Admissions

Undergraduate Admissions

Candidates for admission to the University of New England may be surprised to discover that we spend as much time and effort helping them evaluate the University as we do in evaluating their credentials. We are interested in establishing a good match between the applicant’s needs and goals and the University’s ability to meet them.

Campus Tours and Information Sessions

Prospective students, their friends, and their families have an open invitation to visit UNE. The pleasant drive to scenic Maine and the opportunity to meet students and admissions professional staff result in a day that is interesting and informative.

Biddeford Campus tours and information sessions may be scheduled by contacting the Admissions Office, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Prospective students are encouraged to visit on a weekday if possible. Daily tours and information sessions are offered during the school year, during school breaks, and throughout the summer, multiple times during the day. Saturday tours with information sessions are offered on the Biddeford campus during the fall and spring semesters. Please call in advance at 1-(800) 477-4863. You can also register online from our Undergraduate Admissions website.

Admissions Criteria

Please note: All requirements below reflect the 2026-2027 Application Cycle.

To determine a first-year applicant’s qualifications as a candidate for admission to the undergraduate programs of the University of New England, we carefully consider many different criteria.

Students applying for undergraduate admission are required to submit a completed application, and an official secondary school transcript. We also highly recommend students submit the following:

  • Extracurricular involvement
  • The essay or personal statement
  • The two recommendations
  • Qualified students with equivalency certificates are also considered for admission

UNE does not require submission of ACT/SAT scores to apply for undergraduate admission, with the following exceptions where students can apply test optional:

  • Applicants for the Nursing program
  • Applicants for Medical Biology/ Dental Medicine 3+4.
  • Homeschooled applicants
  • Applicants with unweighted GPAs less than 3.0 (on 4.0 scale)
  • Applicants with narrative or non-letter grade transcripts
  • Some International Applicants

The above applicants can submit official standardized test scores as part of their test-optional application to UNE. For more information about the test-free and test-optional policies, please see https://www.une.edu/admissions/testpolicy.

The University of New England supports the efforts of secondary school officials and governing bodies to have their schools achieve institutional accredited status to provide reliable assurance of the quality of the educational preparation of applicants for admission.

Home-Schooled Students

The University of New England welcomes applications from qualified home-schooled students, and we review each applicant with careful attention.

UNE requires that students enrolling at UNE have completed homeschooling at the secondary level as defined by their home state law. Please check with your state to make sure you are following their guidelines and send us any necessary supporting materials.

Requirements

Your High School Transcript From Grades 9–12

If you have taken any courses at a school, college, online, or by correspondence, please be sure to have official transcripts sent directly to us. Detailed performance evaluations and materials such as course bibliographies or syllabi are also helpful, but not required.

SAT or ACT Scores (Optional)

Home-schooled students have the option to submit official SAT or ACT results if they choose.

Two Letters of Recommendation

At least one letter must be from someone who can assess your academic ability. The second letter may be from someone who can further assess your academic ability and/or level of co-curricular involvement.

Notice of Intent

Before enrollment, we would require a copy of your annual notice of intent from your home state.

Program Specific Admissions Requirements

Nursing

Applicants to the Nursing 4-year B.S.N. program must meet general admission requirements of the University of New England, have four years of high school English, three years of high school math, and two years of science. Applicants should have a high school grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.2, and a 3.0 math and science GPA.

Transfer: Non-nursing courses completed at another accredited college/university may be transferred to this degree program and must meet the UNE School of Nursing grading requirement policy.

Accelerated Nursing

To be considered for admission to the Accelerated Nursing Program, students should possess the following:

  • A baccalaureate degree (non-nursing) with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Satisfactory completion of program pre-requisite coursework
  • Anatomy and Physiology, I and II w/Lab
  • Microbiology w/Lab
  • Chemistry w/Lab or Nutrition
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Statistics
  • Pathophysiology
  • Ethics

All pre-requisite science courses should have been taken within ten years of admission, and students must achieve a grade of B- or better in the math/science courses. 

