Mission
Programs
Academic Information
Calendar & Fees
Scholarships
News & Publications
Our Faculty & Staff
Application
Meet Our Students
UF Virtual Tour
FAQ
Employment
English Language Institute
PO Box 117051
315 Norman Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611-7051
Phone: (352) 392-2070
Fax: (352) 392-3744
studyenglish@eli.ufl.edu
How can I receive information immediately
Click here: Send me information!
The non-refundable fee is $100 USD. The fee can be paid by money order, check or online with a credit card. The non-refundable application fee for the spouse, sibling, parent, or child of a current UF student is $50.
The fastest, easiest way is to apply on-line at: https://www.eli.ufl.edu/apply/index.asp
Go to your current international student advisor and request to transfer. Your advisor will obtain the correct form from our office. You must submit the required documents (see What is required to apply?). The ELI will contact your advisor to confirm the transfer date. We will mail an acceptance letter and acceptance packet to the address you provide. You may pick up your new I-20 at the ELI office when you arrive for the new semester.
Please see: http://www.eli.ufl.edu/applicants/application.htm
1. $100 USD non-refundable application fee.
2. A completed application.
3. Copies of secondary school diploma or transcript.
4. Reaching age 17 before the first day of class. (If under 18, a parent or guardian must sign Waiver of Liability and Immunization Form).
5. Proof of financial responsibility for F-1 Visa holders.
6. Proof of immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), and a negative tuberculosis skin test (PPD).
You do not need to have your diploma or transcripts translated or evaluated for admission to UF ELI. However, you must have this done for the University of Florida, Santa Fe College, or any other college or university in the United States.
As soon as we receive all the required documents we will FedEx or DHL the I-20 to you. Depending on your location and FedEx or DHL services, the package should get to you in less than a week.
Make an appointment with the US Embassy or Consulate nearest you. Make sure you take a copy of every document you have sent us regarding your admissions. If you are applying for an F-1 visa be sure to have a receipt for payment of the SEVIS fee. Go to: www.fmjfee.com . Look at the website: http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students for complete details on embassies, requirements, interviews, and fees. You can also visit your closest educationUSA office for information on applying to or studying at a university in the USA. http://www.educationusa.state.gov
The ELI does not offer scholarships or financial aid for incoming students. We do offer two merit-based scholarships for students already attending. Please see: http://www.eli.ufl.edu/scholarships.htm for the description of the Jayne C. Harder Memorial Scholarship and the JC Casagrande Peace Scholarship.
We accept a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) online or in person. We also accept traveler’s checks and money orders. We do not accept cash or personal checks.
The ELI does not provide airport transportation. Please check with your hotel for free shuttle service from the Gainesville airport. A bus is available from the Gainesville airport to UF campus (McCarty Hall) via downtown Gainesville on Monday through Friday at 7:25 to 10:25am and 3:25 to 6:25pm, and costs $1.50 USD to ride. (Bus #25, http://www.go-rts.com/). Google "Taxis Gainesville FL" to get a list of available companies.
If you arrive early, especially during a holiday, the office will be closed and Gainesville will be very quiet! You must find your own hotel, and be sure to mention the University of Florida rate. If you know when you will be arriving, please call our office. We can help you find a good hotel. Here is a list of several nearby Gainesville hotels: http://www.eli.ufl.edu/applicants/listofhotels.htm .
During the check-in week (WISE Week) we provide information about apartments and even take you to view student apartments and understand leases and utilities. During WISE Week! we also provide help with grocery shopping and bus transportation in Gainesville. You should expect to pay between $500-$700 USD per month for housing and utilities. Most student apartments have a private bedroom and bathroom, and a common living area and kitchen. You need to buy utensils, cookware and bedding. Private apartments for families are available. On-campus dormitories are not available. Find more information about housing here.
Most apartment complexes require full payment of rent by check or money order on or before the due date. Late payments usually incur late fees. Some complexes will take credit cards.The ELI will assist you in understanding all your lease requirements
WISE Week is a busy time. WISE means Welcome & Information Seminars Extravaganza! You will attend a Check-in session to sign enrollment documents and Cultural and Academic Seminars. At these Seminars, you will receive information about the UF campus and life in Gainesville, insurance and health issues, transportation, shopping and entertainment. You will also take a placement exam, receive your class schedule, and meet your teachers and classmates!
