Other Student Admission Considerations

This section contains information pertaining to the Admissions Review Committee, postbaccalaureate students, Academic Fresh Start for Undergraduate Transfer Students, the Adult Admission Option, summer visiting students, former students, readmission, academic suspension, and international students.

Table of Contents

• Admissions Appeal Process
• Postbaccalaureate Students
• Academic Fresh Start for Undergraduate Transfer Students
• Adult Admission Option
• Summer Visiting Students
• Former Students
• Academic Notice, Academic Probation, and Academic Suspension
• Readmission from Academic Suspension
• International Students
  • General Requirements
  • Undergraduate Students
  • Graduate Students

 

 

Admissions Appeal Process

Freshman applicants to the University of Houston who do not meet regular admissions requirements may request further consideration by submitting a Freshman Admissions Appeal Form. An appeal to reconsider our original admission decision may or may not change the decision. Generally, less than 25 percent of the appeals will result in a changed admissions decision. Students are encouraged to appeal only if (1) their academic credentials (test scores and/or grades) have changed significantly or (2) they wish to provide additional information that further explains personal circumstances that may have affected their ability to meet admissions requirements.

Transfer applicants that have been denied admission to the University of Houston or admission to a special major may request a new decision based on new grades and/or earning an Associate's Degree. All applicants must submit a Transfer Admissions Re-Calculation Form and provide proof of a change in academic credentials. The submission of a Re-calculation form may or may not change the original admission decision.

All Freshman Admission Appeal and Transfer Admission Re-calculation decisions are final.

For more information about the Admission Appeals process click here.

 

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Postbaccalaureate Students

Postbaccalaureate students are students who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher at a regionally accredited institution. Some course work taken in the postbaccalaureate status may be applied toward a graduate degree, but there are limitations that particularly affect those students whose goal it is to earn a graduate degree at the University of Houston. These restrictions include the following:

1. Postbaccalaureate students are not eligible to take undergraduate business courses and may not pursue an undergraduate degree in the Bauer College of Business.
2. Enrollment in graduate level courses in some colleges is either prohibited (e.g., the Bauer College of Business) or severely limited (e.g., the Cullen College of Engineering).
3. Application of course work completed as a postbaccalaureate student toward a graduate degree is restricted and is subject to the approval of the individual department after enrollment as a graduate student.

Students who wish to obtain postbaccalaureate status at the University of Houston should submit an application for undergraduate transfer admission and official transcripts from their previous institutions showing the bachelor's degree posted.

Students with degrees from the University of Houston need not submit official UH transcripts.

The deadlines stated previously for undergraduate students are applicable to those seeking admission as postbaccalaureate students.

 

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Academic Fresh Start for Undergraduate Transfer Students

Students applying for admission to the University of Houston may elect to have all academic course work completed at other institutions ten or more years prior to the time of application ignored for admission purposes. Once ignored, this course work cannot be used to satisfy any prerequisite or degree requirements at the University of Houston. The Academic Fresh Start Program is open to new as well as to former students.

Transfer students applying for Academic Fresh Start must have submitted all the necessary credentials to the Office of Admissions by the appropriate deadline. Official transcripts from all colleges attended, including transcripts which include course work completed ten or more years old, must be sent to UH. The Academic Fresh Start Acknowledgement Form must also be completed and returned to UH. However, students choosing Academic Fresh Start must meet current admission requirements with course work taken within the past ten years.

Students admitted through Academic Fresh Start will be under the University of Houston Undergraduate Studies catalog in effect at the time of their Fresh Start matriculation at UH and will be assigned to UScholars at UH (Undergraduate Scholars) until they are admitted into a major field of study or until they have accumulated sixty semester hours of credit, whichever comes first.

There may be implications for financial aid and veterans benefits for students admitted under Academic Fresh Start. Students should contact these offices for more information.

Students may elect to use the provisions of this Academic Fresh Start Program only once at the University of Houston.

More information on the Academic Fresh Start Program for undergraduate transfer students may be obtained by contacting:

Former UH students seeking information on the Academic Fresh Start Program should refer to Academic Fresh Start  in the Academic Regulations and Degree Requirements section of this catalog.

 

 

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Adult Admission Option

The Adult Admission Option facilitates the admission of adult students. Adult students may enroll in a nondegree status without submitting transcripts or test scores. The conditions of the program are as follows:

1. A special Adult Admission Option application must be completed.
2. A non-refundable $50 application fee is required.
3. Applicants must, at a minimum, hold a high school diploma or the equivalent.
4. Applicants may not have been enrolled in a high school or regionally accredited college level program for the past five years.
5. Applicants must be at least 25 years of age by the last day of late enrollment (registration) for the semester for which they are applying.
6. Applicants will be classified as freshmen students.
7. This program does not apply to UH former students or to postbaccalaureate students.
8. Students admitted in this category must attain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in order to enroll (register) for subsequent semesters.
9. Students who complete 18 semester hours and wish to change their admission status to degree-seeking should contact the Office of Admissions, room 100 Welcome Center, 713-743-1010.

