The English Language Center at Winona State University welcomes all students, international and domestic, whose first languages are not English. To be admitted to the ELC at WSU, students should meet the following requirements:

• Applicants must have proof of high-school graduation.
• Applicants must have at least two years of high school level English or higher.
• Applicants must have some English language skills equivalent to a paper-based TOFEL score of 400.

To apply for ELC admission, please send:

1. An ELC application form, completed and signed (click here for the PDF file, click here for the word file)  to download the forms. To request a paper application form to be sent by mail, please contact the ELC office.)
2. A non-refundable application fee of $55 ($20 for WSU and $35 for ELC.  The application fee MUST be paid in a check or money order in US dollars drawn from a US bank or a US affiliated bank. The check or the money order must be made payable to WSU. You cannot pay the application fee on line.)
3. Documents of financial resources:
   
   
   • Original or notarized statement from your sponsor (your sponsor is typically your family members or you friend) indicating acceptance of full financial responsibility for the duration of your study at the ELC.
   • Original or notarized bank statement of personal savings of your sponsor (your sponsor is typically your family members or your friend). The amount of available funds must be indicated in US dollars. The statement must be dated within the past six (6) months of the application date.
     
     Note: If you have personal savings enough to cover the amount needed for the duration of your study at the ELC, please submit an original or notarized statement indicating acceptance of full financial responsibility for the duration of your study at the ELC and an original or notarized bank statement of your personal savings. The amount available funds must be indicated in US dollars. The statement must be dated within the past six (6) months of the application date.
     
     
4. A copy of your high school diploma
5. A record of minimum of two years of instruction of English (high school or college transcripts showing English classes taken, photocopies are acceptable)
6. Evidence of English language skills equivalent to a paper-based TOFEL score of 400. (Evidence can be scores of a TOFEL test or other English language proficiency tests, a letter from your English instructor addressing your English language skills, or a personal statement.)

• English translation must accompany all native language documents.
• Due to increased security, the visa process can take several months to becompleted. Apply early to allow enough time to obtain a US visa in your country. We advise that you send us application documents 4 to 5 months before the program begins.
• It is advisable to send application documents via international express mail or other fast delivery postal means.
• Applicants will receive an email confirmation of the arrival of their application packet. Students who meet all requirements for acceptance to the ELC will receive a letter of acceptance, I-20s, and travel information by mail from the ELC.
• To be enrolled on time, full payment of the tuition and health Insurance must be made 5 days before each semester begins.

Applicants who are accepted to the ELC are conditionally admitted to WSU. These conditions are:

• students complete the ELC program with a 3.0 cumulative GPA,
• students pass the ELC exit exam, and
• students take college ESL placement test and, if tested necessary, take college ESL courses (EN 106 and 107).

Important: Students who wish to seek undergraduate degrees at Winona State University upon successful completion of the ELC program should send in, at the time when you apply for ELC, an Application for Admission of International Students and all the documents required for WSU admission. Some of the documents are required for both ELC admission and WSU admission, and you do not need to duplicate these documents, but the funding amount on the Certificate of Financial Resources must be sufficient to cover the costs of ELC as well as the costs of one year undergraduate work at WSU.  Please visit WSU International Services Office for details.

Send all application materials to: (Do not send to International Services Office)

Dr. Holly Shi
Director, English Language Center
Professor, English Department
Minne 308
Winona State University
Winona, MN 55987

There are three payments methods: pay by mail, pay online, or pay in person. Please note that the application fee and the deposit cannot be paid in person. Students must pay the full amount of tuition and health insurance before being admitted to classes.

• Pay Online (You need to have a Warrior ID in order to pay online.)
  Once you are accepted by the ELC, we will assign you a WSU student ID called Warrior ID).  With the Warrior ID and your password, you can log on to your personal page and make payment online. Click here to  go to the billing page. Deposit, tuition and other fees can be paid either by mail or on line.
  
  
• Pay in Person
  Tuition, room and board, and other fees  can be paid in person once you arrive at the ELC and before classes begin.