Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Visit our Master FAQ page for questions and answers from each department. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you still cannot find the answers you need. We are here to help!

Visiting DIU

May I visit DIU before I come as a student?

Certainly! Check out our Visit DIU page to schedule a visit today!

Does DIU host a Campus Preview Day event?

Twice a year Dallas International University hosts a Campus Preview Day event for prospective students, usually in March and October. We are also happy to arrange a personalized visit for you as needed. Check out our Campus Preview Day page for more information. To register for Campus Visit Day or to learn more contact our recruiting office at discover@diu.edu or by phone at 972-708-7343.

Application Status

Which application form should I use to apply to DIU?

It depends on what level of courses and how many courses you intend to take. Generally, applicants are encouraged to apply for the highest level admission status for which they qualify. If you only want to take a few courses, Gateway admission allows you to take up to 10 credits at DIU. Graduate admission allows you to take an unlimited number of either undergraduate or graduate credits. Undergraduate admission allows you to take an unlimited number of undergraduate credits and also allows you to petition to take up to 9 credits of graduate-level courses.

What is Gateway admission?

Gateway admission is a quick way to take a few courses at DIU. All we typically need, apart from the application form, is a transcript. Gateway admission status limits you to no more than 10 semester hours of classes at DIU.

What is the difference between applying for undergraduate admission and applying for the B.A. program?

By procedure, all DIU students are admitted as “non-degree seeking” students. Students seeking a bachelor’s degree at DIU will complete an Intended Plan of Study (IPS) with the help of their academic advisor. The IPS is normally completed by the end of the student’s first semester. Approval of the IPS by the College of International Studies marks acceptance of the student into a particular B.A. degree program.

With undergraduate admission status you can take any of our undergraduate courses for credit. Undergraduate students can also petition to take up to 9 hours of graduate-level classes. If you are seeking a B.A. from DIU, you will apply for undergraduate admission status and submit one additional document–a faith/code of conduct statement.

How many credits of graduate-level classes can I take with undergraduate admission?

Undergraduate students at DIU can petition to take up to 9 credits of graduate-level classes. In order to take more than 9 credits of graduate-level classes at DIU, you will need to seek Graduate admission status.

Do I need to apply for graduate status?

If you have a completed bachelor’s degree and intend to take more than 9 credits of graduate-level classes at DIU, you should apply for graduate admission status. Graduate admission status permits enrollment in any graduate-level class, as well as any undergraduate-level class which may be a prerequisite to your expected graduate-level work. Gateway students are limited to taking 10 credits, and Undergraduate students are allowed to take up to 9 credits of graduate-level classes by petition. So, Graduate admission status will allow for the most flexibility for students intending to take several graduate-level classes.

Which application do I use to audit a course?

There is no application form for students who only want to audit courses. In order to audit a course, a student must apply for and be accepted to DIU in one of our regular admission statuses. See Admission FAQ “Which application form should I use to apply to DIU?” Once you are admitted, you and your academic advisor can present an Audit Permission form for approval. For more information about auditing, visit our Registrar FAQ: “How to Audit a course?”

Which application should I fill out for an online course?

There is not a separate application for students who intend to study at DIU via distance-ed. The correct application form for you to use should be determined by the level (graduate vs. undergraduate) and the number of credits you hope to take. See Admission FAQ “Which application form should I use to apply to DIU?”

Application Requirements

What are the deadlines for applying and registering?

Visit our Admissions and Registration deadlines page for a complete list of deadlines.

When is my application due?

DIU practices rolling admissions, without a single deadline for all new applicants. Admission deadlines are based on a student’s intended first term at DIU.

Students are encouraged to start the application process by March 1st for May, Summer, or Fall terms and by September 1st for Spring term. A late fee of $70 will be required if the application form is submitted fewer than six weeks before the applicant’s intended first day of class. All required application documents (references, transcripts, etc.) must be received at least 4 weeks before the applicant’s intended first day of class.

Please see our Admissions and Registration Deadlines page for more detail.

How much is the application fee?

An application fee is required for those seeking Undergraduate or Graduate admission status at DIU.

The application fee is $70 US dollars.

No application fee is required for those seeking Gateway admission status.

