Skip to main content

International Student

WVU Potomac State College welcomes students from around the world. You are considered an international student if you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.


How to Apply as an International Student

To apply as an international student, please complete the following steps:


  1. Review the admissions requirements , English Language Proficiency requirements, and our application deadlines.
  2. Complete all of the information on the online application.

    View the Online Application
  3. Have the results of your Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores sent to Potomac State College.
  4. Send the following information to WVU Potomac State College:
    • Copies of all official academic records/transcripts in original language of issue (transcripts from U.S. institutions must be sent to WVU directly from the institutions).
    • English translations of academic record and certificates/diplomas.
    • Copies of all academic certificates or diplomas in original language of issue.
      • Note: Original or certified copies of official records/transcripts must be submitted after admission or upon arrival.
How to Submit Materials

Most applications can be reviewed based on unofficial transcripts. Upload copies of your transcripts with your application if possible. If not, or if you need to provide more documents, you can email them to us.

If you attended a university in the US, you need to send official transcripts before review. If your school uses Parchment, please use that to send transcripts to psciss@mail.wvu.edu. If not, official transcripts can be sent by mail to:

Office of Enrollment Services
WVU Potomac State College
75 Arnold Street
Keyser, WV 26726
USA

To enroll, you will need to provide official copies of any unofficial documents used during your application review. You will need to provide final documents if the documents provided for review were not final. You can also send those to the address above or bring them with you when you arrive on campus.


WVU Potomac State College accepts electronic score delivery for SAT, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and Duolingo scores. WVU also accepts scores from those exams that we can verify through the testing agency.


Tips:


  • You are required to send transcripts from all institutions you attended.
  • No documents are returned to applicants.
  • It is important that you use the same name and spelling of your name on all documents, scores and forms. Your name on your WVU Potomac State College record needs to match your name on your passport.
  • If your documents are not in English, you will need to provide an English translation.
  • You may provide a World Education Services (WES) evaluation, but it is not required. WES may also be used to appeal a GPA decision from the Office of Enrollment Services (international applicants only).
  • WVU Potomac State College Office of Enrollment Services may make exceptions to the requirement for official transcripts in cases of war, civil unrest or extenuating circumstances deemed out of the student's control.


Admission Requirements for International Students

The following are the minimum admissions requirements for international students.

Freshman:

  • Must have at least a 2.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale for general admission.
  • Must meet English Proficiency ( see English Proficiency).
  • We welcome applications from students with IGCSE and O-Level Certificates from Cambridge International for admissions consideration. We require a minimum of five subject passes, of which two must be English and Mathematics. The average of the grades must be at least a 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale). A passing grade in the subject of English will be accepted as evidence of sufficient English ability.

Transfer:

  • Must have at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in all college work attempted.
  • Must meet English Proficiency ( see English Proficiency).
  • In addition, transfer students who have fewer than 12 transferable credit hours, must also meet first-time freshman admission standards and submit secondary school/high school transcripts.
  • Grades and credits are transferable for college-level courses from regionally accredited U.S. institutions.

English Language Proficiency Requirements (undergraduate levels only)

Generally applicants whose native language is not English must submit adequate (TOEFL) or (IELTS) results before an application can be considered for academic admission:


TOEFL Internet-Based = 61
Academic IELTS = 6.0
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic = 44
Duolingo English Test = 90
ACT English = 19
SAT Reading Test = 20


TOEFL results are not required for applicants who have received a high school diploma from a U.S. high school and have obtained the required minimum ACT or SAT test scores, or for those who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school in the United States. In some cases, SAT Reading Test or ACT English scores may be used to meet English Proficiency.


A passing grade in the subject of English on the IGCSE or GCSE Certificates from Cambridge International will also be accepted for English Proficiency.


Applicants who have completed English composition courses at a U.S. institution, which WVU determines are equivalent to the WVU’s English 101 and 102 with a “B” average, are not required to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores. Many online English composition courses are not considered equivalent and will require review and approval from the English department.


Application Deadlines


For an applicant to be considered for admission and to be able to process immigration papers, all application materials and supporting documents must be received by these dates:

  • Fall semester – Apply by June 1. All academic documents must be received by July 1.
  • Spring semester – Apply by October 1. All academic documents must be received by November 1.

International Student Scholarships


WVU Potomac State College is pleased to offer scholarship opportunities for international students studying on our Keyser campus.


Documentation for Student Visa


Before WVU Potomac State College can issue the document necessary to apply for a student visa (Form I-20) the student must provide proof that he or she has the adequate financial resources to provide for his or her expenses incurred while studying at WVU Potomac State College. For more information on the student visa process, visit the International Students and Scholars website.


Questions


If you have a question about the application process or requirements for international students, please email us at psciss@mail.wvu.edu.


Information and resources are available for students wanting to studying in US.


Get Started Today

Still Need Help?

Ask one of our counselors.

Talk with us