Office of Admissions & Records :: International

International Students : General Information

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International Student Admission Application

The University of Houston - Victoria, founded as an upper-level institution in 1973, is one of four institutions in the University of Houston System. UHV serves students who have completed two or more years of college by providing bachelor's degrees and master's degrees. The faculty of the University of Houston-Victoria is very well grounded in their respective fields of study. Many of them have authored books and have been awarded fellowships for further study. Many of our faculty have also published articles in journals of their field.

The University of Houston - Victoria is fully accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

UHV is a small university with an enrollment of approximately 2400 students. UHV is considered to be a transfer institution, accepting students at the upper-division university level (3^rd and 4^th year of the 4-year bachelor's degree), and the master's degree level. Students are required to complete the 1^st and 2^nd year requirements toward the bachelor's degree at another community college or university, and then transfer to UHV for the upper level courses. (An I-20 may not be issued for transfer until all lower level course requirements are completed for the F-1 student who wishes to complete a degree at UHV.) For information about the degree programs offered by the University of Houston-Victoria at the Sugar Land campus, check the website at www.uhsa.uh.edu/fb. Also the Cinco Ranch website is located at www.uhsa.uh.edu/cr.  The official UHV website is www.uhv.edu.

Campus Locations
Victoria, center of the South Texas Crossroads in the heart of the Golden Gulf Coast, is an expanding historic city on the banks of the Guadalupe River. More than 150 years old, it was one of the first three towns chartered by the new republic when Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836. It is a short distance by car from Victoria to Houston (200 km), San Antonio (180 km) and Austin(196 km). Although it serves commuting students from Victoria and surrounding counties, UHV also offers degree programs in collaboration with other University of Houston System institutions at off-campus centers in Sugar Land, Texas (Fort Bend County Center) and in Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch Center). These two cities are suburbs of Houston, Texas, which is located 124 miles (or 193 km) northeast of Victoria.

Climate
The weather in south Texas generally is hot and humid in the summer months of June through August, consistently reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees centigrade) or higher. Winters are generally mild with temperatures seldom falling below freezing. Rain is well distributed throughout the year. Light clothing is recommended for the summer months, and a coat is needed for the winter months.

Housing
UH-Victoria does not operate any student housing facilities. Monthly rates for apartments in Victoria vary from $500 to $700 per month and some are located within walking distance of the campus. Smaller houses are also available to rent at similar costs. Houston, Sugar Land, and Katy, Texas area rates are similar. There is limited public transportation at the Sugar Land campus location. Students who do not have their own vehicle to drive may want to consider attending the Victoria or Katy, Texas campus locations, depending on your intended degree program.

Health Insurance and Medical Emergencies
Nonimmigrant international students (F-1 visa holders) are required to have basic medical/hospitalization insurance coverage either by enrolling in a university-endorsed plan or by providing evidence of their own acceptable insurance. In order to be acceptable, the student's plan must include the following:

• Repatriation coverage - a benefit which provides payment in the event of death, for preparation and transportation of the remains to the student's home country.
• Medical Evacuation coverage - a benefit which provides for transportation to the student's home country in the event of serious illness which requires extensive medical care.
• Minimum Plan Benefit coverage - a package of health insurance benefits, subject to reasonable deductibles and co-pays with:
• At least $50,000 of covered major medical expenses;
• At least $10,000 for medical evacuation;
• At least $7,500 for repatriation;
• Deductible not to exceed $500
• Co-Pays not to exceed 30%

The purpose of this requirement is to provide reasonable assurance that international students will have the financial means to reside within the U.S. during their course of study at the University. Health Insurance provided by the university is activated on the first class day of the beginning semester. Due to the non-traditional structure of our campus locations, dormitories and on-campus housing, campus medical clinics, and other traditional university services may not be available. Therefore, it is very important for students to have someone in the U.S. to contact in case of emergency situations.

Employment

A non-immigrant student is not permitted to work off-campus for a wage or salary or engage in business while in the United States unless permission to do so has first been granted by the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). International students are permitted to work on-campus for no more than 20 hours per week, and should contact the Office of Admissions and Records for the proper procedure to follow. Permission to work off-campus may be requested only after a student has been enrolled for 9 consecutive months, and is limited to certain circumstances. The spouse or child accompanying or following to join a non-immigrant student is not permitted to work in the United States. On-campus employment is available on a limited basis, and should not be relied upon for financial support. All financial support must be verified prior to receiving an I-20 for admission purposes.

Financial Aid for International Students