   To continue beyond 18 semester hours of letter-grade, non-remedial work, students must present transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities previously attended. For applicants who have attended any institution outside the U.S. official credentials and translations, along with required processing fee, must be submitted with the petition. Regular admission to Undergraduate Scholars at UH will normally be granted to those applicants with a 2.00 minimum cumulative grade point average in their work at UH, excluding courses not taken with a letter grade, remedial courses, and special problems/independent study work. To change from Undergraduate Scholars to an undergraduate major, students must petition to the appropriate college/department.

   Note: Students may remain in Undergraduate Scholars at UH for only one semester once they have exceeded 60 cumulative semester hours.

10. Students who wish to petition for degree status prior to the completion of 18 semester hours of letter grade, non-remedial work at UH may do so by submitting a request through the Individual Admissions Option. As part of the petition process, students must present transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities previously attended.
11. The hours earned will count toward a degree so long as students are fully admitted to a major and the courses are applicable to that degree program.
12. Applicants who have completed any education outside the U.S. must submit evidence of satisfactory English proficiency. A score of 550 or higher on the paper based, 213 on the computerized examination or 79 on the internet based (IBT) TOEFL or 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test is required. Applicants are expected to complete the essay section of the TOEFL whenever it is included as part of the exam. Those exempt from this requirement are students from Australia, the British Isles, the Bahamas, English-speaking Canadian provinces, Jamaica, New Zealand, Belize, Fiji Islands, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Trinidad, the Virgin Islands, the West Indies, Zimbabwe, and those who speak English as their native language.

Note: Students enrolled in the Adult Option Program are not eligible for financial assistance. Financial aid will be processed during the semester following the completion of 18 semester hours; therefore, aid may not be available during that semester. Eligible veterans may use veterans' benefits under this program. Please contact the Veterans Services office for more information, 268 University Center or the Office of the Registrar, room 128 Welcome Center.

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Summer Visiting Students

Admission is granted as a summer visiting student to undergraduate students who have earned college credit at another regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

In order to be considered for admission as a summer visiting student, the applicant must provide a transcript from the last regionally accredited U.S. college or university attended in order to document that he or she is currently in good academic standing.

Some colleges and departments may have different requirements.

Note: Financial aid is not available for summer visiting students.

Once admitted as a summer visiting student, no application is necessary for enrollment in future summer sessions. However, enrollment in a fall or spring semester requires a change in status from that of a summer visiting student to that of a regular student. This means that the student must meet the general admission requirements of the University of Houston and submit all transcripts from previous colleges or universities.

Grades earned as a summer visiting student will be included in determining the cumulative grade point average for admission as a regular student. Appropriate credits earned as a summer visiting student may be applied toward a degree at UH when admission as a regular student has been granted.

• Apply online to the University of Houston through the Transfer Apply Texas Application, no later than the indicated deadline date. www.applytexas.org
• Provide an official transcript from the most recent college or university attended.

 

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Former Students

Effective for fall 2011, if you are ready to return after an interruption of at least four terms or 13 consecutive months, you will need to apply for readmission as a former student at www.ApplyTexas.org.

Regardless of academic standing, you will need to meet re-entry requirements and deadlines and pay the $50 readmission fee in order to be readmitted and enroll. Former undergraduate students who have questions pertaining to readmission should contact the Academic Advisor or their intended readmitted major.

Former undergraduates who are returning from suspension will also need to meet college specific re-entry requirements and deadlines.

 

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Academic Notice, Academic Probation, and Academic Suspension

The standards below apply to all undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students enrolled. Students who entered under a previous catalog will be held to these standards.

1. FTIC students (First Time In College) who earn less than a 2.00 grade point average in the first long semester (i.e., Fall or Spring) of enrollment at the University of Houston shall be placed on academic notice and must be advised by the Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH and their major departments.
2. Second semester FTIC students (First Time In College) who have completed their first long semester and all other students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 shall be placed on academic probation. They are urged to seek advising in their major departments. They may also consult the advisors in the Academic Advising Center of Undergraduate Scholars at UH.
3. Students on academic probation whose semester or summer session grade point average is below 2.00 are placed on academic suspension.
   
   
   1. The first academic suspension is for a period of at least one long semester (fall or spring).
      1. Students placed on academic suspension for the first time at the end of a fall semester may apply for readmission for the following fall at the earliest.
      2. Students placed on academic suspension for the first time at the end of a spring semester may apply for readmission for the following spring at the earliest.
      3. Students placed on academic suspension for the first time at the end of a summer semester may apply for readmission for the following spring at the earliest.
   2. The second academic suspension is for a period of at least 12 months.
   3. After the third academic suspension, students will not be eligible to re-enroll at the University of Houston.
4. Students on academic probation whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.00 but whose semester or summer session grade point average is 2.00 or higher will remain on academic probation.
5. Students on academic probation will be removed from that status when their semester grade point average is 2.00 or higher and their cumulative grade point average is at or above 2.00.

