International Students

Volunteer State Community College welcomes applications from individuals living outside the United States. There are several admissions classifications for these applicants.

International Students Holding or Applying for F-1 or M-1 Visas
Other Degree-Seeking International Students
Non-Degree Seeking International Applicants

International Students Holding or Applying for F-1 or M-1 Visas

Applicants must complete ALL requirements by October 1 for spring term, March 1 for summer term, or June 1 for fall term. Applicants holding or applying for F-1 or M-1 visas MUST apply as degree seeking students. Applicants will not be permitted to register for classes until all admission requirements have been satisfied. International applicants will be required to pay out-of-state tuition.

Applicants seeking admission as degree-seeking international students must meet the following requirements:

Application:

A completed application for admission to Volunteer State Community College is required.

Application Fee:

Applicants are required to submit a one-time nonrefundable fee of $10.00 with their initial application for admission.

English Placement:

Applicants whose native language is not English and who are not official permanent residents of the United States will be required to take the TOEFL, MELAB or other approved comparable standardized examinations prior to enrollment at Volunteer State Community College.

The minimum required score on the pen-and-paper TOEFL is 500, 60 on the internet-based TOEFL, or 173 on the computer-based TOEFL. The minimum required score on the MELAB is 72. The minimum test score requirement does not apply to students who have already successfully completed all required ESOL courses at VSCC. Exceptions may be made for transfer students who have satisfied all freshman English composition requirements with a "C" or better at another institution of higher learning. A similar exception may be made for students who completed high school in a country where the native language is English. Language testing is not required for students whose native language is English.

Note: The MELAB is given at VSCC each semester. Dates, fees, and time information is available from the Testing Office.

Academic Credentials:

In addition to submitting official transcripts from United States institutions, applicants must submit official copies of academic records from secondary schools and higher education institutions, showing graduation or completion dates if applicable. Transcripts or records which are not in English should be accompanied by notarized or certified translations. In addition, applicants wishing to receive transfer credit for courses taken outside the United States may be required to submit course descriptions and have their educational credentials assessed by an evaluation service.

Affidavit of Support:

Applicants must submit an Affidavit of Support form, available from the Office of Admissions and the Office of Records and Registration. The form must be completed by the student's sponsor, and signed or notarized by the sponsor's bank. The first year fees and expenses total $20,097. This figure is an estimate and is subject to change. The affidavit should indicate that the sponsor has at least this amount available. Additional funds are required if the applicant plans to bring a spouse or dependent into the country.

International/Immigration Documents:

Applicants must submit a copy of their I-94 form, visa, and passport. If the applicant is currently enrolled in another United States higher education institution, the applicant must also submit a copy of their I-20.

Entrance Examination:

All degree-seeking students who are 20 years of age or younger as of the first day of class for their term of initial enrollment must submit scores from the American College Testing program (ACT). Information about this examination may be obtained from high school counselors or from the Testing Office at Volunteer State Community College. An ACT code number of 4037 has been assigned to Volunteer State Community College. Official scores on the ACT should be sent to the Office of Admissions directly from ACT. ACT scores included on an official high school transcript are sufficient to meet this requirement. A transfer student need not retake the ACT, but should have his or her ACT scores on file with the College. The scores are used for placement and counseling purposes only. SAT scores may be submitted in lieu of ACT scores.

Placement Testing:

Unless otherwise exempt by ACT scores, transfer credit, etc., all degree-seeking students are required to take a placement test. The placement test is designed to measure skills in reading, writing, and math. Applicants whose native language is not English may be required to complete a specialized placement test.

Transfer applicants who have not been assessed at a TBR institution or completed any college-level courses in English composition and/or college-level math with a grade of “C” or better will be assessed according to the College's assessment and placement procedures. Transfer applicants with valid (less than three years old) ACT scores may be placed using those scores.

Applicant Age:

Applicants must be 16 years of age or older.

Health Insurance:

Applicants must purchase health insurance through the State University and Community College System of Tennessee prior to enrollment. Contact the Assistant Director of Records & Registration for insurance information.

Tuberculosis Immunization:

Submit a tuberculosis immunization certificate from a licensed physician or other qualified medical authority.

