International Admissions Policy
All international (nonimmigrant) applicants to The Art Institute of Seattle must meet the same admissions standards as all other students (Please refer to Admissions Requirements for all students).

Admissions Requirements for Non-immigrant Students

Applicants seeking to enroll in valid student nonimmigrant status must submit each of the following items:

1. A completed and signed Application for Admission Form including required essay;
2. A completed and signed Enrollment Agreement;
3. Original or official copies of all educational transcripts (high school and, if applicable, university level academic records) and diplomas. These educational transcripts and diplomas must be prepared in English or include a complete and official English translation;
4. Fee for official credential evaluation of non-American educational credentials, if applicable.
5. Proof of English language proficiency (See below for acceptable proof);
6. A completed and signed Sponsor's Statement of Financial Support; (This statement is not required if the student is self-sponsored;);
7. Official Financial Statements. Financial statements (typically provided by a bank) must verify sufficient funds to cover the cost of the educational program as well as all living expenses;
8. A U.S. $50 non-refundable application fee and a U.S. $100 refundable tuition deposit;
9. A photocopy of the student's passport to provide proof of birth date and citizenship (Students outside the United States who have not yet acquired a passport will need to submit a copy of their birth certificate);
10. For all nonimmigrant applicants residing in the United States at the time of application: a photocopy of the visa page contained within the student's passport as well as a photocopy of the student's I/94 arrival departure record (both sides);
11. For all nonimmigrant applicants residing in the United States at the time of application in either F, M, or J non-immigrant classification: written confirmation of nonimmigrant status at previous school attended before transferring to The Art Institute;
12. Proof of Health Insurance. Students who do not possess health insurance upon applying to The Art Institute must be prepared to purchase health insurance through an approved provider upon commencement of studies.;

If an applicant seeking to enroll in valid student nonimmigrant status is transferring from a college or university in the United States, the International Student Transfer Clearance Form is also required.

If the applicant is accepted, he/she will be sent additional information regarding the student visa application process. The Art Institute of Seattle is authorized under federal law to admit nonimmigrant students.

English Language Proficiency Policy 

All applicants to The Art Institute of Seattle whose first language is not English must demonstrate competence in the English language. Demonstration that English is an applicant's "first" language can be satisfied if the applicant submits a diploma from secondary school (or above) in a system in which English is the official language of instruction. If English is not the applicant's "first" language, the applicant will need to meet the minimum English Language Proficiency standard through submission of an official minimum score on the written Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or its TOEFL computer-based equivalent. The minimum written TOEFL score required is 480 for diploma programs OR 500 for all associate and bachelor level degree programs.

Applicants should contact the Admissions Office to determine other examinations for which official scores, equivalent to TOEFL, are acceptable as an alternative to TOEFL.

The above stated English language proficiency requirements are effective November 1, 2004.

The Art Institute of Seattle and ELS Language Centers in Seattle have a cooperative agreement to help international students who wish to attend The Art Institute but do not have the required English language proficiency. Following an admissions review by Art Institute staff, a student who is eligible for admission except for English proficiency will be referred to ELS Language Center. ELS will conduct placement testing and, when necessary, recommend the appropriate language courses.

The Art Institute will maintain full authority for the academic, financial, and administrative needs of the student, including compliance with all United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations. ELS Language Centers will administer necessary placement exams and determine appropriate English courses for each student.

The Art Institute of Seattle and ELS Language Centers Probation and Dismissal Policy
Students failing two of three ELS courses within an academic quarter will be placed on warning by The Art Institute of Seattle.

Students failing two of three courses within the second academic quarter will be placed on academic probation.

Any student who does not complete his or her entire ELS study within one year will be dismissed from The Art Institute and may apply for readmission in accordance with The Art Institute policy.

ELS Language Center Course Descriptions
English as a Second Language courses at ELS are organized into three levels of study: basic, intermediate and advanced. Course descriptions are listed below.

ELS 091
The first course in the basic range of ESL courses, this is designed to introduce the English language learner to reading, writing, grammar, listening comprehension, vocabulary acquisition and verbal communication.

ELS 092
Continuation of study in the basic skill areas introduced in ELS 091.

ELS 093
The final course in the basic range of ESL courses completes the introduction to writing, reading, grammar, listening comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and verbal communication.

ELS 094
The first course in the intermediate range of ESL courses, this is designed to further the students' skills in grammar, reading, writing, listening comprehension, vocabulary acquisition and verbal communication. Students are introduced to a more formal and academic use of the English language in this course.

ELS 095
Continuation of study in the intermediate skill areas introduced in ELS 094.

ELS 096
This is the final course in the intermediate range of ELS courses and completes the material begun in the previous two courses. Students are now ready to begin a full study of the academic English skills necessary to be successful in educational content courses.

ELS 097
This is the first step into the advanced skills of the English language. Studies will focus on academic writing, reading for information, vocabulary acquisition through content, classroom note-taking, listening comprehension, interactive verbal skills, and real-life, situation English skills.

ELS 098
This course is a continuation of the materials and objectives introduced in ELS 097.

ELS 099
This course completes the advanced study of English within the ELS Language Centers system. Students are now fully prepared for academic study at the university and college level. Students have completed a college term paper, mastered advanced grammar and reading skills. Listening comprehension should be adequate for lectures and both formal and informal conversations.