Transfer: Non-nursing courses completed at another accredited college/university may be transferred to this degree program and must meet the UNE School of Nursing grading requirement policy.

Nursing + MaineHealth Partnership

To be considered for admission to the Accelerated Nursing + MaineHealth Partnership Program, students should possess the following:

  • Current MaineHealth Employee
  • A baccalaureate degree (non-nursing) with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Satisfactory completion of program pre-requisite coursework
  • Anatomy and Physiology, I and II w/Lab
  • Microbiology w/Lab
  • Chemistry w/Lab or Nutrition
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Statistics
  • Pathophysiology
  • Ethics
  • General requirements for admission to the University

All pre-requisite science courses should have been taken within ten years of admission, and students must achieve a grade of B- or better in the math/science courses.

Transfer: Non-nursing courses completed at another accredited college/university may be transferred to this degree program and must meet the UNE School of Nursing grading requirement policy.

Social Work

Consistent with the Council on Social Work Education, the B.S.W. program does not offer credit for "life experience" under any circumstance.

Admissions Deadlines

Fall

Early Action: November 15

We offer an Early Action Application deadline for undergraduate applicants who desire early notification of their admission status. Applicants wishing to be considered for Early Action admission will need to submit their completed application by November 15. Students interested in Medical Biology/Dental Medicine 3+4 must apply by November 15th. We highly encourage students interested in Nursing and Dental Hygiene to also apply by the Early Action deadline.

Regular Decision: February 15

Applicants wishing to be considered for regular admission must submit their completed application by February 15.

Transfer

Transfer applicants wishing to be considered for admission must submit their completed application by August 15. 

Spring

All applicants wishing to be considered for the spring semester must submit their completed application by January 8.

Transfer

Students applying for transfer admission are required to forward the completed application form, and official college transcripts of ALL academic work to the Undergraduate Admissions Office. If the student has less than 60 college credits at the time of enrollment the application must also include their secondary school records.

All undergraduate students accepted to the University will be expected to fulfill both the University and program requirements before being awarded a degree from the University of New England. Transfer students will be individually advised by the Undergraduate Admissions Office of all such requirements left outstanding after the evaluation of transfer credit has been completed prior to registration. A transfer student's grade point average (GPA) is based only on grades received at the University of New England.

Transfer students are evaluated on the basis of their collegiate records according to the following guidelines:

  • All students who have earned an associate degree in a program of study from an accredited institution that is parallel or related to the academic offerings at the University of New England are eligible for admission to the University. The student could receive credit for all courses therein, up to a total of 90 credits. However, not all of those credits will necessarily apply towards core or degree requirements.
  • Students who have earned less than an associate degree will be granted transfer credit for those courses completed at an accredited institution that parallel or relate to courses offered by the University with a grade of C- or higher. Some programs impose even higher grade cutoffs and/or time restrictions on the age of coursework that can be transferred. This information can be found on the individual catalog page related to a program. An exception to this policy will be made for classes taken on a pass/fail basis during Spring 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Any class earning a grade of “Pass” for Spring 2020 will be accepted for transfer. Please note that some graduate programs do not accept pass/fail grades for pre- requisite coursework (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics). Any student who aspires to future graduate school study in select disciplines may discover the award of “Pass” does not support their candidacy for admission and might be guided to repeat the course to earn a standard letter grade.
  •   With exception to applicants for Nursing and Dental Hygiene, all eligible students with a grade point average of at least 2.5 will be considered for admission to the University; students with a grade point average below 2.5 are considered on an individual basis.
  •   Nursing and Dental Hygiene applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA or higher for initial consideration. Applicants below a 3.0 can be considered on a case by case basis.  
  • Students interested in the Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor (A.B.S.N.) program should apply online using the Centralized Application Service for Nursing Programs.
  • Class standing is determined by the University Registrar after enrollment.
  • Transfer credit is given for courses graded C- or higher. Some restrictions may apply. Refer to program descriptions for further information.
  • Courses previously completed at another institutionally accredited college may be transferable to a UNE degree program. Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the courses offered at UNE in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they may transfer as general electives. All science/Math courses previously completed must be no older than five years to be transferable. Other options and restrictions may apply.
  • While credits may transfer in based on the criteria above, grades and/or grade points do not transfer into the student's UNE academic record. Grades for accepted transfer courses are identified on the UNE transcript with a "TR" symbol in the grade column, which denotes credit accepted but no GPA calculation value.

