Admission to Undergraduate Programs

UAB welcomes applications from all individuals whose preparation and abilities give them a reasonable chance of success in its programs. All applicants must offer acceptable evidence of ability and intent to meet the academic standards of the university. Admission decisions are based on a number of factors including a previous record of satisfactory academic performance, strength of curriculum, and test scores. Admission to the university is valid for one academic year.

The application for admission, application instructions, and application deadlines can be accessed at http://www.uab.edu/chooseuab. Applications are processed in the order in which they are complete and ready for a decision.

Credentials and documentation required for admission vary by application status. To be considered official, all academic documents required for admission must be sent to UAB directly from the high school, colleges/universities attended, and testing agencies. All credentials submitted as part of the application for admission become and remain the property of the university and will not be returned to the student, duplicated, or transferred to another institution.

Any change in a student’s record prior to enrollment will necessitate a new review of the application. Any omissions or misrepresentations on a student’s application for admission will automatically invalidate consideration by and acceptance to UAB. If, after a student is admitted to the university, information comes to light that indicates an applicant did not meet all admission requirements, the applicant's offer of admission will be rescinded and the applicant will be withdrawn from the university.

Priority Application Deadlines

Prospective students are encouraged to apply well in advance of the date of the desired term of enrollment but no more than one year.

The application for admission, application fee, and all supporting official academic documents must be complete and received in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by 5 p.m. on the respective deadline date. If the deadline falls on a weekend or university holiday, applications will be considered the following business day.

Admission to Specific Schools or Programs

Admission to the university as an undergraduate student may not be the final step required to gain admission to the desired school or academic program. For the undergraduate programs listed below, additional steps or requirements are required:

• College of Arts and Sciences (Bioinformatics, Cancer Biology, Immunology, Music, Musical Theatre, Neuroscience)
• School of Education (Teacher Education Program)
• School of Engineering
• School of Health Professions
• School of Nursing

Further information on the additional steps required is given in the section of this catalog devoted to the particular school/college.

Declaration of School and Major

Applicants are asked to indicate an intended major field of study on the application for admission. Applicants who do not have a general field of interest may request admission as Undeclared. International students must declare a major.

Admission Appeal

Applicants denied admission to the undergraduate program who believe they have extenuating circumstances that might justify a different decision may appeal for further consideration.

Freshmen

Entering freshmen who are admitted through this procedure must participate in the Blazing Start program with terms and conditions set forth by the appeals committee.

Non-Traditional Freshmen, Transfer students, Returning UAB students

Applicants who are admitted through this procedure:

• Will be admitted to and advised in the Vulcan Materials Academic Success Center.
• Must adhere to all policies and procedures of academic probation status.
• Must limit the first-term course load to a maximum of 12 semester hours.

Applicants who wish to appeal should contact Undergraduate Admissions for details. 

Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

UAB awards credit to students who have earned designated scores on Advanced Placement (AP) Program examinations of the College Board. AP examinations are usually taken at the end of an AP-designed course of study in high school. Credit, if awarded, will be recorded without grades or quality points and will not, therefore, be included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Credits awarded by other institutions for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) must be reevaluated to determine if credit will be awarded at UAB. Students wishing to submit such credits should send an official score report to the Office of Registration and Academic Records.

UAB score requirements for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and the College Level Examination Program are available online (https://www.uab.edu/admissions/apply/credit-equivalencies).

Equal Opportunity Policy

UAB administers its educational programs and activities, including admission, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability unrelated to job performance or Vietnam-era or disabled veteran status. The full text of this policy can be found here.

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Mailing Address for Documents and Credentials: Box 99 • 1720 2nd Ave S • Birmingham, AL 35294-4600

Physical Address: 1701 11th Avenue South • Birmingham, Alabama 35294-4412

(205) 934-8221 or (800) 421-8743 • ChooseUAB@uab.edu • www.uab.edu/chooseuab

Freshman Admission

UAB employs a holistic approach when reviewing candidates for admission to the university. Consideration for admission is based on a variety of performance factors including strength of curriculum, grade point average (GPA), test scores, etc. All applicants are considered on an individual basis.

College preparatory curriculum requirements:

Home-Schooled Students

UAB welcomes applications from students who are schooled at home. Home schooled high school students are reviewed for admission and for academic scholarships following the same criteria utilized for students who attend public and private high schools. The official high school transcript should contain the titles of courses in each subject area beginning with grade nine, course grades, overall GPA on a 4.0 scale, course grading scale, signature and contact information of the school administrator.

Freshman Enrollment Deposit

All first-time freshmen are required to pay a non-refundable $200 Freshman Enrollment Deposit to secure a place in the entering class. The Freshman Enrollment Deposit covers the cost of Blazer Beginnings New Student Orientation and associated enrollment fees. Students may not apply for on-campus housing or make a reservation for Blazer Beginnings New Student Orientation until the Freshman Enrollment Deposit is submitted.

