FAQs for New Students

Submit a completed application form, a copy of your passport photo page, and a bank statement, scholarship letter, or other financial guarantee. If you are outside the U.S. and requesting an I-20, you will pay a $200 fee that covers a $100 tuition deposit and $100 for initial I-20 issuance. If you are transferring from another school in the United States or do not need immigration documents, you can pay just the $100 tuition deposit.

Payment can be made with MasterCard, Visa, bank transfer, or cashier’s check; you may pay application fees online here.

If you are requesting immigration documents to obtain an F-1 visa, we recommend applying at least 60 days in advance to allow enough time for visa processing. You may need more or less time, depending on the country you will apply from. Visit the Department of State’s website to check the visa appointment wait time at the nearest US Consulate.

If you do not need immigration documents, we recommend applying at least a week in advance, to allow enough time to process the application and create a UT record.

The University of Texas at Austin does not offer conditional admission to degree programs upon completing studies at the English Language Center.

English Language Center students have access to seminars and presentations about applying to universities in the United States, and our faculty will often review personal statements or essays for students who are applying to degree programs.

If you are interested in applying to The University of Texas at Austin and know the program you would like to join, being in Austin also allows you the opportunity to introduce yourself in person to professors and staff to discuss your plans for future study.

We will mail you an acceptance packet that contains a Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for an F-1 student visa). You then contact the local embassy to begin applying for your student visa. Here are the steps to apply for the visa once you have received your I-20:

• Pay the SEVIS fee to obtain a Form I-901 (SEVIS fee receipt)
• Complete the DS-160 application
• Schedule your appointment through the appointment center and pay the application fee
• Attend the visa interview
• Pick up your passport and visa

Many students are nervous about the visa interview. The most important things are to demonstrate strong ties to your home country, and how enrolling in our program will benefit your long term plans. Watch the How to Apply for your F-1 Student Visa video to help you understand the visa application process and get tips for success from our students.

We provide information on popular housing options, but you are responsible for finding housing on your own. There are a number of private dormitories, apartments, and other types of housing within walking distance of the UT campus.

Payments can be made with credit/debit card, cashier’s check, money order, or wire transfer. We do not accept cash.

We do not have scholarships for new students. However, each semester we award scholarships to two outstanding students to continue their studies with us.

If you study with us in F-1 status, you are eligible to work up to 20 hours per week on campus. The largest student employer is University Housing & Dining. At your registration appointment, you will meet with an immigration advisor who can answer your questions about employment eligibility and restrictions.  

Insurance is required for all students who enroll with an F-1/F-2 or J-1/J-2 visa. English Language Center students are enrolled in the UT student health insurance, which is offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

UT student health insurance can be waived by completing and submitting a waiver form by your registration date. You must show proof of a private insurance policy that meets or exceed the UT requirements. See the waiver form for full details.

You may request to have your admission and I-20 deferred to a later session if your F-1 visa application is denied or delayed. Send your deferral request to elc@austin.utexas.edu. Your request must be sent before the Wednesday of registration week to have your tuition deposit transferred to the next available session. See our deferral policies for full details.

Locations of classes change each semester depending on classroom availability. You will move from building to building between classes, which is typical for most U.S. universities. Below is a copy of the campus map with a star next to our office building, Texas Global, at 2400 Nueces Suite B. Our most common classroom buildings are circled in blue.

Parking at the university can be difficult. We encourage you to use public transportation; you can ride all CapMetro routes free with your UT student ID card. Parking options include limited paid street parking, private paid parking lots, UT Intramural Fields, and puchasing a C or C+ parking permit. 

Students enroll in the English Language Center at UT from all over the world. Our Fall 2024 session had students from over 30 countries enroll with us, with the largest groups coming from Mexico, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. We feel classes benefit from having a variety of language backgrounds, so we work to ensure than no more than one-third of our student population speak the same language.

We work with agents who have been carefully vetted and adhere to good practices. Contact us at agents_txglobal@austin.utexas.edu if you would like more information.