International Students

Regent University has established minimum required English language proficiency exam scores for admission purposes. These scores have been determined to ensure students have the language proficiency needed to be successful in classes.

Students interested in the School of Law will have a higher test score requirement.

An English proficiency exam may be waived for the following circumstances:

• Non-native speakers who hold degrees or diplomas from postsecondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g., the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand);
• Non-native speakers who have successfully completed at least a two-year postsecondary course of study in which English was the language of instruction;
• Transfer students from institutions in the United States or Canada whose postsecondary academic course work was favorably evaluated in relation to its demands and duration;

Applicants may request a waiver for the required English language proficiency exam by submitting the Request for Waiver Form. Request forms that are submitted without the required supporting documentation will be disregarded.

The following estimated costs are to assist non-immigrant international students in budgeting finances for their duration of studies at Regent University and for the university’s preparation of the I-20, which will be used for the F-1 visa application. These estimates are for one year only. It is the student’s responsibility to provide sufficient funds for each year of study, without relying on employment.

The estimates are based on the minimum credit requirement for each academic program. Regent University reserves the right to change tuition or other costs at any time. All costs are estimates only, and actual costs and expenses may vary considerably.

As you review the cost of attending a university in the United States, it is important to understand that the potential of aid or student employment through Regent University to international students cannot be guaranteed and should therefore not be expected.

An interested international applicant should seek out all possible means of funding for educational expenses. For information about scholarships for international students, please visit our International Student Financial Aid webpage.

During your first year at Regent University, you will be required to certify that you will have the sum for all estimated expenses by completing a Financial Certification Form. All supporting documents that are required must be translated in English. If you plan to bring your spouse and/or children, a proportionately larger amount of funding must be certified. The first-year expenses include tuition, living expenses, and other estimated expenses to be incurred for books, incidentals, etc.

Finances are not required to be considered for acceptance into the school but must be proven before the I-20 can be issued. Students must keep their financial plan updated during their enrollment at Regent, to include changes in sponsors or other funding sources. Students unable to pay tuition may be dropped from classes, resulting in a termination of non-immigrant status and an immediate need to depart the United States.

For questions regarding your proof of finances, please email intl@regent.edu.

There are two start dates available for F-1 students: August (Fall) and January (Spring). Review the chart below for our preferred Form I-20 issuance deadlines for these start dates. Keep in mind that visa appointment wait times vary by location; once the Form I-20 is issued, you will still need to navigate the visa application and interview process. Students who receive a Form I-20 but are not able to secure the F-1 visa and arrive in the U.S. before their program start date will not be permitted to begin on-campus study.

Regent University will issue a Form I-20 only after all the following requirements have been met:

• Submit all required application materials by the established deadline. This includes the Application, Official Transcripts, and proof of English Language Proficiency.
• Receive an offer of admission from your school of interest by the established deadline.
• Meet the I-20 issuance requirements by submitting the following items: Enrollment Deposit (if applicable), Financial Certification Form, and copy of current passport.
  • Applicants who are applying from within the United States must also submit proof of their nonimmigrant status. Examples of acceptable documentation are a copy of the original and latest visa, a copy of the I-94 arrival/departure record, or a copy of a Form I-797 change of status approval notice.

Applicants who are already in the U.S. as an F-1 student still need to meet the above requirements and must also submit a copy of the most recent Form I-20 and a copy of your F-1 visa. Once documentation has been submitted and approved, you will need to work with your current school to schedule the transfer of your SEVIS record to Regent University so we can issue your Form I-20.

The Department of State will issue a visa up to 365 days before the program start date listed on the Form I-20. Many locations have long wait times for interviews, so you should plan to navigate the admissions and I-20 processes as early as possible. International Admissions & Advising will not issue a Form I-20 more than one year before your program start date.

Citizens of Canada or Bermuda are not required to apply for the F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Citizens of these countries may apply for F status directly at the port of entry.

Important Information: Do not schedule your visa appointment until you have received your Form I-20. You are not eligible for a F-1 visa without the Form I-20. We cannot expedite or “rush” processing a Form I-20 if you have scheduled a visa interview without an I-20.

Non-immigrant students participating in on-campus residencies for online degree programs are responsible for ensuring they have proper immigration status for their studies at Regent. An I-20 is required for residency students to apply for an F-1 student visa and to obtain the F-1 student immigration status at the U.S. Port of Entry.

Not all of Regent’s on-campus residencies will qualify for I-20 issuance by the University for the on-campus portions of certain online degrees. Please contact your program advisor for further guidance on whether your program qualifies for I-20 issuance.

If you are a non-immigrant student with a B-1/B-2 visitor or visa waiver program immigration status, you will not be permitted to enroll in on-campus degree programs, or participate in on-campus residency related workshops, classes, and/or activities that lead toward the attainment of a degree. Please submit all required documents five (5) months prior to your Residency start date. The required documentation includes a copy of your passport and the Financial Certification Form. Documents may be submitted to intl@regent.edu.

We encourage international students to attend Commencement and Commissioning ceremonies in-person. Your degree program may also offer opportunities to attend optional in-person events. Examples include conferences or workshops. These events are not considered academic requirements and will not qualify for F-1 student visa status. Students who wish to attend such events must enter the U.S. under a different visa classification, such as a B1/B2 visitor visa or visa waiver program.

