Applying to the Institute of Intensive English

We're excited that you would like to attend ACU, and would like to give you more information about the application process. In general, as an international student seeking admission to ACU's ESL program you should apply with the Office of Admissions 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.

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) ApplicationFee

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 and IELTS
The Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) and the International English Language System (IELTS) are tests used to determine a student's English language proficiency. We require the following minimum scores on these exams to accept a student into ACU's undergraduate programs:

- Paper-based test (PBT): 525 
- Computer-based test (CBT): 197 
- Internet-based test (iBT) 5.5: 71

You may visit the TOEFL home page to receive information about taking the test here. (ACU's TOEFL code is 6001)
You can visit the IELTS Web site to learn more about test dates and locations here.