International Students
Rice University welcomes applications from students from around the world. In the fall 2004 semester, 35 percent of graduate students were international, representing 84 countries. This diversity is mirrored by the city of Houston, which is comprised of people from hundreds of countries worldwide.
SEVIS Fee
Effective September 1, 2004, all international students wishing to study in the US are required to pay a $100 fee. To reduce the burden on applicants, Rice will reimburse $100 to all newly enrolled international undergraduate and graduate students after they have formally enrolled at Rice. This fee is being collected at the time of VISA application in each student s home country. The fee is being assessed to support the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) created by the Department of Homeland Security to electronically track international students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities.
Office of International Students and Scholars
International students at Rice have many services and resources at their disposal through the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) to help smooth the transition to graduate life at Rice. Upon arrival at the university, international students convene for a special, intensive orientation. Throughout the academic year, the OISS offers workshops to demystify necessities of American life such as income taxes and the IRS, healthcare and insurance, and immigration status. Social gatherings dot the week’s agenda, including a welcome party and dinner for new graduate students, an activities fair, cultural movies, and a Graduate Student Association party.
Through the Rice Host Family Program, sponsored by the Houston chapter of the International Institute of Education, Houston-area families open their homes to students from other countries, giving them a place to go for holidays, spring break, birthday celebrations, or when they simply need a brief escape from academics. The Spouse of Internationals at Rice organization plans lunches and other events for wives and international women students. It is a chance to socialize and share customs, traditions, and holidays.
Transcripts
The academic records we refer to as transcripts should provide a listing, year-by-year, of all courses taken and the grade or marks received for each one. It is helpful to have the grading scale of the institution and the student's rank in class included when such information is available. Transcripts must bear an official signature in ink of the appropriate official of your institution(s), such as the registrar or recorder of records, and must bear the institutional seal. If your college or university will not provide original official academic documents, exact copies that have been verified as "Certified True Copies" by the appropriate institutional official of each institution that you have attended should be sent. Uncertified photocopies are not acceptable. To be considered, all documents not in English must be accompanied by official English translations. These translations must bear an original ink signature and seal, and translations alone will not be acceptable.
GRE Scores
We realize that language and cultural differences may affect the GRE scores of foreign students, particularly if the student's native language is not English. This situation is taken into consideration when such students' applications are evaluated. The scores are nevertheless required and must come directly from the Educational Testing Service. For information on the GRE exam, visit www.gre.org.
TOEFL Scores
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test is required for any student whose native language is not English, regardless of whether or not you have attended another U.S. institution. Exceptions are granted on rare occassions. Applicants must score at least 600 on the paper-based TOEFL or score at least 250 on the computer-based TOEFL. However, due to the professional nature of the PSM degrees, higher scores are recommended. For information on the TOEFL exam, visit www.toefl.org.
Students may opt to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Exam in lieu of the TOEFL. The IELTS was created by the University of Cambridge, and is accepted at numerous American universities. A minimum score of 7 is required. For information on the IELTS exam, visit www.els.com or www.els.com/houston.
Immigration Information
For information on how to obtain and maintain legal status in the U.S., contact the Rice Office of International Students & Scholars. For more information, you may consult the following web sites:
International Student Associations
There are several student associatons at Rice that support students of various descents. For a complete listing, visit Rice's Student Activities page.
Last updated 10/15/2008 by Dagmar Beck