Students enrolled in online master’s or doctoral programs with required dissertations, qualifying exams, or other culminating experiences are expected to complete these requirements remotely. Regent does not require on-campus attendance for these purposes, and we are not permitted to issue a Form I-20 for these purposes. Students may not enter the U.S. on a B1/B2 visitor visa or visa waiver program to complete these requirements in-person.

F-1 students are required to maintain full-time enrollment during regular semesters. Students in 9-month programs are required to enroll in the Fall and Spring semesters each year. Students in 12-month programs are required to enroll year-round, in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Students who are unsure whether they are enrolled in 9 or 12-month programs will find this information on their Form I-20.

Federal regulations define full-time enrollment for undergraduate students as 12 credit hours per semester. Full-time enrollment for post-bachelor’s degree programs is defined by Regent University in the Graduate Catalog.

* Including the LL.M. program

Students who enroll at Regent University should expect to take some online courses due to our course rotation. However, students in the F‐1 immigration status are restricted regarding how much online coursework they can take each semester. Only one online class, or three online credit hours, per semester can be used to meet full‐time enrollment requirements when enrolling for the minimum number of credit hours.

For immigration purposes online education is that which does not require a student’s physical attendance for course completion. Students must work closely with the Office of Advising before enrolling in multiple online courses.

Your academic advisor will assist you with advance degree planning and class registration each semester to help assure that the proper number of on-campus credits are assigned and that you are on track for degree completion.

For more information, please email intl@regent.edu.

Regent University has partnered with International Student Insurance (ISO) to offer a group health insurance plan to our students. All enrolled students on an F-1 visa are required to participate in this group plan. Students with dependents may choose to enroll in an alternate approved plan as described in the “Dependents” section below.

For more information contact ISO Customer Care at 800.244.1180 or customercare@isoa.org.

Once you enroll with ISO for coverage, our Designated School Officials (DSOs) will be able to verify your coverage with ISO directly.

Students on post-completion OPT are not eligible to enroll in the ISO group health insurance plan. You may purchase an OPTima Plan from ISO, or you can find a plan through another company that provides coverage that meets the minimum requirements described above.

F-1 students are required to have health insurance coverage for their F-2 dependent(s) at all times.

The ISO group coverage plan includes options to purchase coverage for your dependents, under the same benefits as the student. ISO also offers the Voyager Plan for spouses. It is important to note that the Voyager plan does not cover pregnancy/maternity and has an 18-month waiting period on pre-existing conditions. Regent University has also approved the Liaison Student Travel Medical Insurance Plans available with Seven Corners, Inc.

Students should carefully review the available options for dependent coverage before choosing which plan to purchase. Proof of coverage will need to be submitted to the International Admissions & Advising team, if purchasing the plan from Seven Corners. Students with dependents who choose Seven Corners for coverage may also use Seven Corners; it is not necessary for the student to enroll in the ISO plan and purchase separate coverage for dependents.

Regent University offers minor healthcare services and care on-campus through our Health Center. A nurse practitioner is available to all students and can provide a higher level of care than a nurse and has the authority to write prescriptions, if needed.

A portion of the University Services Fees for on-campus students grant students the ability to visit the Health Center as often as necessary. Dependents are not eligible to visit the University Health Center.

There are very limited circumstances where Regent University will waive the obligation for F-1 visa students to participate in the group coverage plan with ISO. Cases where an exemption may be possible include:

• Student’s parent or spouse is employed by an American organization providing health insurance via a U.S. based insurance provider.
• Embassy-sponsored students where the embassy is directly funding tuition & fees, living expenses, and health insurance. Health insurance must be from a U.S. based company and the coverage is equal to or greater than the benefits required by Regent University. A copy of the current sponsorship letter must be on file with the Office of International Admissions & Advising.

If you meet one of the two waiver eligibilities above, please email intl@regent.edu to request a waiver.

Waivers must be requested prior to registration for each term of enrollment (Fall, Spring or Summer); an approval from a previous semester is not a guarantee of approval for a new request.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), “There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to the United States.”.

Regent University does not require any vaccinations but encourages all students to have a medical evaluation and immunizations, in particular, Hepatitis B and Meningococcal.

For information about Regent’s vaccination policy, please refer to the Student Handbook.

Immigration regulations permit international students who have maintained their legal F‐1 status to work on‐campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, and more hours during school breaks. Off-campus employment options are limited and require prior authorization. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss off-campus employment opportunities with the Office of International Admissions & Advising for further guidance.

Working for more hours than permitted or without proper authorization (off campus) is a serious violation of the F‐1 immigration status, which can lead to a student’s deportation.

Students who have not already been assigned a United States Social Security Number (SSN) must apply to obtain one before any payment for on-campus employment can be issued. International Admissions & Advising can assist students who have received a job offer in applying for an SSN. On-campus employment is not guaranteed and will not financially support a student’s tuition or living expenses while in the United States.

Be prepared to bring start‐up funds for incidentals such as a cell phone, bedding, kitchen supplies, books, and food. Students who plan to live off-campus may need to pay a security deposit for utilities and rent.

It is estimated that a student should have a minimum of $2,000 available in start-up funds.