An additional late fee of $70 will be required if the application form is submitted fewer than six weeks before the applicant’s intended first day of class.

Please see DIU’s Admissions and Registration Deadlines for specific dates regarding late fees.

When is the application fee due?

Your application fee payment should be made at or near the time you submit your application. An application for Gateway admission does NOT require an application fee.

Please see DIU’s Admissions and Registration Deadlines for specific dates regarding late fees.

How do I pay my application fee?

  • online via PayPal by using the links on the Undergraduate or Graduate admission pages of the DIU website
  • via regular post — Send a check or money order made out to Dallas International University to this address:
    DIU Admissions
    DIU-100
    7500 W Camp Wisdom Rd
    Dallas, TX  75236
    USA

What is a statement of purpose?

This is a short statement indicating  1) why you chose to apply to DIU, 2) what you hope to gain in your studies here, and 3) what you hope to do with the education you receive here. A typical statement of purpose is 2-3 paragraphs long. The Statement of Purpose form can be found on our website.

How many references do I need to provide?

Undergraduate and Graduate applicants need to supply us with 3 references from non-family members using the form on our website. Gateway applicants are not required to submit references.

The form should be sent from each reference directly to:

DIU Admissions
DIU-100
7500 W. Camp Wisdom Rd.
Dallas, TX 75236
USA

or via email to admissions@diu.edu.

Whom can I ask to do my letters of recommendation?

Non-family members only. If your performance in undergraduate studies was less than stellar, we recommend you choose at least two references who can vouch for your ability to succeed academically (e.g. former professors). Otherwise, you can choose people from your work history, church history, or long-time friends/acquaintances. The recommendation form can be found on our website.

What transcripts must I provide?

Each application type has different transcript requirements. Generally, applicants should provide official school records that are relevant to their intended courses or program at DIU. Official transcripts are required for any credits a student wishes to transfer to a degree program at DIU from another institution.

For Undergraduate Admission, DIU requires official copies of previous academic transcripts according to your level of academic experience. If you have completed at least 24 credits at the freshman, undergraduate-level with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.80, please submit only the transcripts showing those credits earned. If you have fewer than 24 credits completed, please submit your high school transcript showing completion of high school or a GED credential, plus transcripts showing any undergraduate-level credits earned.

For Graduate Admission, DIU requires official copies of all post-high school transcripts showing classes completed, grades attained, and degree(s) (or diploma) granted where courses were taken toward a degree or pertaining to an expected study program at DIU. A graduate degree transcript may qualify you to not be required to submit undergraduate transcripts. Please see our Graduate Admission GPA requirements for more information.

For Gateway Admission, DIU requires an official copy of at least one transcript showing classes completed, grades attained, and degree(s) (or diploma) granted which shows an appropriate level of education for the course(s) the student wishes to take as a Gateway student. Ideally, transcripts should show the highest level of schooling you have completed so far.

Gateway applicants who want to qualify for Gateway Restricted admission status, which allows students to take only undergraduate-level courses, should supply:

  • transcripts showing the completion of 24 or more undergraduate credits with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00, OR
  • a transcript showing graduation from high school with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 plus any undergraduate transcripts, OR
  • a General Educational Development (GED) credential, plus any undergraduate transcripts.

Gateway applicants who want to qualify for full Gateway admission status, which allows students to take graduate-level courses in addition to undergraduate-level courses, should supply:

  • a transcript showing a completed master’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher, OR
  • a transcript showing a completed bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.80 or higher, OR
  • transcripts showing the completion of 72 or more undergraduate-level credits completed with a cumulative GPA of 2.80 or higher.

School records should be sent directly to DIU by the school or testing agency or be in an unopened, signed, and sealed envelope which you received directly from them.

What if one or more of my transcripts is from another country?

Academic records from outside the United States should be sent directly from the institution(s) that issued them to both DIU and to the Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ECE.org) to verify U.S. equivalency of courses taken and grades and degrees received. DIU requires a “course-by-course evaluation.” If you go to ECE’s website, click “Apply Now,” select your country, and then “List of required documents,” you will see which school records to submit and how to submit them to ECE.

How good do my grades need to be to be considered for admission to DIU?

At least 2.75 cumulative GPA in your high school studies, if applying for undergraduate admission status with 0-23 undergraduate credit hours.

