International Students
Degree-Seeking International Students
If you wish to apply to UIC as a regular degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student, you will need to complete an undergraduate or graduate application. These applications, as well as information about applying as a degree-seeking student, can be found on the Office of Admissions website.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Courses
If you are interested in taking noncredit ESL courses only, you do not need to complete a Summer Session Only application. For more information see the Tutorium in Intensive English website or send an email to: Tutorium@uic.edu.
Visa Requirements for Nondegree Summer Session Only Students
International students are welcome to apply as Summer Session Only (SSO) students. Summer Session Only students are admitted to UIC as nondegree undergraduate students only for the summer session. Because they are admitted as nondegree students, UIC cannot provide international SSO students with immigration documents such as the I-20 or DS-2019. In order to attend our summer session, you must be a continuing student at another school in the U.S. and already have valid non-immigrant F or J status. If you are already in the U.S. on a valid J-2 visa, you may also apply.
In addition to reviewing the general eligibility requirements for Summer Session Only applicants, please read the following guidelines for more information about eligibility and admission requirements for international Summer Session Only applicants:
If you have a F-1 visa: If you are already in the U.S. enrolled as a continuing student at a U.S. college or university on a valid student visa (F-1) and may legally remain in the U.S. for the duration of our session, you may attend UIC as a Summer Session Only student without further visa documentation. You will need to have a letter from the Designated School Official (D.S.O.) of your home college or university granting permission to attend UIC for the summer.
If you have a J-1 visa: If you are already in the U.S. enrolled as a continuing student at a U.S. college or university on a valid exchange visitor's visa (J-1) and may legally remain in the U.S. for the duration of our session, you may attend UIC as a Summer Session Only student without further visa documentation. You will need to have a letter from the Responsible Officer (R.O.) or Alternate Responsible Officer (A.R.O.) of your home college or university granting permission to attend UIC for the summer.
- If you have a J-2 visa: If you are already in the U.S. on a valid exchange visitor's dependent visa (J-2) and may legally remain in the U.S. for the duration of our session, you may attend UIC as a Summer Session Only student without further visa documentation of your J-2 status. However, you will need to submit proof of your J-1's legal status in the U.S., such as a copy of the J-1's DS-2019.
Note: If you have any questions about maintaining your immigration status while at UIC, please contact the college or university that issued your immigration documents.
English Language Competency Requirements for Summer Session Only Students
If you are applying to UIC as a Summer Session Only student, UIC does not require test scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for admission.
How to Apply
If you plan to take summer session courses as a nondegree undergraduate student, you will need to:
- Complete and submit the Summer Session Only application.
- Submit the required supporting documents to the Office of Admissions. Please read “Required Supporting Documents” below for further information.
Step 1 and 2 both need to be completed by the application deadline. See “Key Dates” for the deadline.
Required Supporting Documents
In order to be admitted to UIC as a Summer Session Only student, you will need to provide the UIC Office of Admissions with an official letter from your home college or university's International Student Services office giving you permission to attend UIC for the summer. Your application will be considered incomplete until the Office of Admissions receives this letter of approval. Read the following instructions on how to prepare and submit this letter to UIC.
Who should prepare the letter
If you have a valid student visa (F-1), go to your home school's International Student Services office and request an official letter from the Designated School Official (D.S.O.) granting you permission to attend UIC for the summer. The letter should be on official school letterhead paper.
If you have a valid exchange visitor's visa (J-1), go to your home school's International Student Services office and request an official letter from the Responsible Officer (R.O.) or Alternate Responsible Officer (A.R.O.) granting you permission to attend UIC for the summer. The letter should be on official school letterhead paper.
If you have J-2 status, you do not need to submit a letter from a college or university. However, you will need to submit proof of your J-1's legal status in the U.S., such as a copy of the J-1's DS-2019 with your application.
What the letter should include
In order to prevent delays in the processing of your application, please make sure that your letter includes your full name, your birth date, and states that you are applying to UIC as a Summer Session Only student.
How to submit the letter to the UIC Office of Admissions
The letter can be faxed to the Office of Admissions, but it will only be accepted as official if it is faxed directly from your home college or university's International Student Services office. Your school can fax the letter to: (312) 413-7628 or (312) 996-2953. Please make sure that your school includes a cover sheet with their office name and phone number and faxes it to the attention of "Special Projects/Summer Session Only." The letter must be faxed by the application deadline. See “Key Dates” for the deadline.
You or your school can mail the letter directly to:
University of Illinois at Chicago
Office of Admission and Records (MC 018)
Box 6020
Chicago, IL 60680-6020
Attention: Special Projects/Summer Session Only
The letter should be on official school letterhead paper and must be in a sealed envelope from your school in order to be considered official. It must be postmarked by the application deadline. See “Key Dates” for the deadline.