All prospective international students applying for admission must fulfill all admissions and visa requirements, and be accepted a minimum of 60 days prior to the start of the first trimester.

Fall 2022 Deadline: June 15, 2022
Spring 2023 Deadline: October 16, 2022

 

An applicant that has earned any degree outside of the United States must submit an official evaluation from an approved foreign credential evaluation service confirming the foreign degree(s) U.S. equivalency. Students must order this evaluation independently, and  it must be received in a sealed envelope. Any current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators can be used for the official evaluation of foreign degrees. MUIH will accept official degree evaluations from the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers that occurred prior to September 2016.

International students applying for 100% online graduate programs with the intention of completing them while in their home country must fulfill all general and international admissions requirements, but are not required to submit the Financial Responsibility Form/I-20 Application, or go through the F-1 visa application process.

Please refer to the instructions outlined in the International Students section of the Academic Catalog for additional information.

Required Documents & International Student Checklist

Download a packet of forms and information for international students, including information on the F-1 Visa Process, the I-20/Financial Responsibility application, admissions checklist, and details on special conditions surrounding international applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Download a copy of frequently asked questions and answers regarding the international admissions process at Maryland University of Integrative Health.

Eligible F-1 Programs

(On-campus format only)

  • Master of Acupuncture
  • Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization
  • Doctor of Acupuncture
  • Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Students attending Maryland University of Integrative Health participate in rigorous graduate coursework as part of their university educational experience. This experience requires the ability to not only be proficient in comprehending, reading, and writing English, but also specifically the ability to understand the nuances of the language, as well as effective speaking. This level of proficiency is greater than that which is required for daily living. For this reason, MUIH has established a high standard for English proficiency for graduate admission. The requirements stated below are in place to ensure a student’s ability to participate fully in the academic programs, and meet the degree requirements for the specific program.

All graduate programs require applicants to meet that English proficiency standard. Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States, Canada (excluding province of Quebec), United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand are considered to have met that standard. Additionally, applicants who have earned degrees with English as the primary language of instruction may also satisfy the English language requirement – this must be confirmed by the credit evaluation service used by the applicant when having their degree(s) evaluated.

All other applicants are required to take an English proficiency examination and meet minimum scores set by MUIH in order to be considered for admission. Either the TOEFL or IELTS exam can be used to meet this requirement.

Decisions regarding English proficiency are at the discretion of the Office of Graduate Admissions and the Academic Department. Listed below are the minimum scores necessary for admission:

TOEFL – IBT

Total score – minimum of 71. Speaking score – minimum of 24. Listening score – minimum of 21. Reading score – minimum of 13. Writing score – minimum of 13.

TOEFL – PBT

Total score – minimum of 53. Listening score – minimum of 21. Reading score – minimum of 13. Writing score – minimum of 13.

IELTS

Overall – minimum score of 6.0.

All English proficiency scores are valid for two years from the test date. Official test scores must be provided directly from the testing agency. Please make sure test scores are sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Institution Code: 8400

English Language Proficiency Requirements for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Programs

English language competency is required of all students seeking admission to the program. This must be demonstrated by one of the following means:

Doctor of Acupuncture and Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization

TOEFL – IBT

Total score – minimum of 80. Speaking score – minimum of 24. Listening score – minimum of 21. Reading score – minimum of 13. Writing score – minimum of 13.

TOEFL – PBT

Total score – minimum of 60. Listening score – minimum of 21. Reading score – minimum of 13. Writing score – minimum of 13.

IELTS

Overall – minimum score of 6.5.

Master of Acupuncture and Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization

TOEFL – IBT

Total score – minimum of 71. Speaking score – minimum of 24. Listening score – minimum of 21. Reading score – minimum of 13. Writing score – minimum of 13.

TOEFL – PBT

Total score – minimum of 53. Listening score – minimum of 21. Reading score – minimum of 13. Writing score – minimum of 13.

IELTS

Overall – minimum score of 6.0. Speaking – minimum score of 6.5. Listening – minimum score of 6.0.

(Individuals who may later be interested in MUIH’s Doctor of Acupuncture or Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization are advised to review and take note of their higher TOEFL and IELTS scores.)

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine

TOEFL – IBT

Total score – minimum of 71. Speaking score – minimum of 24. Listening score – minimum of 21. Reading score – minimum of 13. Writing score – minimum of 13.

TOEFL – PBT

Total score – minimum of 53. Listening score – minimum of 21. Reading score – minimum of 13. Writing score – minimum of 13.

IELTS

Overall – minimum score of 6.0.

(Individuals who may later be interested in MUIH’s Doctor of Acupuncture program are advised to review and take note of its higher TOEFL and IELTS scores.)

Tips for Traveling to the United States

Important Reminders:

  • You may not arrive in the United States earlier than 30 days before the start of your program, which will be listed on your I-20 form.
  • You should plan to carry all important documents when traveling to the United States. These documents include:
    • Passport, I-20 Form, I-94 Arrival/Departure Card, Financial documents, MUIH Admissions Letter, SEVIS Fee Receipt etc.

Packing

Please be advised that Maryland is located in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States and experiences four seasons, therefore the climate changes drastically throughout the year. Temperatures can range from 30°– 90°Fahrenheit. It is suggested that you bring seasonally appropriate clothing with you, or purchase it upon your arrival.

Spring/Summer Weather – Warm and humid

Fall/Winter Weather – Cold and occasionally snowy

More information about Maryland’s weather can be found here.

We encourage students to bring along personal items like photographs, books and music so that you will feel at home during your time in the United States. Additionally, be aware that most landlords do not provide bedding or sheets; therefore you will want to bring these items with you, or purchase them upon your arrival. The University’s dress code is casual, but you may wish to bring formal attire for special events.

Housing

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they secure housing prior to their arrival in the United States. If you cannot secure long-term housing prior to your arrival, please make arrangements for temporary housing and inform the campus’s DSO of your new address once permanent housing has been secured.

Travel Arrangements

Maryland University of Integrative Health is located in Laurel, MD which is close to three major airports. We suggest that you make your travel arrangements as soon as possible, ensuring that you do not arrive any sooner than 30 days before the start of your program (as indicated on your I-20 Form).

Each airport will offer various shuttle and transportation services. Below is a brief list of regional options.

Banking Resources

For a map of area banks, click here.

Tax & Legal Resources

Social Security Agency: http://www.ssa.gov/

Who is eligible to apply for a Social Security Number? F-1 students with a job offer letter and work permission

Internal Revenue Service (IRS): http://www.irs.gov/

Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers information

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Individual-Taxpayer-Identification-Number-(ITIN)

Other Resources

Driver’s License information

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/drivers/apply/international-applicants.htm#International_students

Health Insurance information

Healthcare.gov