Note: Matriculated UNE students who wish to have college-level credits transferred back (for coursework taken at institutions away from UNE) must follow policy identified under the Academic Policy section of this catalog.

Veterans

Programs of the University of New England have been approved for persons eligible for Veterans Administration Benefits by the Maine State Approving Agency for Veterans' Education Programs. The University encourages active and retired military, National Guard, and reservists, as well as veterans, to become matriculated students. For further information concerning veteran admissions and benefits, please email uneveteranaffairs@une.edu.

Applicants who are requesting Veterans Administration educational benefits are required to have all previous post-secondary education and training evaluated for transfer credit.

Applicants with military service should send a copy of an Army/ACE Registry Transcript Service (AARTS) or a SMART (Sailor/ Marine Corps American Council on Education Registry Transcript) to Registration Services for credit evaluation.

More information on veterans’ benefits is available on the Veteran Education Benefits website.

The UNE Honors College

Each year, a select group of entering students are invited to join the UNE Honors College. These students will be part of the Honors College but also enrolled in one of the three undergraduate degree-granting colleges at UNE. In addition to the enhanced career opportunities that Honors recognition provides the UNE Honors College offers numerous privileges:

  • Honors College residential area
  • An annual $1,000 Honors College Student Scholarship
  • A one-time stipend of up to $2,000 to support costs associated with scholarly endeavors
  • Early class registration
  • Early move-in

No separate application is required for the UNE Honors College. Each year, the Honors College Admissions Committee will review applications for new first-year students. From that group, a small cohort of high- performing, motivated students will be invited into this highly selective program. The committee will review the strength of the high school record and extracurricular activities when deciding admission to the Honors College.

Enrollment Deposit

Once accepted, students are required to submit a $500 deposit, which will guarantee their place in the entering class. To give accepted students enough time to hear from all colleges to which they have applied and to eliminate any undue pressure that may affect their final decision, the reservation deposit is refundable through May 1 for students entering the fall semester. After this date, the deposit is either credited toward the expense of the first semester’s tuition (and room for residential students) or forfeited for those students withdrawing.

Physical Examination and Immunization

The University requires all entering students to have a physical examination before enrollment. The forms must be completed by an approved healthcare provider and returned to the University Health Center before matriculation. Maine State Law requires all students born after 1956, who wish to register and matriculate for seven or more credits, to produce proof of immunization against those diseases listed on the immunization record form. The University of New England requires additional immunizations, over and above state mandates, for health profession students. That information will also be available on the health forms.

Advanced Placement and CLEP

The University of New England participates in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) administered by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey. Both of these examinations provide academic credit for students qualified for advanced standing. 

To receive academic credit from the University of New England through the CLEP and advanced placement examinations, the student must be admitted to the University and provide UNE with official transcripts from the organization(s).

Advanced Placement Equivalencies

Qualifying scores necessary to receive credit for advanced placement are recommended by the academic departments and are approved by the University Registrar. They are treated as transfer credits in accordance with the following table.
 

