Admissions

We are dedicated to supporting prospective student inquiry, leading to the growth and development of the field of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. Adhering to the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics is a top priority. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply for admission as early as possible as we have a rolling application process and space can be limited.  The application fee is $125 for all prospective students. Graduates and currently enrolled students of VUIM, who apply to an upper-level program may have their application fee waived upon request. An additional fee of $75 will be charged for international student applicants (students seeking a visa to study in the US). Please take a look at the priority application deadlines below for more information.

Important Admissions Policies

Deferral of an Admissions Decision

VUIM allows admitted students to defer their enrollment one time, for up to one year. Admitted students must pay their tuition deposit at the time of deferral to secure their seat in the future class term. If an admitted student does not enroll at the time chosen, their file will be discarded and they will be required to re-apply at a later date.

Administrative Withdrawal of an Application

Prospective student applicants who do not complete the admissions process for their intended start term or who are accepted but do not notify the office of admissions that they intend to defer their offer of admission will have their application administratively withdrawn. Prospective students in this situation are encouraged to contact the office of admissions at any time to inquire about the status of their past application and to determine the steps required to re-apply.

Admissions Records Retention

All records, including academic records from other institutions, submitted to the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine become part of the applicants’ official record and will neither be returned nor duplicated for any purpose. It is recommended that individuals retain an additional copy of their official credentials to keep in their possession for all other personal requirements.

All admissions documentation and the application data of individuals who enroll will be retained onsite in coordination with the time frame defined in the institutional records management and retention schedule. At that time, the admissions documentation and application data may be stored offsite for a maximum of three additional years and then destroyed. In the following cases, all admission documentation and applicant data will be retained for 12 months, and then destroyed:

1) Applicants who do not register for courses at the time for which they have been admitted
2) Applicants whose applications have been denied
3) Applicants who do not respond to the Office of Graduate Admissions’ requests for additional information, or are incomplete at the start of a term
4) Applicants who defer and do not start class on the selected deferral date

Conditional Admission

Candidates for admission may be admitted conditionally. Conditional admission is a temporary status given to candidates who have not met one (or more) of the admissions requirements fully. Conditional admission requires a student to meet their “condition” of admission no later than the end of the first term that they are enrolled.

Students who do not meet the condition of admission by the deadline will be withdrawn and are required to re-apply in the future. *In rare situations, a student can be granted additional time to complete their condition of admission. Additional time can be granted by the Dean of Enrollment Management when extenuating circumstances exist.

Right to Rescind Admission

VUIM reserves the right to rescind admission or enrollment in exceptional circumstances, whether occurring during the time of application review or after the admissions decision has been made if the University finds that:

1) Academic performance (utilized in the admissions decision) has declined since the application;

2) An applicant misrepresented or falsified information in their application;

3) Behavioral issues or disciplinary incidents put in question the suitability of the applicant for the program;

4) or Conditions of acceptance outlined in the conditional/provisional acceptance letter were not met, or not met by the deadline.

Re-applying

Prospective students who have applied and not started a program; were admitted and did not start the program nor defer their acceptance, and students who have withdrawn from a program and VUIM graduates are all considered re-applicants.

Re-applicants are not guaranteed admission to any program at VUIM, regardless of previous admission. Individuals who are interested in re-applying are required to meet all current standards of admission, which include but are not limited to any update in academic criteria, pre-requisites, completing a new application, ordering official transcripts, paying the application fee, and uploading any required supplemental materials, etc. In addition, the individual re-applicant must be in good academic and financial standing with the institution to be considered. In some cases, VUIM will have retained official transcripts, in accordance with the admissions records retention policy. If you have questions about our retention of your official transcripts please inquire with an admissions staff member.

Graduates of VUIM academic programs will have future application fees waived.

Individuals who have been dismissed from the institution for failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards must wait 1 full year from their dismissal to re-apply.

Individuals who have been dismissed from the institution for behavioral reasons, including but not limited to violations of academic integrity and code of conduct are generally ineligible to re-apply. In very rare cases, the University may allow an individual who has been dismissed for behavioral reasons to re-apply. A written letter explaining why the individual in question should be considered is required.

Admissions Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 am-5:00 pm