Deadline: May 1 to submit the Freshman Enrollment Deposit or request a deferral of payment.

Deferral Requests: Entering freshmen who have demonstrated financial need may request a deferral of payment. Deferrals will only be granted for students who have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to UAB.

Exemptions: First-time freshmen who (1) enroll in the spring semester and/or (2) graduated from high school three years ago or more.

Adult Learner

Applicants who graduated from high school three or more years ago and have not attended college are considered non-traditional, adult learners. Visit the Undergraduate Admissions website for admission requirements and deadlines. 

Transfer Admission

Applicants with a minimum of 24 transferable college semester hours (not including dual enrollment coursework earned while attending high school) must:

1. Have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all such work, including courses granted academic clemency, bankruptcy, or forgiveness.
2. Be considered in good standing at all previously attended colleges or universities.

Applicants who have earned college credits, but fewer than 24 semester hours, must have a 2.0 grade point average in all transferable college work attempted and also satisfy freshman admission requirements (See “Freshman Admission”).

Eligibility of College Credits for Transfer

The eligibility of credit for transfer to UAB depends both on the subject matter of the credit and on the accreditation status of the institution that awarded the credit.

The evaluation and awarding of transfer course credit is based on review of official transcripts. Students are required to submit official transcripts, sent directly to UAB, from all postsecondary institutions attended. Students do not retain the right to choose, or eliminate certain courses for transfer. All academic transfer work will be posted to the UAB transcript, including courses with final grades of D’s, F’s, and WF’s. This includes instances when a student has repeated a course. All occurrences of the course, including grade, will be posted to the UAB transcript.  Courses for which a student has been granted academic clemency, bankruptcy, or forgiveness, by the institution at which the course was completed will not be posted to the UAB transcript.  However, those courses and grades are included in review for admissions purposes.

Technical/vocational credits or remedial credits, whether earned at UAB or at any other institution of higher education, are not eligible for transfer and may not be used to satisfy degree requirements. The exception to this rule is when the transfer of certain courses applicable to specific professional degree programs are approved in advance by the appropriate department. The accepted courses will be posted only while the student is in the degree program approving the credit. If the student changes programs, the courses will be removed. Credits earned while on academic suspension from UAB or another institution may be eligible for transfer. However, the UAB forgiveness policy can only be applied to grades earned at UAB.

Transfer credit in academic subjects will be considered for transfer to UAB from post-secondary institutions that are fully accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations (see below) that offer the baccalaureate degree or associate's degree leading to the baccalaureate degree. If an institution is not yet accredited, but has acquired candidate status from a regional accrediting agency, then academic credits from the institution will be considered for transfer to UAB.

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Schools (WASC ACS)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASC ACCJC)

Academic credit earned at Alabama Community Colleges during the initial organization of the Alabama College System (1965-1967) will be acceptable for transfer to UAB.

College courses completed at unaccredited non-candidate institutions are not usually considered for transfer to UAB. However, applicants with credits in this category may contact the Office of the Registrar for information on the Credit by Portfolio option.  The official determination of acceptability of courses from other institutions is the responsibility of the Office of the Provost.

Students with credits from institutions outside the United States should review transfer of international credits.

Credits awarded by other institutions for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) must be reevaluated to determine if credit will be awarded at UAB. Students wishing to submit such credits should send an official score report to the Office of the Registrar.

Limitations of Transferred Credit

One half of the credit hours required for a degree may be transferred from a two-year college provided the courses are numbered as freshman-level (100) and sophomore-level (200) courses.

Acceptance of Transfer Credits toward a Degree

College-level coursework transferred from a regionally accredited institution will be shown on the UAB transcript (Post Baccalaureates excluded); however, applicability of the course toward a degree is determined by the student’s major department.

Appeal Process for Transfer Credit

If a student disagrees with a transfer credit evaluation, the student must submit further information to a transfer articulation specialist to initiate an appeal of the evaluation. Supporting documentation can include, but is not limited to, a course outline, syllabus, or textbook.

Transfer Articulation will review all supporting documentation in coordination with the academic department and will amend the original evaluation if a change is warranted. Once a secondary review has been completed the decision is final.

Admission as an International Student

An international student is defined as any applicant who is not a US citizen or permanent resident. International students should apply at least six months in advance of desired attendance date in order to facilitate timely admission and enrollment.

Freshman Admission

Minimum admission requirements for applicants who have completed secondary school abroad under a grading system different from the US system:

1. Minimum overall GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 US grading scale based on UAB's evaluation of the secondary school transcript.
2. English proficiency exam* if English is not the applicant's native language; or ACT/SAT score if English is the applicant's native language.

An English proficiency score is not required if the applicant has attended a US high school for at least two years; additional scores will be required.

Transfer Admission

Minimum admission requirements for applicants who have attended a college or university outside the US:

1. Minimum overall GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 US grading scale based on UAB's evaluation of post-secondary school transcripts.
2. English proficiency exam* if English is not the applicant's native language.

