For more information, contact FMU’s International Programs Specialist - Melissa
Dungan by email at m[email protected] or by phone at 843-661-1647.
Francis Marion University International Student
Admissions Requirements
Francis Marion University is committed to promoting international understanding through inter-cultural
Francis Marion University welcomes applications for admission from international students. To ensure ample
time for all required documentation to arrive at Francis Marion, it is important to apply as early as possible.
International degree-seeking students must be accepted to FMU by: July 1 to begin classes in the Fall Semester;
November 1 to begin classes in the Spring Semester and April 1 to begin classes in the Late Spring and Summer
Semesters. Students applying for undergraduate study (to receive a bachelor’s degree) are responsible for all
history, mathematics, and science as well as appropriate test scores. International students should complete the
educational equivalent of an American High School diploma to be considered for admission to FMU. Further
information about these requirements can be obtained from the educational system in the applicant’s own
Some international students may qualify for in-state tuition under the South Carolina Sister-State initiative.
province of Taiwan, Republic of China could be eligible. Once you’ve applied for admission and you think you
of residency (translated into English) or send, in English, a letter from the Education Ministry in Germany
For more information on the Sister-State initiative, consult the SC Commission on Higher Education web site at
http://www.che.sc.gov/.
For more information, contact FMU’s International Programs Specialist - Melissa
Dungan by email at [email protected] or by phone at 843-661-1647.
Francis Marion University
International Student Checklist
❏ Submit an Application for Admission at www.fmarion.edu/applynow
❏ Pay the $41 application Fee
• e online application must be accompanied by a $41 non-refundable application fee. is can be paid
through the online payment portal once the application has been submitted or by calling the Cashier’s Oce
at 843-661-1596.
❏ Complete and mail the Certificate of Financial Support form and bank statement.
• Applicants must provide proof of their ability to pay expenses. is support can come from the applicant’s
family or sponsor. e cost of attendance is approximately U.S. $33,139 per year. is total includes tuition,
room, food, books, and miscellaneous expenses. e University requires an ocial statement from a bank,
employer, sponsor, or some other ocial adavit of support. Financial certication must be sent to the
University before an I-20 can be sent to the student. Applicants can expect to use one-half of the total each
semester. Financial certication should come directly from the source. To complete the certicate of nancial
support, please click the appropriate form here: 2020-2021 Undergraduate Students or 2020-2021 Graduate
Students.
❏ Send SChool records to FMU
• Applicants should request transcripts or certicates of satisfactory study from each institution attended.
Examples of this include “A” or “O” levels, baccalaureate, bachillerato, Reifezeufgnis, or other school
certicates. ese records should include an English evaluated translation of the subjects studied, grades
received in those subjects, and degrees, diplomas, or certicates earned. An explanation of the school’s
grading system should accompany the transcripts. To be considered ocial documents, all transcripts must
come directly to FMU from the educational institution attended.
Students who have completed university work from institutions located outside the U.S. must have those
transcripts certied by the World Education Services (WES). More information is available
at
www.wes.org.
❏ Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Test System (IELTS)
• e TOEFL is required of all international students except those whose native language is English. An
acceptable score is at least a 500 (61 on the internet based version) on the TOEFL. Information about
the TOEFL can be found at many schools or at US Embassies, Consulates, or oces of the United States
Information Service. If information is not available in the applicant’s country, it can be obtained by
writing: TOEFL, Box 6161, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6161, USA. e IELTS may be used in lieu of the
TOEFL. Information about the IELTS can be found at www.IELTS.org. In some instances students who are
transferring from other postsecondary educational institutions in the United States may be accepted for
admission to Francis Marion University without TOEFL scores. is could occur if the student has a high
verbal score on the SAT or good grades on Freshman English course at the institution from which the student
is transferring.
For more information, contact FMU’s International Programs Specialist - Melissa
Dungan by email at [email protected] or by phone at 843-661-1647.
ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES
e following gures represent an estimate of the amount of money needed to study at FMU for an
undergraduate student for the Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 semesters. Tuition and fees are subject to change and all
students should come prepared with additional sources of funds.
I-20’s will not be issued until ocial bank statements or other documents providing proof of sucient funds to
cover educational and living expenses are received.
2021-2022 Academic Year Tuition and Fees
International
(Undergraduate
Academic Scholarship/ Sis-
ter-State)
International
(Undergraduate)
International
(Graduate)
Undergraduate Tuition
10,177 20,354 20,802
Student Activity Fees
304 304 304
Information
Technology Fees
220 220 220
Registration Fee
40 40 40
University Facility Fee
100 100 100
Total Tuition & Fees
$10,841 $21,018 $21,466
Room & Board
8,121 8,121 8,121
Books & Supplies
1,200 1,200 1,200
Living Expenses
2,800 2,800 2,800
Total Living and Books
$12,121 $12,121 $12,121
Grand Total
$20,562 $33,139 $33,587
ADMISSION STATUS
When the FMU Oce of Admissions receives ocial copies of all required credentials, a letter of acceptance
or denial will be sent. If an applicant is accepted, the University may require additional proof of nancial status
before an I-20 is issued. Immigration laws of the United States require every institution to certify that each
international student has adequate nances to cover expenses incurred while pursuing a baccalaureate degree.
Please note that all documents such as TOEFL scores, nancial information, and transcripts must be sent directly
from the applicable institution to the Francis Marion University Admissions Oce. Facsimiles of documents
except for the admissions application, will not be accepted nor will copies mailed directly from the applicant or
his family.
Included with the acceptance letter will be a student health form. International students are required to complete
a health history form, supply dates of previous immunizations, and have a current PPD, which is a TB skin test.
e current immunization form must be presented to FMU Student Health Services before the student will be
allowed to register for classes. Additionally, International Students are required to provide proof of insurance.
Questions regarding the immunization form should be directed to the FMU Student Health Center at 843-661-
1844.
