Applications may be submitted online at www.applytexas.org
New Student Admission
General Information
• Application. All new students must file an application for admission with the Office of Admissions and a $35 non-refundable application fee according to the posted application deadline dates (see below).
Note: If you do not enroll for the semester you applied for admission, you must re-apply using the Admissions Application Update form, pay a $35 non-refundable application fee, and turn in any official documents by the posted application deadline dates (see below).
Fall (regular undergraduate) / by July 1Spring (regular undergraduate) / by Dec 1
• Residency Status Documents. International students and US citizens born outside the United States must provide original, valid immigration documents such as I-551, I-688, I-94, passport or US citizenship certificate.
• Transcripts. A transcript is considered official when it bears the institution’s seal, is signed by the issuing authority, and is sent directly by the issuing institution or delivered in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution. Students with prior college experience must submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges regardless of whether college credit was earned.
• Texas Success Initiative. The State of Texas requires that all students take, or prove exemption from, an assessment test prior to enrolling in college-level courses in a public institution. Several testing options are available: THEA (formerly TASP), ASSET, COMPASS, or ACCUPLACER. Students who have already taken one of these tests, or who are exempt from testing, must submit official documentation of the scores to the Office of Admissions.
• Right to an Academic Fresh Start. A Texas resident is entitled to apply for admission as an undergraduate student in any public institution of higher education under the fresh start program. The university shall not consider academic course credits or grades earned by the applicant 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll. An applicant who is admitted with a fresh start may not receive any course credit for courses undertaken 10 or more years prior to enrollment. If a student earns a baccalaureate degree, and applies for admission to a postgraduate or professional program offered by a public institution of higher education, the institution shall consider only the GPA of the applicant established by the course work completed after enrollment under the fresh start program, along with any other criteria the institution uses in evaluating applicants for admission. Nothing prohibits a public institution of higher education from applying standard admissions criteria to persons seeking admission to the institution.
• Orientation. New students will be given information about orientation upon acceptance to the university. It is recommended that students attend orientation.
Freshman Admission
To qualify for freshman admission, an applicant must have completed at least the 6th semester (junior year), received a high school diploma, or hold a GED high school equivalency. Freshman applicants who have earned fewer than 15 college-level semester credit hours post high school graduation will have to meet Freshman Admission criteria. Graduates of Texas public high schools must also have passed the state-mandated high school exit examination(s). Freshman applicants must file an application for admission, pay a $35 non-refundable application fee, and official copies of their high school, GED, and college transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by the application deadline. Freshman applicants who are admitted on the basis of their 6th or 7th semester high school transcripts must also submit a final transcript prior to enrolling at the University of Houston-Downtown.
The university strongly recommends that all applicants seeking freshman admission complete a college-preparatory high school curriculum.
College-Preparatory High School Curriculum
• English Language Arts and Reading–4 credits
English I
English II
English III
English IV
• Mathematics–3 credits Algebra I
Algebra II
Geometry
• Science–3 credits Integrated Physics and Chemistry Biology, AP Biology, or IB Biology Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, or IB Physics
• Social Studies–3½ credits
World History Studies
World Geography Studies
US History Studies Since Reconstruction
US Government (½ credit)
• Economics-½ credit
• Physical Education–1½ credits Foundations of Personal Fitness (½ credit)
• Health Education-½ credit Health Science Technology
• Languages other than English–2 or 3 credits (1 credit is equivalent to a 1-year course)
Level I
Level II
Level III
• Fine Arts–1 credit Select from Art I-IV, Dance I-IV, Music I-IV, or Theater I-IV
• Speech–3 credits Select from Communication Applications,
Speech Communication, Public Speaking,
Debate, or Oral Interpretation.
• Technology Applications–1 credit
• Additional Components–2½ or 3½ credits (One credit is equivalent to a 1-year course)
• Electives–1 credit
A variety of other courses not listed here, including developmental and remedial courses, are not acceptable for the college preparatory program.
Transfer Student Admission
Transfer applicants must file an application for admission, pay a $35 non-refundable application fee, and submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges, regardless of whether credit was earned, to the Office of Admissions by the application deadline. Students applying for admission with less than 15 semester hours of college-level credit should submit an official high school or GED transcript as well as official college or university transcripts. Applicants must provide an official record of their TSI status. See page 10 for more information on TSI requirements.