NOTE: Applicants who have earned fewer than 24 semester hours at a postsecondary institution must also meet the minimum admission requirements for freshmen.

* Please refer to https://www.uab.edu/admissions/apply/international for a complete list of current acceptable exams.

Student Visa

To obtain immigration documents for an F-1 or J-1 student visa, applicants must provide an affidavit of financial support; an original or certified copy of a bank statement confirming a balance sufficient to cover the first year’s tuition, fees, and living expenses; and a transfer clearance form if transferring from another school within the US.

To meet the requirements of the F-1 visa, international students must be enrolled full-time. Full-time students are defined as those earning a minimum of 12 semester hours of credit for two consecutive semesters.

International students who will not need an F-1 of J-1 visa because they hold a different immigration status within the US must email a copy of their USCIS Form I-797 approval notice for their current immigration and a copy of the biographical page of their valid passport to UAB's Office of International Student and Scholar Services, isss@uab.edu.

Health Insurance

All international students are required to register with the UAB Student Health Service and to carry a health and accident insurance policy approved by UAB Student Health Service. International students in J-1 status must carry a health insurance policy that meets the Department of State's regulatory coverage minimums.

Readmission of Former UAB Students

Former students who have not been enrolled in undergraduate courses at UAB for one academic year or more must apply for readmission. Former students are subject to the same conditions as newly-admitted students.

Former UAB students who are returning to continue their programs of study should consult with their academic advisor or department chair to determine whether curriculum or degree requirements have changed since their last enrollment.

Post-Baccalaureate Admission

Degree Seeking

Persons with a baccalaureate degree who wish to seek a second baccalaureate degree must apply by the published deadline and have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all undergraduate coursework attempted.

Non-Degree Seeking

Persons with a baccalaureate degree who wish to:

1. Meet prerequisites for advanced programs or
2. Satisfy requirements for professional certification

Must apply by the published deadline and submit an official transcript from the college or university from which the baccalaureate degree was earned.

Admission as a Non-Degree Student

Students who wish to enroll in undergraduate courses with no intent of pursuing a degree should apply by the published deadline to be considered as a non-degree seeking student (Temporary, Transient, and Non-Degree Post-Baccalaureate). The following restrictions apply to non-degree students:

1. Ineligible for financial aid or priority registration.
2. If a course is over-enrolled, non-degree students may be dropped in favor of degree-seeking students.
3. May not participate in intercollegiate sports.

Temporary

A prospective student seeking personal enrichment or career enhancement may be admitted as a Temporary student. Temporary students are limited to applying a maximum of 24 semester hours to a UAB degree program.

Applicants in this category must be at least 25 years of age unless enrolling in an approved certificate program. Students must provide a letter of good standing if they have attended another college or university within the last year.

Transient Students

Persons who want to transfer credit earned at UAB back to their home institution where they are enrolled as a full-time student may be admitted as Transient students.

Requirements: Applicants for Transient status must submit an official transcript or letter of good standing from the home institution. Enrollment as a Transient student is typically for one term, with a maximum of two consecutive semesters.

Change from Non-Degree to Degree Status

A student with a non-degree classification who wishes to change to a degree-seeking classification must reapply for admission by submitting an application for admission, application fee, and all required transcripts. To be admitted as a degree-seeking student, the individual must:

1. Meet the published application deadline and admission requirements.
2. Submit all documentation required for a degree-seeking applicant.

Concurrent Enrollment and Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit

UAB welcomes applications from exceptional high school students who wish to earn college credit while still enrolled in high school. Evidence must be presented that enrollment at UAB would enhance the student’s educational experience beyond that available in high school.

Requirements include:

1. Enrolled in 10th grade or higher.
2. A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0.
3. A letter of permission from a parent or guardian.
4. A letter of support from the high school counselor acknowledging the student’s appropriate preparation based on high school courses completed or in progress.
5. A one-page essay stating addressing motivation for taking courses at UAB (concurrent enrollment only).
6. An ACT or SAT score is recommended, but not required. 

Concurrent Enrollment

Students may apply for Concurrent Enrollment in order to take courses as a non-degree student at UAB, while concurrently enrolled in high school. This option may be appropriate for students whose high schools do not participate in the Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit program.

Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit

The Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit option is available only to those students whose high schools have a formal Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit agreement with UAB. Students may apply for dual enrollment/dual credit in order to take courses as a non-degree student at UAB while still completing high school and apply credit earned at UAB both toward college requirements and toward the high school diploma.

Individual courses taken by dual enrollment/dual credit must be pre-approved by the student’s high school. Prior to each term of enrollment under the dual enrollment/dual credit option, the student must submit a letter from the high school identifying the pre-approved course(s) to be taken for dual credit.

Admission as an Auditor

Applicants who wish to audit credit courses must follow standard admission procedures and meet minimum admission requirements.