Academic Eligibility

Additional components

Office of International Students

Anne-Marie Bruner-Tracey
Assistant Dean for International Students
Telephone: +1.318.798.4134 
Email: international@lsus.edu

Ready to pilot your future?
    • TOEFL
      • 500+ on PBT
      • 61+ on iBT
    • IELTS – 6.0+ overall, with 5.5+ in each component
    • PTE – 47+ overall
    • Duolingo – 105+ overall

 Some applicants may be exempt from English proficiency requirements if they:

  • Earned a US high school diploma or any degree from an accredited US tertiary/higher education institution
  • Scored 500+ on the Reading and Writing section of the SAT; or 20+ on the English section of the ACT
  • Have a 2.5 overall GPA with 30 credit hours of university-level coursework at a regionally accredited US higher education institution, to include one non-remedial course each in Mathematics and English, or two consecutive non-remedial English courses
  • Are a national of or completed secondary or tertiary education in a country where English is the official primary language of instruction (some departments or degree programs may still require English proficiency tests or an additional interview): Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; British Virgin Islands; Canada; Cayman Islands; Dominica; Ghana; Gibraltar; Grenada; Guyana; Ireland; Jamaica; Kenya; Lesotho; Malta; Mauritius; Montserrat; New Zealand; Nigeria; Seychelles; Singapore; South Africa; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; Uganda; United Kingdom; Zambia; Zimbabwe.

All international credentials for admission* must be evaluated with a course-by-course equivalency by an accredited evaluation agency. Approved agencies must be a member organization of either the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators. Evaluations should be sent directly to the LSUS Admissions Office or emailed to international@lsus.edu.  

* Applicants from partner universities may be exempted from this requirement if the partnership allows but must submit official transcripts sent directly from their home university Registrar to admissions@lsus.edu.  

It is critical that you have enough support to cover the full cost of attendance without relying on campus-based work. While it is possible for a small number of F-1 students to work on campus, this is not guaranteed. F-1 students are not eligible for United States public assistance programs.            

Costs listed are estimates for two semesters (one academic year) and are based on a course load of 15 credit hours (usually 5 classes) per semester. Costs for classes taken during summer or break periods are in addition to costs listed below.

 Estimated Costs AY 2024-25

Tuition and Fees

$20,493

Books and Supplies

$  1,200

Living Expenses

$10,000

Insurance

$     800

TOTAL ESTIMATE

$32,493

* based on most recent cost data 

International Scholarship 

All international campus-based applicants are considered for the LSUS International Scholarship upon submission of the Application for Admission.

                Eligibility 

    • 2.0+ overall secondary GPA, or equivalent
    • 24 ACT/ 1160 SAT
    • Limited to 8 semesters

Estimated Costs with Scholarship AY 2024-25

Tuition and Fees

$20,493

Books and Supplies

$ 1,200

Living Expenses

$10,000

Insurance

$      800

International Scholarship

($13,154)

TOTAL ESTIMATE

$19,339

Scholarship Retention Requirements (to keep the scholarship each year of your program)

      • Full-time enrolment
      • 2.5+ overall GPA
      • Must successfully earn 24+ credits each academic year

Additional LSUS Scholarships

F-1 students are eligible for on-campus work only. Available positions are posted by LSUS's Office of Career Services on the Handshake platform, which is available in the student portal for admitted students only.

Academic Works is an online portal available only to admitted students and provides a search functionality for every scholarship available at LSUS. Most of our scholarships are administered through the LSU Shreveport Foundation and are made possible by university benefactors. Many of these scholarships require more than just the submittal of documents.

Campus-based international students will apply for F-1 student visa status, unless in possession of another current visa status.

 Steps to obtaining your F-1 visa

  1. Receive your offer of admission
  2. Receive your I-20 form (this can only be issued after LSUS has received both your Affidavit of Financial Support and a copy of your passport photo page)
  3. Apply online for your Nonimmigrant Visa using the DS-160 Form 
  4. Pay the visa application processing fee (costs listed on your local US Embassy or Consulate website)
  5. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee 
  6. Schedule your visa interview at your local US Embassy or Consulate
  7. Attend your visa interview

 

F-1 student responsibilities

  • Maintain valid passport
  • Maintain full-time enrollment
  • Obtain prior authorization before dropping below a full course of study
  • Abide by US Federal Employment regulations
  • Report address changes within 10 days to the International Student Office
  • Report program changes (including program dates or level of study) to the International Student Office
  • Notify the International Student Office of any dependents who will accompany you
  • Obtain Transfer Authorization prior to transferring to another US institution
  • Depart the US within the designated Grace Period

 

NB: This information is provided as unofficial guidance only and is subject to change without notice. Consult the US Department of State for the most accurate information.

Pilots Pointe Apartments accommodates over 300 students in luxurious studio, two-bedroom, or four-bedroom apartments. Floor plans feature spacious living areas, private bedrooms, and fully-furnished kitchens. An eight-foot perimeter fence surrounds the community with electronically controlled limited access. Amenities include an outdoor pool, sand volleyball court, and a clubhouse with a big screen TV. An academic environment coupled with an array of educational, recreational, and social programming, coordinated by an on-site residence-life staff, enhances the overall college experience for LSUS students. 

There are additional apartment options within walking distance of campus. It is highly recommended to arrange to view external accommodation in person before making any payments.

We strongly recommend flying into Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV) as it can be challenging and costly to arrange ground transportation from the closest hub airports (DFW – Dallas-Ft. Worth; IAH – Houston; or MSY – New Orleans). Since you will be unable to fly directly from your country to SHV, you will want to ensure that you allow 3+ hour connection time at your airport of arrival into the US to go through the US Port of Entry and US Immigration and Customs.

  • F-1 students may arrive in the US up to 30 days before the program start date listed on the I-20 form; however, do budget for the costs of temporary housing as your housing contract may not be available to you.
  • Airport Meet-and-Greet is available only on official International Arrival dates and must be confirmed by the date requested in your welcome letter.
  • The International Arrival date each semester will be provided to students upon issuance of their immigration documents and is typically at least one day prior to scheduled New Student Orientation.
  • Please keep the International Student Office advised of your travel arrangements and arrival.
  • It is not possible to arrive after the semester begins.

Orientation

New Student Orientation is provided before each semester begins and is mandatory for international students!

  • Fall 2024 – (graduate) Graduate Orientation – Wednesday 14 August 2024 
  • Fall 2024 – (undergraduate) New Student Orientation – Friday 16 August 2024 
  • Spring 2025 – Express Orientation – (tentative) Friday 3 January 2024 (undergraduate and graduate)
  • F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment:
      • Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
      • Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion)
      • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT)

  • F-1 students may also be eligible to work off-campus on a case-by-case basis as a result of special situations such as severe economic hardship or special student relief. 

  • For F-1 students, any off-campus training employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized by the Designated School Official and USCIS prior to starting any work.