International students who lack English language skills may study at our Institute of Intensive English, which provides students with the English and academic skills needed for success in various programs of study. Advanced ESL students may take academic classes as well.
Students seeking admission to ACU's Institute of Intensive English should apply with the Center for International and Intercultural Education six months before the date you wish to begin classes. All official test scores and transcripts must be received at least 60 days before the beginning of the term you plan to attend. The following items must be received before an admission decision can be reached:
1) Application
To avoid delays in processing your application, please:
Make sure the name on your application matches the name on your transcripts. Where possible, the name on the application should agree with the name on the passport.
Provide an e-mail address that can be used. Be sure that we have a current e-mail address at all times, and that Abilene Christian University is indicated as an eligible sender to the account.
Be sure the application is signed.
2) Application Fee
A non-refundable $45.00 application fee is required in order to process your application. There are three options for paying this fee:
3) Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
Recommendation forms can be downloaded here (link will open in a new window).
4) Academic Records
All documents should be submitted in the original language. All documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified line-by-line, literal English translation.
Secondary School Records
Official secondary school transcripts, a secondary school diploma or leaving certificate and examination results are required from all first-year and transfer students (click here for more country-specific information)
Post-Secondary
If you attend a post-secondary institution outside the United States, we require official transcripts which include all subjects studied each year and the grade/mark earned in each subject. A key to the marking system with minimum passing mark should be included. In addition, we require course descriptions of all classes you have taken and intend to take prior to the semester in which you hope to enroll at Abilene Christian University. If descriptions are not available, please provide 3 to 5-sentence descriptions of each course. Include the content, scope, credits/number of hours for each course or the number of hours per week, and the number of weeks per semester.
If you attend a post-secondary institution in the United States, official transcripts should be sent directly from the institution to Abilene Christian University.
5) Standardized Tests
TOEFL
General admission to the Institute of Intensive English is usually granted to qualified students who have a TOEFL of at least 32 iBT, 97 CBT or 400 PBT. You may visit the TOEFL home page to receive information about taking the test. You may also obtain information by mail at TOEFL, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151 USA, by phone (609) 771-7100 or by FAX (609) 771-7500.
6) Financial Information
This includes a current bank statement showing sufficient funds to cover the estimated cost of studying at ACU for one academic year (9 months) and a letter from the owner of the bank account stating that the funds will be used to support the applicant. Click here to see estimated expenses for the ESL program.
More Information
For more information, contact us via e-mail: contact@international.acu.edu or call +1-325-674-2710 between the hours of 8:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 U.S. Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday.