AP Exam Title Minimum Score Course Equivalent Credit Earned
Art History 3 ARH 210 or ARH 211 or ARH 270 3
Biology 4 BIO 104 4
Calculus AB 4 MAT 190 4
Calculus BC 3 MAT 190 4
Calculus BC 4 MAT 190 and MAT 195 8
Chemistry 3 CHE 110 4
Chemistry 4 CHE 110 and CHE 111 8
Chinese Language and Culture 3 ENG 199 - Exploration 3
Computer Science A 3 MAT 225 3
English Language and Composition 4 WRT 110 3
English Literature and Composition 4 ENG 199 - Exploration 3
Environmental Science 3 ENV 104 3
European History 4 HIS 231 - Exploration 3
French Language 3 FRE 100 - Exploration 3
French Language 5 FRE 101 and FRE 199 6
German Language 3 ENG 199 - Exploration 3
Government and Politics: Comparative 3 PSC 204 - Exploration 3
Government and Politics: United States 3 PSC 101 - Exploration 3
Human Geography 4 ENV 200 3
Italian Language and Culture 3 ENG 199 - Exploration 3
Japanese Language and Culture 3 ENG 199 - Exploration 3
Latin: Vergil 3 ENG 198 - Exploration 3
Macroeconomics 3 BUEC 203 3
Microeconomics 3 BUEC 204 3
Music Theory 3 MUS 115 3
Physics 1 3 PHY 110 4
Physics 2 3 PHY 111 4
Physics 1 and 2 3 PHY 110 and PHY 111 8
Physics C: Mechanics 3 PHY 110 4
Physics C: Mechanics 4 PHY 210 4
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism 3 PHY 111 4
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism 4 PHY 211 4
Psychology 4 PSY 105 3
Spanish Language 3 SPA 101 - Exploration 3
Spanish Language 5 SPA 101 and SPA 201 6
Spanish Literature and Culture 4 ENG 199 - Exploration 3
Statistics 3 MAT 120 3
Studio Art: 2-D Design 3 ART 106 3
Studio Art: 3-D Design 3 ART 113 3
Studio Art: Drawing 3 ART 118 3
United States History 4 HIS 199 - Exploration 3
World History: Modern 4 HIS 276 or HIS 278 3

If an advanced placement examination has been taken on a subject not listed in the table above, the student should contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@une.edu.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) minimum score standard for each examination, and its UNE equivalent course, is individually determined by the Department in which the course is offered.

CLEP - General Exams Minimum Score Course Equivalent Credit Earned
English Composition with Essay 50 WRT 110 3
English Composition 50 WRT 110 3
Social Sciences and History 50 General Elective 3
Natural Sciences 50 Clear with Department Varies
Humanities 50 General Elective 6
Mathematics N/A No Equivalency N/A
American Government 50 PSC 101 3
American Literature 50 ENG 200 3
Analyzing and Interpreting of Literature 50 ENG 199 3
Algebra, College 50 General Elective 3
PreCalculus 50 MAT 180 3
English Literature 50 ENG 199 3
General Chemistry 50 CHE 110 4
General Chemistry 65 CHE 110 and CHE 111 8
Psychology, Introduction 50 PSY 105 3
Human Growth and Development 50 PSY 250 3
Principles of Management 50 BUMG 200 3
Accounting, Introduction 50 BUAC 201 3
Business Law, Introduction 50 BUMG 326 3
Principles of Marketing 50 BUMK 200 3
Trigonometry N/A No Equivalency N/A
Macroeconomics, Introduction 50 BUEC 203 3
Microeconomics, Introduction 50 BUEC 204 3
Introductory Sociology 50 SOC 150 3
French: Two (2) Semesters 50 FRE 100 3
French: Four (4) Semesters 50 FRE 100 and 101 6
German: Two (2) Semesters 50 General Elective 3
German: Four (4) Semesters 50 General Elective 6
Spanish: Two (2) Semesters 50 SPA 101 3
Spanish: Four (4) Semesters 50 SPA 101 and 102 6
Calculus 50 MAT 190 4
General Biology 50 BIO 105 or MAR 105 4
Biology 56 BIO 104 4
U.S. History I 50 HIS 201 3
U.S. History II 50 HIS 202 3
Western Civilization I 50 HIS 199 3
Western Civilization II 50 HIS 199 3
Educational Psychology, Introduction Varies Clear with SPBS Varies
Information Systems and Computer Applications 50 CMM 100 3
Freshman College Composition 50 WRT 110 3

If a CLEP examination has been taken on a subject not listed in the table above, the student should contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@une.edu.

