English Language Institute Frequently Asked Questions

Follow these steps:
   1. Apply on-line
   2. Fax your credit card information using the Credit Card Authorization Form
   3. Fax your bank statement, Financial Responsibility Form to our office and then mail the original documents to us.
   4. Fax your passport to show your last name, first, name, and date of birth.

You must have an e-mail address so we can notify you the status of your application. You should check your e-mail regularly for an update.

We accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express), traveler's checks, cash (in person only), and personal checks. To pay by credit card, fill out the Credit Card Authorization form and mail or fax it to our office.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETE ONE MONTH BEFORE THE START OF THE SESSION

You should apply at least three months in advance of the session you choose to start your English study. Applications completed after the deadline may not give you enough time to obtain your visa depending on the visa wait time in your country. In this case, your I-20 would have to be express mailed to you at your expense. To find out the visa wait time for your country, visit: travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html. If you cannot get your visa within four weeks and still arrive in time for the beginning of school, then you should ask us to defer your I-20 until the next session.

We do not accept late applications. Please choose another session to apply for.

No. We do not require TOEFL scores.

The bank statement must be written in English and show a minimum balance of $7,700. The balance must be converted into USD. The bank statement must be printed on an official bank stationery with the account holder's name and the bank's complete address and phone information. You also need to fill out the Financial Responsibility form and send it to our office.

It takes up to two weeks to process your application once all of the required documents and fees are received.

Your I-20 will be mailed out from our office by regular airmail at no charge. Sometimes, it takes 10-15 business days to receive. For an additional fee, you can have your I-20 mailed to you by Express Mail service from UEMS

Once you have received the I-20 form, you will need to apply for your F-1 (student) visa at the American Consulate in your country before coming to the U.S. For more information about student visa process, visit our How to Apply page.

No. We do not require advance tuition payment from students.

The tuition is due the first day of classes.

We accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express), traveler's checks, cash, and personal checks.

Tuition Policy

Tuition payment is usually required at time of registration. A Late Fee will be charged if tuition is not paid in full by the first Friday of the session. The Late Fee is 10% of the unpaid balance, up to a maximum of $60. To avoid late payment fee, you may apply for payment plan.

Drop Policy

To drop from an ELI class, a drop request must be submitted in person to the office by the first Friday of the session to avoid a tuition charge.

Refund Policy

100% of tuition is refunded if the class is dropped by the first Friday of the session. NO TUITION REFUND FOR CLASSES DROPPED AFTER THE FIRST FRIDAY.

You must make your own housing arrangements in advance in order to have a room reserved when you arrive. Here are the three options:

1. On-campus housing is available on the university campus but space is limited. Prices for the academic year range from $1579 to $2335 depending on single or double rooms. Please refer to the housing website at www.housing.utah.edu NOTE: You will need a university ID number to reserve a dormitory room. Please request an ID number form the ELI office (eli@aoce.utah.edu) if you would like to live in the dormitories.
2. Homestay program offered by OvECS Ltd. at www.azhomestay.com
3. For off-campus housing, visit the Classified Ads on The Daily Utah Chronicle at www.dailyutahchronicle.com or Off-Campus Housing at offcampushousing.utah.edu. The average cost of an off campus one-bedroom apartment is $475, a two-bedroom apartment is $600 per month.

Arrange your travel plan so you arrive a few days before the New Student Orientation. This will give you an early start to get used to local time, weather, food, etc. You may arrive to the U.S. no more than 30 days before the program start date.

Check out the Official U.S. Customs website to see what you can or cannot bring with you when entering the United States. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/alerts/

To learn more about Utah, please visit the Official website of the State of Utah page www.utah.gov/about/quickfacts.html.

For more information about the University of Utah, visit unews.utah.edu

Though the English Language Institute does not require students to have medical coverage while attending school, we strongly encourage you to have health insurance while studying in the United States. If you do not already have health insurance from your country, you may purchase health insurance through private insurance companies of your choice. For more detailed information, visit the following websites:

www.amaofsa.com
www.cmi-insurance.com
www.compassbenefit.com
www.culturalinsurance.com
www.gatewayplans.com
www.hginsurance.com
www.hthstudents.com/
www.imglobal.com
www.isoa.org
www.studentcare.com
www.usnetcare.com

Robin (Annex 2202)
Class Schedule, Registration, Tuition Payment, Address Change, Office Letters, Campus Questions

Suchavadee (Annex 2202)
Student Activities, ELI Application

Larry (Annex 2202)
Registration Holds, Scholarship/Sponsor Issues, SEVIS Advising, School Transfer, Travel Request

Krairut (Annex 2200)
SEVIS Advising, Program Extension, Attendance Probation, Academic/Grade Probation, Program Suspension

Korrin (Annex 2202H)
Class and Level Issues, Academic Planning, Personal and Health Issues

George (Annex 2202A)
Complaints, Concerns

Classes generally range from 12-20 students per class, with a mixture of people from many parts of the world. You might have students from your country in your class, and this isn't a problem at all as long as students work hard to use only English and meet people in the community.

Each session, F-1 students must be in classes for 16 class periods (approx. 18 clock hours) per week.

Yes. While you are enrolled in the ELI program, you can work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours per week during break periods. In order to work on-campus, you must apply for work authorization through the English Language Institute two weeks after the session begins.

Our program length is one year but if you are unable to finish your coursework, you may require an extension before your I-20 End Date.

Yes. You may transfer to another school in the U.S. at any time.

This is a common question. Of course, this depends on which you begin at. Students who start at the Skill-Building Level will need at least six sessions (one year) to complete the program but there are many factors that affect a person's ability to learning English including any previous study, motivation, natural ability, and use of English here in Utah. Unfortunately, some students and parents believe that just being in the US or Utah will guarantee that one will learn the language, and this isn't necessarily true. The more students apply what they are learning outside of class, the greater their chances of learning English well. The only secrets to success we have always found to be true are hard work and dedication.

Placement results of new students from August 2008 - May 2011

If you start ELI from level 4, it would take five sessions (one full year) to complete our program. See table below for cost estimation. If you fail ELI classes or take a break from studying, it will delay your graduation date. After you have successfully completed level 8 courses, you may apply for an undergraduate degree at the University of Utah without a TOEFL score.

ELI reserves the right to change session dates, schedules, program requirements, all fees and charges without notice if necessary.
Please check with the office for current policies. Admission to the English Language Institute, which is a noncredit program, does not constitute admission to the University of Utah.

There are two ways you can become admitted to The University of Utah as an undergraduate student:

• ONE: Pass the Institutional or National TOEFL exam. A score of 61 (iBT), 500 (PBT)is required for regular admission, while a score of 45 (iBT), 450 (PBT) will make you eligible for a conditional admission.

More information on the Institutional TOEFL
More information on the National TOEFL

• TWO: Complete the Bridge Course offered by the English Language Institute (one semester course of college preparation classes) with a B or above grade. You may then enter the University of Utah undergraduate degree program without a TOEFL score.