At least 2.00 cumulative GPA for all undergraduate classes taken, if you haven’t yet completed a bachelor’s degree or if you plan to take only undergraduate-level classes.

At least 2.80 cumulative GPA on 72 or more undergraduate credit hours in all undergraduate degrees or classes if you plan to take any graduate-level classes.

Do I have to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)?

Dallas International University does not require Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores from someone seeking Undergraduate or Gateway admission status.

For Graduate admission status, you will need at least a completed bachelor’s degree. GRE will be required if the highest degree you have earned is a bachelor’s degree and:

  • you have completed an undergraduate degree from an institution that is regionally accredited with a cumulative GPA between 2.80 and 3.30, or
  • you have completed an undergraduate degree from an institution that is not regionally accredited with a cumulative GPA of 2.80 or greater

GRE scores presented to DIU should not be more than 5 years old.

If you need to take the GRE, you can find more information at www.ets.org.

Do I have to know what classes I will take at the time I apply?

You do NOT have to know exactly what classes you will be taking, but the more you can tell us about your short and long-term goals on the application (intended major, intended entry semester, intended classes during first term), the more precisely we can advise you during the application process.

What do I need to do to participate in one of DIU’s cooperative programs with another institution?

Each program has different requirements. Check out our Undergraduate Cooperative Programs page or our Seminary Dual Degree and Cooperative Programs page for details about each program.

What are the graduate admission GPA requirements?

In addition to other requirements, to be considered for Graduate Admission, an applicant must fulfill at least one of the following:

    • Completion of a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a GPA of at least 3.00, OR
    • Completion of a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) at a regionally accredited institution of higher education, with a GPA of at least 3.30, OR
    • Completion of a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from any institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.80, AND one of the following:
      • satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (see the “send us your GRE scores” section of the Graduate application page), or
      • Completion of at least 15 graduate credit hours from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a GPA of at least 3.50

Uncertain if you meet the minimum requirements? Contact us at admissions@diu.edu or 972-708-7415. We would be happy to answer your questions.

International Students

How long does the application process for an international student require?

If a non-US citizen is applying to pursue a degree at DIU and the student will be seeking a student visa to do so, the DIU International Student Office recommends that you submit the application form to DIU at least 6 months before you expect to begin classes. If no visa will be required, we recommend you submit the application form 4 months before you expect to begin classes. 

If a non-US citizen is applying to take only 1-3 classes at DIU (Gateway application), we recommend that you submit the application form to DIU at least 6 weeks before you expect to begin classes. If you need to meet visa qualifications to do so, we recommend you apply 2-3 months before you expect to begin classes. 

Who requires a student visa to study at DIU?

Anyone in the U.S. who is not a citizen of the U.S. and has not been granted temporary or permanent resident status in the U.S. will require a student visa to enroll in classes at DIU. 

  • Citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating countries who intend to study cannot travel on the VWP except to undertake recreational study as part of a tourist visit. Students must travel to the United States with student (F-1 or M-1) visas. For more information on the VWP, see Visa Waiver Program. 
  • Study leading to a U.S. conferred degree or certificate is not permitted on a visitor (B) visa, even if it is for a short duration. Source: https://visaguide.world/us-visa/nonimmigrant/study-exchange-visas/f1 

What are the requirements for an international student application to DIU?

A student intending to study at DIU must meet all the application requirements for the level of admission he/she will require to complete his/her intended program, and, if a visa will be required to study at DIU, the international application requirements. The three levels of admission at DIU are: 

Of the many requirements for an international applicant to DIU which should I do first?

First things first: submit an online application form and pay the application fee, if required, once you have decided to apply. Then– 

If you are seeking gateway admission to DIU, 1) Send us your transcripts, and 2) if you are a non-native speaker of English, establish that you have adequate English proficiency for studies at DIU English Language Proficiency Requirements and Send us your transcripts (gateway)  

If you are seeking either graduate or undergraduate admission status 1) Send us your transcripts; 2) send your transcripts for an official transcript evaluation; and 3) if you are a non-native speaker of English establish that you have adequate English proficiency for studies at DIU. See English Language Proficiency Requirements and Send us your transcripts (graduate) and Send us your transcripts (undergraduate)  

Where do I send my overseas transcripts for evaluation?