DANTES

DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs) provide an opportunity for people to obtain college credit for what they have learned in non- traditional ways. The DSST Program is made available by The Chauncey Group International® and is used by adult education programs, the United States Department of Defense, and 2- and 4-year colleges.

Designed originally for the military, DSSTs are also available to civilian students and adult learners. The DSST program is used by colleges and universities to award college credit to those who demonstrate that they know comparable to someone who completed the classroom course in the subject.

Recommended credits and minimum scores are based on evaluation by qualified individuals in the American Council on Education (ACE). The symbol B signifies credit to be awarded at the bachelor's level; the symbol BU signifies recommended credit at the upper division (third and fourth year) level.

DANTES Exam Title Minimum Score (ACE) Course Equivalent Credit Earned
Fundamentals of College Algebra 3B/47 General Elective 3
Principles of Statistics 3B/48 MAT 120 3
Art of the Western World 3B/48 ARH 270 3
Contemporary Western Europe: 1946 - 1990 3B/48 HIS 199 3
Introduction to the Middle East 3B/44 PSC 199 3
Human/Cultural Geography 3B/48 HIS 334 3
Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union 3BU/45 HIS 199 3
History of the Vietnam War 3B/49 HIS 199 3
Civil War and Reconstruction 3BU/47 HIS 199 3
Foundations of Education 3B/46 EDU 105 3
Lifespan Developmental Psychology 3B/46 PSY 250 3
General Anthropology 3B/47 ANT 101 3
Drug and Alcohol Abuse 3BU/49 General Elective 3
Introduction to Law Enforcement 3B/45 General Elective 3
Criminal Justice 3B/49 General Elective 3
Fundamentals of Counseling 3B/45 General Elective 3
Principles of Finance 3BU/46 BUMG 315 3
Principles of Financial Accounting 3B/49 BUAC 201 3
Human Resource Management 3B/48 BUMG 302 3
Organizational Behavior 3B/48 BUMG 301 3
Principles of Supervision 3B/46 BUMG 199 3
Business Law II 3BU/52 BUMG 325 3
Introduction to Computing 3B/47 CMM 100 3
Introduction to Business 3B/46 BUMG 199 3
Money and Banking 3BU/48 BUMG 199 3
Personal Finance 3B/46 BUFI 199 3
Management Information Systems 3BU/46 CMM 100 3
Business Mathematics 3B/48 General Elective 3
Astronomy 3B/48 General Elective 3
Here's to Your Health 3B/48 HSM 199 3
Environment and Humanity: Race to Save the Planet 3B/46 ENV 104 3
Principles of Physical Science I 3B/47 CHE 125 4
Physical Geology 3B/46 ENV 230 3
Technical Writing 3B/46 ENG 199 - Exploration 3
Ethics in America 3B/46 PHI 199 3
Introduction to World Religions 3B/49 REL 200 3
Principles of Public Speaking 3B/47 SPC 100 3

Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams (CAPE)

The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam minimum score standard for each examination, and its UNE equivalent course, is individually determined by the department in which the course is offered.

