International Students

Requirements for International Students

To be admitted to the Master’s in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine  program, a student must meet the following requirements:

• A completed Bachelor’s degree (120 semester credits/180 quarter credits) or higher from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

Students who were educated outside the United States must meet the same admissions requirements as above.  Academic credentials must be equivalent to those of U.S.-trained applicants and need to be formally evaluated by an independent credentials evaluation agency before the application can be formally considered.  Academic transcripts from international institutions must be submitted with the appropriate translation and equivalency analysis from a recognized agency that is a member of The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), such as World Education Services (www.wes.org), or Educational Records Evaluation Services (www.eres.com).  A list of approved agencies can be found on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services website:  www.naces.org.

International Applicants whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English proficiency for admission.  This must be demonstrated by one of the following means: 

1. The applicant must have completed one of the following:
   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.
      1. In all cases, English must have been both the language of instruction and the language of the curriculum used.

OR:

2. The applicant must have completed one of the following assessments at the required level:

5 Easy Steps to Apply

1. Submit application
   • to submit Application Form online: click here
   • to download Application Form: click here
2. Submit I-20 request form along with supporting documents
   • to download I-20 Request Form: click here 
3. Submit Affidavit form if student is being sponsored
   • to download Affidavit Form: click here
4. Submit Evaluated Transcript(s) from a credential evaluation agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) www.naces.org.
5. Provide TOEFL or IELTS scores

Application Documents Needed:

• Copy of ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.)
• Arrange to have official academic transcripts from each international college or university previously attended evaluated by a NACES-approved agency sent directly to Wongu University’s Admissions Office.
• Two letters of recommendation (from professional sources) sent directly from the individual to Wongu University that includes:
  • Reference Name
  • Name of Academic Institution/Agency/Business
  • Address
  • Email
  • Phone Number
  • Signature
• Personal Statement (500-750 words on each of the topics below)
  •  Please type your statement on 8.5″X11″ paper, double spaced, and submit it with the application form. If emailing, please send it in PDF format.
    • Describe the path that led you to choose Oriental Medicine as a profession. Include your philosophy and goal as a healthcare professional.
    • Why do you consider Wongu University to be a good fit for you?
    • Describe how your academic or employment background will contribute to the Wongu program
• Provide Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS scores) sent directly to Wongu University from the testing organization
• Resume
• Hepatitis B Vaccination or Waiver Form (If the student does not wish to be vaccinated, the student must provide a completed and signed Waiver Form) To download Hepatitis B Waiver Form click here
• $100 non-refundable application fee (to pay online click here)
• I-20 Request form and supporting documents (if applicable)
  • Copy of passport for student and dependents (if any)
  • Financial Verification: Bank statement or an official letter from a bank stating a financial guarantee of $30,000 OR
  • Affidavit Form and Financial Verification of Sponsor

Why Las Vegas?

International Hub of the World

Las Vegas is fast becoming one of the most racially diverse cities in the country. People from all over the world have adopted this city as their home for a number of good reasons – whether it’s the sunny weather, affordable housing, excellent quality of life, or various job opportunities. Because of this, Las Vegas is likened to a cauldron of multiple cultures of different ethnicities. This vibrant mix of people makes Las Vegas attractive to a foreigner because it just feels like being at home. There is always something to entice and satisfy one’s craving of home, whether it’s the food of your country or just being in a community with the same cultural background. All over the city, there are signs and complexes that represent a certain culture, and it seems second nature to hear someone speak a language other than English. It is comforting to be different and still have that sense of belonging. Las Vegas has certainly embraced its diversity and continues to welcome every visitor and immigrant from all over the world.

Affordable Living

For students living on a budget, let alone international students who are out of their comfort zone, Las Vegas is the perfect place to settle in because the cost of living is very affordable. Las Vegas ranks 41st among all the major cities in the United States. The cost of living is slightly below average for all major expense indices such as groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, and healthcare. Although housing prices are slowly increasing steadily, there are still many affordable options for those who are looking for a house to rent or own. A studio apartment in San Jose, California costs almost double compared to renting one in Las Vegas. A person can buy a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for less than $15, or splurge for a three-course meal for less than $60. Cheap cost of living does not mean poor quality of life, however. Las Vegas, after all, is a city that is modern and progressive; you can easily live comfortably on a budget.

Diverse Eatery

Las Vegas welcomes a little over 40 million visitors from all over the world every year. Moreover, Las Vegas has about 2 million residents that come from different walks of life and different cultural backgrounds. It is because of this melting pot of cultures that brought about numerous restaurants of different varieties. There are the high end restaurants by top chefs like Gordon Ramsey, Bobby Flay and Mario Batali. On the other hand, there are small scale restaurants that offer great Asian, Indian, Persian, and Mexican cuisine, to name a few. It’s a relief to know that eating on a budget doesn’t just entail a trip to a fast food restaurant, and craving for an exotic meal does not mean hopping on the next plane to that country.

Always Something to do

Las Vegas is best known for its lavish casinos, extravagant hotels and world class restaurants. It has earned its nickname, Sin City, since many of its visitors come here for the fun-filled weekend of gambling and indulging on adults-only entertainment on the strip. It is surprising to others, but not to the locals, that Las Vegas has far more to offer than just an extravagant party-filled weekend. For the theater and music lovers, establishments such as the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Las Vegas Philharmonic and the Sin City Opera offer shows for everyone all year round. There is always something happening in the city to cater to anyone’s taste — Food and Wine Festival, Comic Con, multiple dance competitions, film and music festivals, to name a few. There are also the great outdoors not far from the city. The Red Rock Canyon, a National Conservation Area, just 17 miles west of the strip, is famous for its large red rock formations and is a must-see for hikers, rock climbers, or anyone who loves nature. Other national parks not far from the city are Lake Mead, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park and Valley of Fire State Park —- all national parks worth exploring. Las Vegas always has something to offer to your enjoyment, for the party-goer, theater lover or for the nature enthusiast in you.