What is English Conditional admission?
Applicants who do not satisfy the English proficiency requirements for unconditional admission may be admitted to USF on the condition that they enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, along with other academic courses, during their first semesters at USF. Students admitted as English Conditional are required to take ESL courses concurrently with USF academic courses. Conditional students have up to four semesters to achieve full admission to USF.
Normally, English-Conditional admission requires a TOEFL score of 60 iBT, with no subscore below 10; an IELTS Overall Band Score of at least 5.5 with no subscore below 5.0; or a PTEA Overall Score above 40. Applicants who present these scores may be admitted to USF on an English Conditional basis, except for the School of Nursing. To apply for English Conditional undergraduate admission, please contact USF Admissions.
Can I apply for English Conditional undergraduate admission without a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTEA score?
Students must have a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTEA score to be eligible for English Conditional admission.
How many ESL courses will I need to take with my degree courses?
The number of units of ESL courses a student must take depends on their TOEFL, IELTS, or PTEA score when admitted. Typically, English Conditional students take 8-16 units of ESL per semester.
Do ESL courses count for elective credit?
Yes, all ESL courses count for elective credit. ESL courses are included in the cumulative GPA, but not in the major GPA.
Who will my advisor be while I'm an English Conditional student?
Students will have two advisors. English Conditional undergraduate students are advised by ESL faculty for ESL courses and by advisors in their major for non-ESL courses. An ESL faculty advisor is assigned to newly admitted students before the beginning of each semester and will contact each student before the semester begins.
What is an ESL hold?
An ESL hold is placed on all English Conditional student records until they meet the English requirement for full admission. Newly admitted students will be contacted by their ESL advisor before they can register for ESL classes.
Can I exit the ESL program early if I pass the iBT TOEFL or IELTS in the middle of the semester?
No. To pass through and/or exit from the ESL program, students must achieve a 'C' grade or better in all ESL courses with faculty recommendation.
Can I skip a level of ESL?
Yes. If a student receives an A/A- in a course, they can pick up an application in the ESL office to skip a level (which includes writing a cover letter and submitting a portfolio of work). The portfolio must be submitted by the last day of classes and a committee will notify the student before the end of finals week if their application is approved.
