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Transfer to the University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati welcomes international transfer students to our campus.

Students who have attended a college or university after secondary school are considered transfer students. 

Receive admission to UC

Before you can transfer to UC, you must apply to a program and receive acceptance. If you will be transferring as an undergraduate student, talk to UC International Admissions about this process.

  1. Complete a TOEFL, IELTS or ELS level 112 to demonstrate English proficiency.
  2. Complete all admissions requirements for the UC degree program.
  3. Receive an acceptance letter from the admissions office.
  4. Confirm the admissions offer. Instructions should be included in your acceptance letter.
Additional Requirements for Undergraduate Students

Provide proof of financial support

You must demonstrate that you have financial support for all years of study for your degree. You will be able to submit these documents using the "Immigration Documents" e-form in the New International Student Checklist in iBearcatsGlobal.

You will be sent an email with log in credentials within 72 hours of being admitted. Please do not email these documents to us.

  • Check our estimated expenses page to determine the amount you have to certify. Any UC scholarships can be deducted from this amount, but you need to provide proof of the scholarship.
  • There is no deadline for submitting financial certification forms, but you will not be issued a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 / DS-2019) until they are received. You will need to get the I-20/DS-2019 in time to apply for your visa and arrive for your intended semester of study.
  • Submit your financial documents as soon as possible, but no sooner than 6 months prior to your start date at UC.

When completing the Affidavit of Support Form, also linked in the Immigration Documents e-form in iBearcatsGlobal, clearly state your name as it appears in your passport.

Financial Documentation Requirements

All financial documents need to be dated within the last 6 months. Documents can include:

  • bank statements
  • certificates of deposit 
  • letters/statements from sponsors that show how much they receive annually from employment
  • letters or emails from UC departments about scholarships/assistantships
  • information from governments about sponsorships 
  • bank/education loan award letters
  • letters of support from current overseas employers

All documents should state in English who the account owner is, the current balance, and the currency being used. Deposits stated on the bank statements/certificate of deposits do not need to be frozen.

Scholarships
Unless otherwise stated in the award letter, UC scholarships and assistantships that you have been awarded are considered renewable as long as you maintain good academic standing. For example, if you have been awarded a UC scholarship for $10,000.00, you can include this in your estimates as a source of support for each year of study. Please make sure to upload a copy of your scholarship with your other financial documents.

Sponsors
A sponsor can be anyone: parents, other family members, friends, or agencies. A sponsor only needs to show that they have the first year of support of their intended annual support on deposit. So, for example, if they are committed to providing you $10,000.00 per year, they only need to show that they have $10,000.00 on deposit at this time.  It is presumed they understand, and are committed to, their financial obligation to you and to raise this amount for each year of study for you. The sponsor will need to complete an Affidavit of Support form, linked in the Immigration Documents e-form in iBearcatsGlobal, and provide their financial documents to you with this form.

Personal Funds
“Personal funds” is any amount that you, the student, has on deposit in your name.

  • Because you will not be in a position to be able to work or raise additional funding while studying in the US, your personal funds will be divided by the number of years that we estimate it will take for you to complete your studies. 
  • For example, if you have $20,0000.00 on deposit and you are applying for a two year Master’s degree, then you have $10,0000.00 available for each year of study.

Loans
Bank/Education Loan awards are usually awarded as one lump sum. Therefore, the amount awarded will be divided by the number of years we estimate it will take for you to complete your degree.

  • The letters must state that the loan has been awarded.  Letters that state that you have only applied will not be accepted. 
  • Letters that state the loan is provisional/conditional will need to state what those provisions/conditions are. 
  • If there is anyone’s name on the loan other than your own, they should complete the affidavit of support form.

Room and Board Affidavit
If you will be living with someone in the Cincinnati area that will provide you free room and board you can also submit the Room and Board Affidavit (which is linked in the Immigration Documents e-form in iBearcatsGlobal). Submission of this form will reduce the amount needed for the cost of living expenses associated with the I-20. Do not submit this form unless you have someone in the US that you will be living with while you are studying.

Review Period
When you submit your financial documents for review, it will take no longer than five business days to review and provide you feedback. If your documentation does not qualify for an I-20 to be issued, you will be sent an email explaining why. You can then make changes to your documentation and resubmit them using the Immigration Documents e-form in iBearcatsGlobal in the New International Student checklist.

Transfer your SEVIS record

In order to officially transfer to UC, you will also need to transfer your SEVIS record. First, ask your current institution to release your SEVIS record. Tell the office that we are listed in SEVIS as:

  • University of Cincinnati-University of Cincinnati (if admitted to our main campus),
  • University of Cincinnati-UC Blue Ash College (if admitted to our Blue Ash branch campus), or
  • University of Cincinnati-UC Clermont College (if admitted to our Clermont branch campus).

Then, submit a SEVIS Transfer-In Request form using our iBearcatsGlobal system.

  1. Login using the "Limited Services" section. You will need your UCID number and date of birth.
  2. Under "Admission and Orientation," you will find the SEVIS Transfer-In Request form.
    1. This form requires you to upload copies of your passport, I-20 and I-94.
    2. You also need to list your current school's international student advisor, so they can release your SEVIS record to UC. Students transferring from English Language Services (ELS) will list Emily Bensman (email ebensman@els.edu) as the current school advisor.
    3. Indicate if you will travel outside the US before coming to UC.

Complete the pre-arrival checklist

Once your transfer is approved, you will be issued an I-20 for the University of Cincinnati.

You will also receive information on completing our pre-arrival checklist, coming to Cincinnati and preparing for orientation and check-in.