CAPE Exam Title Accepted Score Course Equivalent Credit Earned
Accounting Unit I 1 or 2 BUAC 201 3
Biology Unit I 1 or 2 BIO 106 4
Biology Unit II 1 or 2 BIO 105 4
Caribbean Studies 1 or 2 HIS 199 3
Chemistry Unit 1 or 2 CHE 110 4
Chemistry Unit II 1 or 2 CHE 111 4
Communication Studies Unit I 1 or 2 WRT 110 3
Economics Unit I 1 or 2 BUEC 203 3
Economics Unit II 1 or 2 BUEC 204 3
Environmental Science Unit I 1 or 2 ENV 104 3
Environmental Science Unit II 1 or 2 ENV 104 3
French Unit I 1 or 2 FRE 101 3
Geography Unit I 1 or 2 ELE 199 - Elective 3
Information Technology Unit I 1 or 2 CMM 100 3
Information Technology Unit II 1 or 2 CMM 102 3
Law Unit II 1 or 2 BUMG 325 3
Literatures in English Unit I 1 or 2 ENG 199 3
Literatures in English Unit II 1 or 2 ENG 198 3
Management of Business Unit I 1 or 2 BUMG 200 or 302 3
Management of Business Unit II 1 or 2 BUMG 312 3
Pure Mathematics Unit I 1 or 2 MAT 180 and 190 7
Pure Mathematics Unit II 1 or 2 MAT 195 4
Physics Unit I 1 or 2 PHY 110 4
Physics Unit II 1 or 2 PHY 111 4
Psychology Unit I 1 or 2 PSY 105 3
Psychology Unit II 1 or 2 PSY 105 3
Sociology Unit I 1 or 2 SOC 150 3

International Baccalaureate (IB) and International Examination

To receive academic credit from the University of New England through the IB examinations, the student must be admitted to the University and provide UNE with official IB transcripts.

Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature

IB Course Title Level Minimum Score UNE Course Equivalency UNE Credits
Language A: Literature HL 5 ENG 199 English Electives 3
Language A: Literature and Language HL 5 ENG 199 English Electives 3


Group 2: Language Acquisition

IB Course Title Level Minimum Score UNE Course Equivalency UNE Credits
Language B: French HL 5 FRE 101 Basic French 3
Language B: Spanish HL 5 SPA 101 Basic Spanish 3

Group 3: Individuals and Societies

IB Course Title Level Minimum Score UNE Course Equivalency UNE Credits
Business and Management HL 5 BUMG 200 Management or Business Elective 3
Economics HL 5 BUEC 204 Microeconomics or Business Elective 3
History HL 5 HIS 199 Explorations 3
Philosophy HL 5 PHI 110 Problems of Knowledge 3
Psychology HL 5 PSY 105 Intro to Psychology 3
Social and Cultural Anthropology HL 5 ANT 102 Cultural Anthropology 3
Environmental Systems and Societies SL 5 ENV 104 Intro to Environmental Issues or ENV 100 and 101 GLC: Intro to Environmental Issues 3
Global Politics HL 5 PSC 100-level Political Science Explorations 3

Group 4: Sciences

IB Course Title Level Minimum Score UNE Course Equivalency UNE Credits
Biology HL 5 BIO 104 General Biology or BIO 105 Biology I and 106 Biology II 4 or 8
Chemistry HL 5 or 6 CHE 110 General Chemistry I 4
Chemistry HL 7 CHE 110 General Chemistry I and CHE 111 General Chemistry II 8
Physics HL 5 or 6 PHY 110 Physics I 4
Physics HL 7 PHY 110 Physics I and PHY 111 Physics II 8
Design Technology HL 5 Business Elective 3

Group 5: Mathematics

IB Course Title Level Minimum Score UNE Course Equivalency UNE Credits
Further Mathematics HL 4 MAT 180 Precalculus 3
Further Mathematics HL 5, 6, 7 MAT 190 Calculus I 4
Mathematics HL 4 MAT 180 Precalculus 3
Mathematics HL 5, 6, 7 MAT 190 Calculus I 4

Group 6: The Arts

IB Course Title Level Minimum Score UNE Course Equivalency UNE Credits
Music HL 5 MUS 101 Intro to Music or MUS 115 Music Appreciation 3
Visual Arts HL 5 ART 106 Two-Dimensional Design 3
Film HL 5 ART 199 Topics in Art 3


Credit may be awarded for Advanced Placement examinations, International Baccalaureate HL courses, Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams, some foreign diploma programs, and/or college-level courses completed while in high school. If students choose to take one or more courses at the University of New England that cover substantially the same material as any of these exams or courses, the credit from the transferred course or exam will be forfeited. Students may not receive credit twice for the same material.