No. As an international student you are required to carry health insurance from your country or purchase it in the US. Your insurance must meet UF requirements. We will send an Insurance Verification Form, to be completed by an insurance representative, with your I-20 package. Several local Gainesville companies work with our students and understand their needs. Please see United Healthcare for more information.
No. UF is a tobacco-free campus, so if you smoke, you must leave campus to do so. UF has resources to help students quit smoking. You can find more information about those resources here.
You do not have to purchase a computer. If you do get a laptop, UF has free wireless internet all over campus. As an ELI student you will have access to all UF computer labs and libraries. Downtown Gainesville also offers free wireless internet, and several restaurants and coffee shops, and public libraries in Gainesville provide wireless service.
You may start in January (Spring C), March (Spring B), May (Summer C), July (Summer B), August (Fall C) or October (Fall B).
Spring C (January – April) and Fall C (August – December) are 14-week semesters. Summer C (May – August) is 12 weeks.
Spring B (March – April), Summer B (July – August) and Fall B (October – December) are 7 week-semesters.
Please see: http://www.eli.ufl.edu/firsttime/calendar.htm for a calendar with starting and ending dates, tuition and other fees.
During WISE Week you will take a placement exam. You will be tested on listening, grammar, and writing. You will be placed in the appropriate level for each skill.
Full-time students must take 23 hours of class at the ELI. You will take Grammar (5 hours a week), Listening/Speaking (8 hours a week), Reading/Writing (10 hours a week). You may also take additional elective classes like Pronunciation, Business English, Grammar for Writing, TOEFL and IELTS depending on your level and when enrollment allows.
Yes. These courses are electives offered each semester when enrollment allows. The GRE, IELTS and TOELF iBT courses are usually offered from 7:30 to 8:30am or from 5:00 to 7:00pm.
Afternoon and weekend activities are provided by the Cultural Immersion Program (CIP). Typical afternoon activities are sports, conversation over coffee, and movies. Weekend trips include kayaking, canoeing and swimming, in Florida’s beautiful springs, picnics and barbeques, paintball, Walt Disney World, Busch Gardens, Universal Studios, and trips to beautiful beaches! Another popular activity is Volunteer Day. ELI students can participate in volunteering activities in the Gainesville community. The CIP also arranges for students to have one-on-one conversation partners
Yes, all activities are covered in your tuition. However, park entrance fees (Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, etc.), some transportation fees, food, and souvenirs are not included.
You may attend UF after the ELI. However, admission to the ELI is NOT the same as admission to UF. You will not receive credit for the courses at the ELI. Please see UF Admissions for all admission requirements to the University of Florida.
Santa Fe College will waive the TOEFL requirement for students who reach the advanced levels at the ELI. Graduating with an A.S. or A.A. degree from Santa Fe College or other Florida community colleges guarantees admission to a public university in Florida. Please see SFC Admissions for more information about admission requirements to Santa Fe College.
Typically for undergraduate courses, UF does not accept international students conditionally. Conditional admission is available on a departmental basis to the UF Graduate School. Students who exit the ELI do not have to submit English test scores to the Graduate School. Please see UF Graduate School for a list of UF departments which offer graduate degrees.
For undergraduate students, UF requires a combined score of at least 950 on the critical reading and mathematical reasoning sections of the SAT with a minimum score of 440 on each. On the ACT with writing test, a composite score of 19 is required with a minimum of 17 on the English subsection, a minimum of 19 on the math subsection and a minimum of 18 on the reading subsection. [Average scores for UF Freshman: High School GPA 4.0 – 4.4 (on a 4.0 scale), SAT 1210-1400, and ACT 26-31.]
For more information: http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/ugrad/frqualify.html
For graduate students, a TOEFL score of 550 (computer-based), or 80 iBT. For all other graduate test score requirements (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.) students must contact the department directly. Successful completion of the ELI may be substituted for UF’s TOEFL requirement on a departmental basis.
For more information: http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/grad/gradcontacts.html
UF does not offer any financial assistance for international undergraduates. Graduate departments may offer fellowships or scholarships, but you must contact the department directly to get specific information.
Space Space
Open the original version of this page.
Usablenet Assistive is a UsableNet product. Usablenet Assistive Main Page.