Application Process

Application Process

The General Application Process

Applying to VUIM is easy! The following materials are required (at minimum) for all students who apply to an Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine program at VUIM:

1) A completed Application for admission

2) Non-refundable application fee

3) Essay/Statement of Purpose or Interview

4) Official transcripts from all institutions where a degree has been earned; A 3rd party course by course evaluation will be required for all foreign degrees earned where English was not the language of instruction. Students may utilize any NACES or AICE member. In rare cases, other reputable 3rd party evaluation services may be accepted at the discretion of the Dean. 

5) Copy of Photo ID

6) Proof of English proficiency

VUIM reserves the right to interview any candidate for admissions, to properly evaluate the prospective students’ candidacy, when necessary.

Please note that additional requirements may exist for individual programs. For more information please see the Admissions Requirements page for your individual program.

International Students and English language proficiency

If any of the education was completed outside of the US, at a college or university not accredited by an agency recognized by the department of education, a third-party course by course evaluation will be required for each degree. Prospective students may utilize any third-party member of NACES.org or AICE.org. Additionally, prospective students can choose to have VUIM process this request through an approved third-party vendor for a fee. 

English proficiency can be demonstrated in the following ways:

  1. four years at a U.S. high school demonstrably delivered in English;
  2. at least two-years (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) of undergraduate or graduate-level education in an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education;
  3. at least two-years (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) of undergraduate or graduate-level education demonstrably delivered in English;
  4. high school or two-years (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) of undergraduate- or graduate-level education in an institution in one of the following countries or territories: American Samoa; Anguilla; Antigua & Barbuda; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Bermuda; Botswana; British Virgin Islands; Cameroon; Canada (except Quebec); Cayman Islands; Christmas Island; Cook Islands; Dominica; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; The Gambia; Ghana; Gibraltar; Grenada; Guam; Guyana; Ireland; Isle of Man; Jamaica; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Malawi; Montserrat; Namibia; New Zealand; Nigeria; Norfolk Island; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Pitcairn Islands; Sierra Leone; Singapore; South Africa; South Sudan; St. Helena; St. Kitts & Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent & the Grenadines; Swaziland; Tanzania; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; United Kingdom; U.S. Virgin Islands; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe. [In all cases, English must have been both the language of instruction and the language of the curriculum used.]
  1. One of the Following Assessments:

Exam

Score

Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL IBT)

Total: 61

International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Academic Format

Overall Band: 6

 

Duolingo English Test

90

China Standard of English Language (CSE)

CSE 6

Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE)

C

Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)

C

Common European Framework Reference (CEFR)

B2

Occupational English Test (OET)

250, C

Pearson Test of English (PTE), Academic

Overall: 45

Additional International Student Requirements

The requirements below are in addition to meeting all of the general admissions requirements.

  • Original Bank statement (showing evidence of $25,000 or more in the account, no more than 3 months old)
    • Statement of financial support (if financial support is provided by someone other than self)
  • Valid passport
  • SEVIS payment
  • I-94
  • I-20, VUIM transfer document (applicable only to Visa transfer requests)

Non-matriculated Students

Non-matriculated students interested in taking individual courses are eligible to apply. The application process requires that students meet the corresponding program’s admissions requirements and all course prerequisites.

Students who enroll in a non-matriculated program are bound to the same standards of conduct, etc. as matriculated students and must not adversely affect the quality of instruction.

1) Non-matriculated students interested in taking individual courses should submit the application for “non-matriculated students program”. Please select the Master of Science in Acupuncture program when prompted. 

2) Applications will be reviewed based upon minimum standards for admission into the corresponding master’s level program.

NEW PROSPECTIVE STUDENT CONSIDERATIONS

The information below is an estimate of the expected processing time for each item. 

  • 1. Official transcripts (domestic) – 2-4 weeks
  • 2. Official transcripts (international) – 4 weeks or more
  • 3. Third-party international course by course evaluations – approximately 2-3 weeks if completed internally
  • 4. International student Visa processing – 8 weeks or more
  • 5. International student Visa transfer – 1-2 weeks
  • 6. Full application process (domestic) – 3-4 weeks
  • 7. Full application process (international) – 10+ weeks

  Spring 2024 Summer 2024 Fall 2024 Winter 2025
Priority Deadline 03/01/24 06/01/24 09/30/24 TBD  
Application Deadline 03/22/24 06/21/24 09/20/24 TBD  
Orientation 03/27/24 06/26/24 09/25/24 TBD  
Start Date 04/01/24 07/01/24 09/30/24 12/30/24  

Admissions staff are available Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily to answer your questions. Please email us at [email protected].