Summer visiting students are not subject to academic probation or suspension while in that status. If, however, they are later admitted as regular students, the grades that they earned in their summer visiting status will be included in all subsequent calculations of their cumulative grade point average at the university.

Without regard to these regulations, the dean of a college may place any majors in that college whose academic records are deficient on academic probation, retain on probation, or suspension.

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Readmission from Academic Probation and Suspension

This applies to students on academic probation who have interrupted their enrollment for 13 months or longer and all students on academic suspension.

1. Only the dean of the college in which students are seeking readmission may readmit students on academic suspension from UH. Only the Director of Undergraduate Scholars at UH may readmit students who have not declared a major.
2. Readmission from academic suspension is neither automatic nor guaranteed. Students seeking readmission must reapply to the university using the Apply Texas Application (ATA) and must pay the required application fee.
3. Students must also appeal to the dean of the college in which they wish to earn their degrees in accordance with the college's policies and procedures pertaining to readmission from academic suspension. Colleges may have different appeal processes, therefore, students seeking readmission should consult the appropriate college section in this catalog or request information from the office of the academic dean for specific college requirements.

 

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International Students

In addition to the general admission requirements, the following requirements apply to those applicants who have studied outside the U.S.

General Requirements

1. A nonrefundable admission/evaluation fee of $75 (U.S. currency) must be submitted, along with the application. by all applicants who hold or will be holding visas permitting permanent residence in the U.S. Applications will not be considered unless the necessary fee is paid.
2. A copy of all official transcripts from secondary schools and university entrance examinations when appropriate.
3. Applicants with any post-secondary college or university academic course work must submit their complete college or university academic record.
4. All official documents must be on file with the Office of International Admissions before an evaluation of academic qualifications can be made. An official English translation of the transcripts must be included if the academic transcripts are in a foreign language.
5. Applicants who have completed any education outside the U.S. must submit evidence of satisfactory English proficiency before admission will be granted. A score of 550 or higher on the paper based TOEFL, 79 on the Internet-based text (IBT) or 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. Applicants are expected to complete the essay section of the TOEFL whenever it is included as part of the exam. The following applicants are exempt from the English Language Proficiency requirement.
   
   1. Those exempt from this requirement are students from Australia, the British Isles, the Bahamas, English-speaking Canadian Provinces, Jamaica, New Zealand, Belize, Fiji Islands, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Trinidad, the Virgin Islands, the West Indies, Zimbabwe, and those who speak English as their native language,
   2. Students who qualify for admission on the same basis as U.S. high school graduates.
   3. Applicants who have graduated with the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from a two-year college accredited by the appropriate Regional Association of Schools and Colleges in the U.S.
   4. Students who have earned bachelor's degrees or higher at an accredited U.S. college or university
6. Applicants holding F-1 or J-1 visas must have a signed financial backing form guaranteeing the sponsors ability to pay the student's expenses while studying at the university along with bank statement. The financial backing must be signed by a parent, guardian, bank, or other reliable financial institution, or by a U.S. citizen who will be responsible for the student's financial needs. The financial backing form can be found on our Web site at: http://www.uh.edu/admissions/apply/admissions-forms/index.php.
7. Applicants holding visas permitting permanent residence in the U.S. must submit two passport-sized photographs before enrollment.
8. Applicants are to provide UH with a valid overseas address.
9. A photocopy of the applicant's current passport showing name, date of birth, and visa type.
10. The application and all credentials must be on file by April 1 for the summer term and fall semester and by October 1 for the spring semester.
11. Only the Director of Admissions may issue an official notification of acceptance for admission.

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Undergraduate Students

International students who have attended U.S., regionally accredited, high schools are required to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their credentials for admission. The SAT or ACT scores are required of freshmen students who completed high school in countries where English is the native language. Students who have graduated from a U.S. high school must meet the admission requirements for U.S. high school graduates. See the section on Freshman Admission Requirements.

Applicants must have earned a minimum grade point average of 3.00 (B) on all secondary school work attempted for freshmen admissions. Graduation from a secondary school generally implies completion of at least 12 years of education. Graduation from a college or university implies completion of 16 years of education. Students who transfer from a U.S. university must meet the specific transfer requirements. See the section on Transfer Student Admission Requirements. Students who transfer from a foreign university must also have a 3.00 minimum cumulative grade point average. Some departments and colleges may have additional admission requirements.

Applicants who are permanent residents of the U.S. will be considered under the same academic criteria as U.S. citizens, however, applicants who have not graduated from a U.S. high school, will need to meet the 550 on the paper based test, 79 on internet based test minimum TOEFL, or 6.5 overall bandscore IELTS score requirements for international students. See the section on General Requirements for International Students. All inquiries and documents should be addressed to:

Graduate Students

Information about graduate studies and admission requirements may be found on the Graduate and Professional Studies Web site at www.uh.edu/admissions/graduate/.

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Catalog Publish Date: August 22, 2012
This Page Last Updated: June 6, 2013