Overview

From opera singers to politicians, activists and leaders of industry, The University of Alabama (also known as UA or the Capstone) is 'Where Legends Are Made'.

　　Founded in 1831 in Tuscaloosa, UA is the state of Alabama's flagship university and its first public college. It provides over 250 programs across 12 academic schools and is home to Alabama's only publicly supported law school, ranked 9th among public universities in the U.S. Its engineering program is among the five oldest in the U.S.

　　UA strives to create a better world through extraordinary education, research and service. The learning environment encourages real-world innovation, where students are inspired to explore life-changing projects while guided by expert faculty in state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms.

　　With a campus spread over 1,200 acres of award-winning grounds, students can find many peaceful green spaces coexisting with impressive architecture and facilities. There are over 600 student organizations to join, as well as ample support services and activities designed just for international students. UA also offers on-campus housing options for undergraduate students.

　　Tuscaloosa is a popular student city that provides a low cost of living as well as plenty of enjoyable outdoor activities, dining options and shopping malls. Nature is found on the city's doorstep as the Black Warrior River borders the campus, allowing students to enjoy the warm summers on the water and mild winters outdoors.

　　UA is renowned for a number of national rankings. It holds a prestigious Carnegie Research-1 designation, placing it among the top research universities in the U.S. Niche has named UA as one of the top Greek life colleges in America out of 718 institutions and the second-best athletics college in the U.S. out of 1,356 institutions. It is also the 8th best college campus in America out of 1,396 institutions.

　　

Resources and opportunities

The English Language Institute at The University of Alabama offers several English language programs. These help international students prepare or qualify for their chosen academic programs, advance their careers or generally improve their English language skills.

　　

Intensive English Program (IEP)

This includes 20-26 hours of English classes each week, in 3-8-week sessions. Five different starting levels are available from high beginner to advanced.

　　

Pathway to UA

Undergraduate and graduate students study English before commencing their degree program and simultaneously earn a maximum of 17 academic credits. Start dates are in January, and August.

　　

Semester Abroad at UA

International undergraduates spend a semester as a student in America to study English and university courses with transferable credits to home institutions. Graduate students can also attend as visiting students.

　　Other programs include customized group programs, English Lite, the Academic Support Program and the International Teaching Assistant Program.

　　

Teaching quality

As well as being leaders in their fields, the faculty and staff at The University of Alabama are all exceptionally invested in the success of their students. The student to faculty ratio is 23:1, allowing for more individualized attention.

　　The quality of learning at UA is demonstrated by the success of its graduates. The University has graduated 62 Goldwater Scholars, 16 Rhodes Scholars, 14 Truman Scholars and 41 Hollings Scholars, and is among the top Fulbright producing universities in the U.S. In addition, UA has a long history of distinguished alumni, including Culverhouse College of Business graduate Marillyn Hewson, CEO of Lockheed Martin, recognized as the 2018 CEO of the Year, 2018 Most Powerful Woman in Business, and one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World (2019).

　　Students can become transformative leaders by forging their path at The University of Alabama.

　　

Department structure

The University of Alabama has a large offering of excellent academic programs across 12 different colleges and schools:

　　

Undergraduate majors

UA offers 100+ undergraduate majors and programs of study in eight different colleges and schools.

　　

Graduate programs

More than 150 masters, doctoral and educational specialist programs in leading-edge fields such as engineering, sciences, business analytics, computer science, communications and the humanities and arts.

　　

School of Law

Providing a forward-thinking curriculum that produces local, national and global leaders with a 6:1 student to faculty ratio.

　　

Research and Innovation

Nearly three billion dollars has been invested in new and renovated facilities where students learn and are led by distinguished professors renowned within their subject areas. Students can benefit from internships, research opportunities, study abroad placements and more.

　　

Colleges and schools include:

Arts and Sciences Capstone College of Nursing Communication and Information Sciences Community Health Sciences Culverhouse College of Business Education Engineering Graduate School Honors College Human Environmental Sciences Social Work School of Law

　　

Entry requirements

As well as academic requirements specific to each program, students must meet the English language requirements for admission to The University of Alabama. Prospective international students will need to submit official qualifying English language proficiency test results. The following are accepted:

　　

Undergraduate

TOEFL iBT score of at least 79 IELTS score of at least 6.0 PTE score of at least 54 Duolingo score of at least 110Some students may be exempt from having to supply proof of English language proficiency. This includes native English speakers or graduates from U.S. high schools. Students with high SAT reading/writing scores can petition to waive the English test requirement. SAT/ACT scores are optional for admission but are required for Merit Scholarship eligibility.

　　

Graduate

TOEFL iBT score of at least 79 IELTS score of at least 6.5 PTE score of at least 59The GRE is also required for some UA programs, with total score of at least 300. English language tests must have been taken in the two years prior to the student enrolling at UA.

　　See the graduate international admissions page for more details on English language requirements. International students who do not meet the English language requirement will have to enroll in an English language support class from the English Language Institute.

　　

Facilities

The University of Alabama offers facilities that are second to none. With nearly three billion dollars in investment and new properties since 2003, UA has cutting-edge facilities in such areas as rocket engines and design, large-structure simulation laboratories, earthquake simulation labs, racecar technologies, sensor technology, 3-D printing labs and many others that create opportunities for students to make breakthrough discoveries.

　　There are also many campus libraries with quiet study spaces and access to a plethora of physical and digital resources.

　　

Accommodation

There are 34 residence halls on campus for undergraduate students. Run by a large team of resident advisors and graduate community directors, students are well supported when living on campus. International undergraduate students will benefit from the living-learning communities that help students be their best academically and socially. There is also plenty of affordable off-campus housing available for students not living on campus.

　　

Scholarships & funding

International freshmen students applying to The University of Alabama for the first time may be eligible to receive one of the following tuition scholarships:

　　Crimson Legends – annual value of USD 6,000 Capstone – annual value of USD 8,000 Collegiate – annual value of USD 10,000 Foundation in Excellence – annual value of USD 15,000 UA Scholar – annual value of USD 24,000 Presidential – annual value of USD 28,000The above awards are based on academic excellence, GPA and test scores. To be eligible for a scholarship, students must meet the scholarship priority deadline as well as other requirements.

　　International undergraduate students may also qualify for an Academic Elite Scholarship. To be eligible, students must be a member of the University Fellows Experience. Additionally, there are limited scholarships on offer to transfer students. Applicants without a test score who have a background that includes leadership experience, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, employment and non-academic honors may qualify for the UA Competitive Admissions Scholarship.

　　International graduate students may qualify for funding through either a teaching or research assistantship, or a fellowship. These funding opportunities include a 100 percent tuition scholarship, a stipend (typically USD 15,450 to USD 29,000 for the 9 month academic year), and health insurance. These funding packages are usually worth at least USD 50,000 per year.