Cambridge International Education Exams

Course Title Level Minimum Score UNE Course Equivalency UNE Credits
Biology 9700 A Level B or Higher BIO 104 General Biology 4
Psychology 9990 A Level B or Higher PSY 105 Introduction to Psychology 3
Sociology 9699 A Level B or Higher SOC 150 Introduction to Sociology 3

International Student Admission

The University of New England (UNE) welcomes applications from students from around the world.

UNE is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and has been approved by the Department of Homeland Security to enroll international students and issue student and/or exchange visitor visa-qualifying documents (I-20/DS-2019). We comply with all regulations of the U.S. Government pertaining to the enrollment and tracking of international students under the SEVIS Program.

At UNE, an international student is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. (holder of a “Green Card”). Prospective international students must meet the same admissions criteria required of all other applicants. In accordance with federal and state law, the University will consider all qualified students for admission, regardless of citizenship status.

Applicants to online programs are not eligible for a student visa.

UNE requires that the student submits one of the following tests: SAT, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test. However, international students who have attended an institutionally accredited U.S. high school or U.S. Department of Defense school overseas for at least three years, or have received an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an institutionally accredited U.S. college or university, will be eligible to apply without standardized test scores (i.e. SAT, ACT, TOEFL, ITELS). Additionally, international students who are taking an IB Curriculum or IB Diploma program are also eligible to apply without standardized test scores.

In some cases, an international student may be required to submit standardized test scores. The following applicants are required to submit official SAT or ACT scores as part of their application to UNE.

  • Applicants for the Nursing program
  • Applicants for Medical Biology/Pre-Dental Medicine 3+4.
  • Homeschooled applicants
  • Applicants with unweighted GPAs less than 3.0 (on 4.0 scale)
  • Applicants with narrative or non-letter grade transcripts

Admissions Requirements

The following admissions requirements are for:

  • an international applicant (not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. who will require a visa to study in the U.S.) or
  • an applicant with international degrees or coursework (a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. who has been educated outside of the U.S. and will not require a visa to study in the U.S.).

General admissions criteria for the University and its academic programs can be found by accessing the undergraduate or graduate admissions catalogs, or the individual program or major.

In addition to the general University admissions criteria, and program- specific criteria, international students must also meet the following:

English Language Proficiency

  • International applicants must be able to understand and communicate in English to gain full admission to the University of New England. If English is not your native language, you will need to submit documentation that indicates your level of English proficiency (please see above for testing policy for International applicants.)
  • UNE accepts several methods of English proficiency including the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), as well as others. If standardized tests are required, students will meet the minimum standards for English proficiency at UNE by demonstrating one of the following:
Test Score
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) 550 (paper-based) 213 (computer-based) 79 (internet-based)
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Overall Band 6.0 or higher
IB (International Baccalaureate) Grade 5 or higher HL
SAT (Critical Reading and Writing Sections) 500 or higher
GRE (Analytical Writing Section) 4.0 or higher
AP English Language and Composition Exams Score of 4 or higher with college transfer credit received
One year of English composition, taken at a U.S. institution, which higher counts as transfer credit at UNE (not ESL) Grade of C or higher
Duolingo English Test 105 or Higher

Additional Methods

  • UNE also waives the English proficiency requirement for students who graduated from an institutionally accredited school in other English- speaking countries: Anguilla, Antigua/Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Guyana, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica/other West Indies, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, South Africa, St. Helena, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caico Isle, United Kingdom, the Virgin Islands, and others.
  • Passing scores on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certification (with submission of a photocopy of ECFMG certification to the UNE Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions).

