(s) or to those who request exception due to medical or religious reasons. The University has limited facilities for married students.
Application Decision and Notification
The Office of Admission will review your application as soon as it and all supporting documents are received and will notify you of its decision as promptly as possible.
Reply Date and Confirming Deposit
If you are offered admission to the University, the Office of Admission will specify in the approval letter a “reply date.” This is the date by which you must reply to the admission offer. If you decide to accept the University’s offer of admission you must make a U.S. $200 deposit by the reply date. The deposit will be credited toward your tuition for your first term of study. If your study at University of the Pacific will be sponsored by a foreign embassy or government, you must make certain that the deposit is made for you, or you must make the deposit yourself.
Medical Questionnaire
On approval of the application for any regular term, a medical questionnaire will be sent to you for completion and return. This report is required of all students registering for more than 6 semester units and must be filed prior to registration.
Honor Code
Established in 1958, the Honor Code is intended to maintain and preserve the high standards of personal character and integrity vital in academic pursuits. The success of the honor code is made possible only with the acceptance and cooperation of every student. We fully expect that every University student will join with us in maintaining the principle and the tradition of the code in all aspects of college life.
Applicants for admission to the University are asked to recognize the responsibilities of the code and to accept its principles. Your signature on the application form or electronic signature from the online application indicates that you agree to uphold the principles of the code. For more information please see the Tiger Lore and the Pacific Guide.