MMR Immunization:

All applicants who enroll as full-time students who were born in 1957 or later must provide proof of immunization with two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines administered on or after their first birthday, unless they graduated from a Tennessee public high school in 1999 or later. If at any time an applicant becomes a full-time student at Volunteer State Community College, this admission requirement will go into effect.

Hepatitis B Immunization:

All applicants must complete and submit to the Office of Admissions the Hepatitis B Immunization Health History form. Applicants are not required to complete the shot series. For those students who have reached the age of 18, this form can be completed online at the time of registration. Students under the age of 18 must submit the form to the Office of Admissions with a parent or legal guardian's signature prior to registering for classes.

Other Degree-Seeking International Students

International applicants not holding F-1 or M-1 visas must meet all admission requirements appropriate for the classification under which they are applying as listed in the College Catalog. In addition to those requirements applicants must also meet the following requirements prior to being allowed to register:

English Placement:

The minimum required score on the pen-and-paper TOEFL is 500, 60 on the internet-based TOEFL, or 173 on the computer - based TOEFL. The minimum required score on the MELAB is 72. The minimum test score requirement does not apply to students who have already successfully completed all required ESOL courses at VSCC. Exceptions may be made for transfer students who have satisfied all freshman English composition requirements with a "C" or better at another institution of higher learning. A similar exception may be made for students who completed high school in a country where the native language is English. Language testing is not required for students whose native language is English.

Note: The MELAB is given at VSCC each semester. Dates, fees, and time information is available from the Testing Office.

Academic Credentials:

In addition to submitting official transcripts from United States institutions as appropriate to their admission classification, applicants must submit official copies of academic records from secondary schools and higher education institutions, showing graduation or completion dates if applicable. Transcripts or records which are not in English should be accompanied by notarized or certified translations. In addition, applicants wishing to receive transfer credit for courses taken outside the United States may be required to submit course descriptions and have their educational credentials assessed by an evaluation service.

Non-Degree Seeking International Applicants

SOME international applicants living in the United States are eligible to enroll in classes other than ESOL without pursuing a degree. Please note that students holding or applying for F-1 or M-1 visas are not eligible for the non-degree status. Contact the Assistant Director of Records and Registration if you are unsure of your eligibility for non-degree status. Applicants will not be permitted to register for classes until all admission requirements have been satisfied.

Non-degree applicants may choose to apply to be admitted to a degree or technical certificate program. At that time, the applicant must meet the appropriate admission requirements for that status. Coursework completed as a non-degree student may be applied to a degree or certificate if said coursework is applicable.

Applicants seeking admission as non-degree international students must meet the following requirements:

Application:

A completed application for admission to Volunteer State Community College is required.

Application Fee:

Applicants are required to submit a one-time nonrefundable fee of $10. 00 with their initial application for admission.

English Placement:

The minimum required score on the pen-and-paper TOEFL is 500, 60 on the internet-based TOEFL, or 173 on the computer - based TOEFL. The minimum required score on the MELAB is 72. The minimum test score requirement does not apply to students who have already successfully completed all required ESOL courses at VSCC. Exceptions may be made for transfer students who have satisfied all freshman English composition requirements with a "C" or better at another institution of higher learning. A similar exception may be made for students who completed high school in a country where the native language is English. Language testing is not required for students whose native language is English.

Note: The MELAB is given at VSCC each semester. Dates, fees, and time information is available from the Testing Office.

Placement Testing:

Unless otherwise exempt by ACT scores, transfer credit, etc., all non-degree-seeking applicants will be subject to placement testing for courses having placement prerequisites. The placement test is designed to measure skills in reading, writing, and math. Applicants whose native language is not English may be required to complete a specialized placement test.

Applicants with transfer credit who have not been assessed at a Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institution or completed any college-level courses in English composition and/or college-level math with a grade of “C” or better will be assessed according to the College's assessment and placement procedures. Transfer applicants with valid (less than three years old) ACT scores may be placed using those scores.

Applicant Age:

Applicants must be 21 years of age or older or their high school class must have graduated. If applicant is a high school graduate or has earned a GED diploma, there is no age restriction.

Tuberculosis immunization:

Applicants must submit a tuberculosis immunization certificate from a licensed physician or other qualified medical authority.

MMR Immunization:

Hepatitis B Immunization:

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