Verification of Financial Support

Federal law requires that we document how you will finance your education in the U.S., before issuing the appropriate student visa application form. In addition to the application for admission to your program of interest, all international applicants must:

International Transcripts 

English Translation of Transcript

  • Official transcripts from all schools attended must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a part of the application process.
  • All official scholastic records submitted in support of your application must be in English or include English translations.
  • English translations should be literal (word-for-word, not interpretive) translations.
  • For specific procedures and admission criteria for each of our academic programs, please check the program website.

Evaluation of Transcripts

  • UNE requires all international applicants and all U.S. students with international degrees or coursework to have international transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of an institutionally accredited institution within the U.S. (Any exceptions to this policy will be noted in specific program admissions requirements.)
  • UNE will accept transcript evaluations from any accredited NACES organization (www.naces.org). Evaluations must be for grade and degree equivalency.
  • Undergraduate international applicants only may also be permitted to use The Center for Educational Documentation. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for further details.
  • International medical school graduates only: If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. you must have the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) submit review and verification of the equivalency of your medical degree to that of one earned at an institutionally accredited U.S. medical school. The ECFMG review and verification of the student’s International Medical Degree will be accepted as an official evaluation of the degree.
  • Official transcripts from Canadian Medical Schools that are approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) do not require external evaluation. There is joint accreditation between LCME and Canada, adding 17 more schools to the LCME list. Any school on this LCME list can be considered as offering a valid Doctor of Medicine (M.D.).

Please note: Official transcripts from all schools that the student has attended, U.S. or International, must be submitted to the Office of Admissions as a part of the application process. Concerns regarding your ability to provide official transcripts should be directed to your admissions counselor.

Seek Assistance in Your Home Country

For further assistance with securing official documents and information from your country, please contact your local U.S. Embassy/U.S. Consulate/Office of Public Affairs for referral to an overseas educational advising center near you, or consult the list available on the U.S. State Department website.

Admissions Requirements

All requirements below reflect the 2026-2027 Application Cycle.

Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Integrated Studies

Admissions

Admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Studies degree-completion program is intended for adult learners who have previously earned college credit. Applicants must have a minimum of 12 transferable credits to matriculate. Admission decisions are based on a review of the applicant’s prior academic record and the completion of any program prerequisites, as applicable. Applicants must submit an application and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

Because this program is offered online with multiple start dates, prospective students are encouraged to contact the College of Professional Studies for guidance on application timing, transfer credit, and degree planning.

Transfer Credit

The Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Studies is designed for adult learners who bring prior college credit. Applicants must have a minimum of 12 transferable credits to matriculate. After admission, UNE will complete an official transfer credit evaluation and your program advisor will work with you to build an individualized plan of study toward the 120 credits required for the degree.

  • Official evaluation: Transfer credit is evaluated after you have been admitted and after UNE receives official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  • Maximum transfer credit: Students may transfer a maximum of 90 approved credits into the program.
  • Minimum grade: In general, transfer credit is awarded for courses completed with a grade of C- or higher.
  • How courses apply: Courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to UNE offerings to count as direct equivalents; otherwise, they may be applied as electives toward the 120-credit total.
  • UNE GPA: Transfer credits may apply toward degree requirements, but transfer grades do not factor into the UNE grade point average (GPA). Accepted transfer courses typically appear on the UNE transcript with a transfer notation.
  • Program and university requirements: All students must meet University requirements and BAIS program requirements for graduation. Some requirements may need to be completed at UNE even if you have transfer credit.
  • Course currency and prerequisites: Some subject areas and/or prerequisite sequences may require recent coursework or specific content. Your advisor will help determine whether previously completed courses meet current requirements.
  • Taking courses elsewhere after you start: Matriculated students who wish to take a course at another institution and transfer it back to UNE should obtain approval in advance through their advisor and Registration Services.

In addition to transfer credit, eligible students may have the opportunity to earn credit through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) as part of their elective credit, consistent with University and program policies. Questions about transfer credit and degree planning should be directed to your program academic advisor.