Admission

Admission Requirements
Applicants considered for admission to graduate studies at Webster University must hold an earned recognized baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution recognized by Webster University, and meet all program admission standards. Applicants who have a completed baccalaureate degree from a U.S. accredited institution must also satisfy any program requirements or requisites, including a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).
Students who completed their university education outside the U.S. must have earned a comparable recognized baccalaureate degree. Comparability and recognition are determined by Webster University; Webster will consider for graduate admission any student who has completed the necessary academic preparation for admission to accredited/recognized Master’s-level university programs in their native system of education, providing their academic preparation was at least three years in length. Such students will be considered for admission using the normal Webster University admission criteria, including any program requirements or requisites, and a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).
Each applicant must submit an official final transcript designating a degree and date of conferral from the degree-granting institution in order to complete the application file. Any transcripts not issued in English will require a certified English translation in addition to the official original language copy. The admission decision will be made only after all required documents are on file with the appropriate office at the University. Applicants for a sequential master of arts (MA) or sequential master of business administration (MBA) must submit both undergraduate and graduate transcripts at the time of application if their degree was issued from an institution other than Webster University. Issued-to-student copies are not acceptable.
Advancement to Candidacy

MA, MS, MSN, MBA, MHA, MFA, MPA, MM

Students are admitted to their graduate program upon completion of all admission requirements. Students are advanced to candidacy status after successfully completing 12 credit hours of graduate credit, with grades of B– or better. In the MBA program and other specialized programs, courses required as prerequisites to the program do not count toward the 12 credit hours required for advancement. A student who receives one F or two C’s before advancement is dismissed. Students admitted as “special status” into the School of Business and Technology and the College of Arts & Sciences are limited to taking one course per term. Such students who earn one grade of C or below before they are advanced to candidacy will be dismissed without further right to appeal for reinstatement. Exceptions for international students may apply.

Application for International Students and U.S. Citizens Living Abroad

Webster University welcomes applications for admission from students from all countries. Non-U.S. citizens, U.S. citizens applying from outside the U.S. and any student applying to a campus outside the United States should apply online at http://www.webster.edu/admissions as a “Global” or international student.

Application Requirements

• An International Application. Students should apply online at http://www.webster.edu/admissions, or complete the paper-based International Application. A non-refundable application fee of $50 is required. There is no application fee for the London or Thailand campuses.
• Official transcripts from the educational institution from which the student earned their first bachelors-level degree. For U.S. institutions, this means accreditation from a regional accrediting body. Non-U.S. institutions must be recognized by the Ministry of Education as a university-level provider of higher education and accredited by any appropriate agencies within the home country and any countries in which it operates and/or issues degrees. This transcript must show the degree received and the date conferred. Applicants previously enrolled in graduate-level coursework must submit official transcripts of that work.
  
  Graduate applicants who apply and are provisionally accepted before completing their undergraduate degree must submit a final transcript indicating the degree received and the date conferred. This official transcript must be on file for full acceptance to the University.
  
  To be considered official, transcripts must be received by Webster University directly from the issuing institution. If the student is to deliver transcripts, they must be in sealed, unopened envelopes and certified with the official seal of the issuing institution. All official transcripts and documents in a language other than English must be accompanied by a literal and certified English translation.
• Documentation of English Language Proficiency
  All applicants, regardless of program or enrollment location, whose primary language is not English must document their English language proficiency at the time of application. Applicants normally satisfy this requirement by submitting official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Academic IELTS scores that meet the requirements below:
  
  TOEFL
  Paper 575
  Computer 230
  IBT 89
  
  IELTS
  6.5
  
  Equivalent Cambridge, Oxford, NEAB, TEEP, and London Certificate tests results that are current can be considered in lieu of the TOEFL. Such scores must be approved by the ESL Coordinator through the International Recruitment & Services Office. Students who cannot document current evidence of English proficiency should contact the campus they wish to attend for on-campus testing options. Further, Webster reserves the right to administer additional proficiency tests to any applicant, accepted applicant, or enrolled student about whose English language proficiency the University has concerns. All English as a Second Language (ESL) recommendations and requirements are a condition of the applicant’s admission, enrollment, and/or continued enrollment at the University.
  
  Conditional Admission — Some students are academically acceptable to the University but have additional English language proficiency needs that the University believes can be met by taking English as a Second Language (ESL) courses through Webster University or another educational institution with whom the University has an articulation agreement. These students will be accepted on a conditional basis that acknowledges their need to document further work in English. Students admitted on a conditional basis must meet the University’s English language proficiency requirements listed above before they can be advanced to candidacy in the graduate program. If academically unsuccessful, conditional admission students may be dismissed, without right to seek reinstatement. Webster University will refer for testing any applicant for admission about whose English language proficiency an admissions officer has concerns. The English as a Second Language (ESL) recommendations will become a condition of the applicant’s admission.
  
  On-Campus Testing for English — Students admitted on conditional admission must sit for the University’s on-campus English language testing prior to registration. The results of this evaluation will enable the academic advisor to place the student in appropriate coursework. Options include intermediate and/or advanced English as a Second Language (ESL) courses only; ESL courses in combination with academic courses; or academic courses only. