Admission requirements for international students (freshman, transfer, and graduate applicants) are different from the requirements for U.S. citizens.
Like all students, international students must be admitted to UH before enrolling in any classes.
At UH, international students who take DE classes are regular UH international students, and there is no separate application for distance education. In order to enroll in DE classes, you must first be admitted to UH, and must comply with the application deadlines and requirements for all UH international applicants. The information located in those links contains information for all prospective international students (i.e. freshmen, transfers, post-baccalaureate, and graduate).
Do international students have any special DE requirements?
Yes they do.
Due to Homeland Security requirements, international students are limited in the number of hours they can take through DE each semester.
What are the DE limits for international students?
No more than the equivalent of one DE class or 3 credits per session may count towards the “full course of study” (12 hours per semester) requirement. If the student's course of study is in a language study program, no DE classes may be counted toward the full course of study requirement.
For example, an undergraduate that is required to register for 12 credits per semester to maintain a “full course of study” could take 3 of those credits through DE each semester. If the student registers for an overload of 15 credits, 6 of which were done via DE, all 6 credits might be counted.
How many DE classes can an International Student apply toward their degree?
The DE provision does not limit the number of DE credits that can be used towards a degree's requirements, but rather the number of such credits that can be used to satisfy the “full course of study” requirement.
What if the “one class” is more than 3 credits? What if a student wants to take two classes of 1 credit each?
The regulation's term “the equivalent of” does give some room for interpretation, but the “3 credit” limit is the way UH chooses to interpret the restriction.
What if the student has only one class left in their course of study? Can they take a DE class as their only course in the final semester of study?
If a student needs only one course to finish his or her program of study, it cannot be taken through DE. There must be a physical presence requirement for the course. If a student remains in the United States without reporting to any class, it becomes a security issue and cannot be allowed.
For further questions regarding international students, please visit the Office of International Student and Scholar Services or contact them:
International Student and Scholar Services Office (ISSSO)
302 Student Service Center 1
Houston, TX 77204-3024
USA
Phone: 713-743-5065
Fax: 713-743-5079