Articulation Agreements
UHD has worked with area community colleges to develop degree articulation agreements. Students planning to transfer to UHD are encouraged to direct their questions about the transferability of their courses to their community college counselor or to the Transfer Center, 713-221-8587. Transfer students are also referred to page 98 for information on the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system ensures that any course designated as a common course by UHD will be accepted in transfer as equivalent to the UHD course.
Return of Former Students
Students who have attended UHD but who were not enrolled during the preceding long semester must apply for readmission. Students who have attended other colleges or universities since last attending UHD must submit official transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Students may apply for readmission online at www.uhd.edu.
International Student Admission
Individuals who hold non-immigrant visas are classified as international students. International students seeking admission to the University of Houston-Downtown must apply through the Office of International Admissions. Individuals who have applied for immigrant status, but who have not adjusted their status with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, also must follow the procedures below in order to obtain an I-20 immigration form.
• Application. A new international student must file an application for admission with the Office of International Admissions and pay the nonrefundable application fee according to the dates listed below:
Fall / by May 1 / after May 1$60 / $100
Spring / by Oct 15 / after Oct 15
$60 / $100
• Transcripts. Freshman students must provide official transcripts of secondary school scores, including mark sheets and date of graduation, in their original language. A certified English translation of all transcripts must be included if the originals are not in English. Transfer students must provide official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. If original transcripts are not in English, a certified translation must accompany the original documents. In addition, all foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an evaluation service recognized by UHD in order to receive transfer credit. Students transferring from another college or university in the United States must submit a transfer form that has been completed and signed by the foreign student advisor at the previously attended institution. This form must be returned to the Office of International Admissions prior to enrollment.
• Affidavit of Support. An Affidavit of Support must be submitted showing that a sponsor will be responsible for all educational and living expenses.
• Bank Letter. A certified bank letter, indicating that the sponsor is financially capable of meeting the student’s education and living expenses, must be submitted. This letter must indicate, either in US dollars or in the local currency, the amount maintained in the account(s). The letter must have been issued within the past six months.
• Language Proficiency. A valid Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 for the paper version or 213 for the computer-based version is required. Students with a TOEFL score of less than 550 may attend the English Language Institute (ELI) prior to beginning academic studies at the university. ELI students study noncredit English classes until they are either recommended by ELI for academic study or achieve a 550 TOEFL score. Graduates of ELI are able to enroll directly into the academic program at UHD without taking the TOEFL. Transfer students may be exempt from taking the TOEFL if they have passed 12 or more college-level hours in the United States, including Composition I and II, with a grade of C or better.
• Health Insurance. International students must carry health insurance for the duration of their studies. The University of Houston-Downtown requires that students have a minimum of US $50,000 health insurance coverage, US $7,500 repatriation coverage and US $10,000 medical evacuation coverage. The deductible cannot exceed US $500. Each semester, in order to receive a UHD health insurance waiver, students must provide updated proof of this coverage, written in English, specifying coverage from the beginning of the semester until the end of the semester. This proof must be in the form of a letter from the insurance company or embassy and it must be submitted to the Office of International Admissions no later than the Official Day of Record which appears in the University Calendar at the front of every Registration Bulletin. Otherwise, students will be charged for health insurance as a part of their registration fees.
Early Admission
A high school student with a strong academic record who wishes to attend UHD during the summer prior to or during his or her senior year may apply for early admission. With the exception of the TSI requirement, a student applying for early admission must follow the procedures for admission as outlined in the section titled New and Transfer Student Admission. In addition to these requirements, written approval from the high school principal or counselor must be provided. The courses to be taken at UHD must be approved by both the high school counselor and the university advisor.
Post-Baccalaureate Admission
Post-baccalaureate applicants must meet all undergraduate transfer admission requirements, but are required to submit only the transcript from the college or university granting the baccalaureate degree. Post-baccalaureate applicants seeking a baccalaureate degree from UHD must meet all requirements for transfer admission. Post-baccalaureate applicants desiring to take graduate courses, but not seeking a graduate degree, must comply with all requirements of the department offering the graduate degree. All post-baccalaureate students must see an academic advisor before registering for their first semester.