Academic records from outside the United States or Canada should be sent to both Dallas Int’l and to the Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ECE.org), the school record evaluation service that we recommends, to verify U.S. equivalency of courses taken and grades and degrees received. Dallas Int’l requires a “course-by-course evaluation.” If you go to ECE’s website, click “Apply Now,” select your country, and then “List of required documents,” you will see which school records to submit and how to submit them to ECE.

If successful completion of your secondary school included mandatory national testing, please also provide ECE with an official copy (per their instructions) of exams taken and scores received to be included in their evaluation report.

Can an international student work while enrolled at DIU?

Non-US citizens, including international students, are only allowed to work in the U.S in certain circumstances and only with prior permission to do so. See the Employment for Internationals page of our website.

Do international students have to fill out U.S. tax forms?

Yes, most internationals in the US are required to fill out at least one form each year. See the US Tax Law for Internationals page to learn more.

Non-native English speakers

What level of English proficiency is required to study at DIU?

Please visit the English Language Proficiency Requirements page of our website.

Post Admission

Does admission to DIU mean I am automatically accepted into a degree program?

No. By procedure, all DIU students are admitted as “non-degree seeking” students. It is only after the Intended Plan of Study (IPS) is worked out with an Academic Advisor– and the Advisor, Department Head, and Dean of Academic Affairs have signed the IPS form outlining the plan–that DIU will recognize a student as being enrolled in a particular degree program. The student will need to file the approved IPS with the DIU registrar. The IPS should normally be completed by the end of the student’s first semester.

Am I required to attend orientation?

If you are new to DIU or resuming studies here after an absence, you will be required to complete the online orientation course in Canvas. An in-person welcoming event will also be held at the beginning of each term to welcome on-campus students to campus.

Housing & Other Services

Does DIU have campus housing?

DIU does not own or operate its own housing but there are several on-campus housing options available to students. Visit our Housing page for more information.

What off-campus housing options are available?

In addition to several one-story multiplexes operated by the SIL Housing office across there street, there are some rentals in the area owned  by International Linguistic Center (ILC) employees or related personnel which may have vacancies. For more information on SIL/ILC-related rentals visit our Housing page.

Other options: Our campus is located within minutes of several privately-run apartment complexes. Try a google search to locate more information about those possibilities.

Is housing included in the cost for Dallas International intensive courses?

No, it is not.  Intensive courses at Dallas International have a short on-campus component, but the housing costs are not included in the course tuition and fees. Visit our Housing page for information about short-term housing options.

What will my address be if I am an SIL Guest House resident?

Your mailing address will be:
GSH-101
7500 W. Camp Wisdom Rd.
Dallas, TX 75236

Whom do I contact about my disability?

Contact the Dean of Students at dean-students@diu.edu.  In order for Dallas International to make reasonable accommodations, it is the responsibility of students with disabilities to establish their ADA status to the satisfaction of the Dean of Students. Request for accommodation must be presented in writing to the Dean of Students at least 30 days prior to registration.

Does DIU provide student health insurance?

DIU does not sponsor a health insurance plan for its students.

International students with a DIU-sponsored visa are required to have adequate health insurance coverage for themselves and their immediate family members while they are in the United States. For more information please visit our International Student Health Insurance page.

Non-international students are strongly encouraged to obtain health insurance coverage for themselves and their families during their time of study at DIU. Students are welcome to find a plan that meets their needs. For more information please visit our Student Health Insurance page.

Does DIU have a Student Health Center?

No, DIU does not own or operate a health center. However, DIU students and their families, by contract, have access to the SIL International Health clinic facilities during the time they are enrolled in classes on campus.

Does DIU provide child care?

DIU does not provide childcare, but there are several daycares and preschools in the area.

Will I need a car while I am at DIU?

Public transport in Dallas exists and is somewhat accessible (bus connection about ½ mile away), but it is not advisable to rely solely on this for getting places locally (i.e. church, grocery store, home off-campus, etc). A bicycle, at least, is recommended. You can rent an automobile by the day through the SIL housing office (housing-dallas@sil.org or 972-708-7426).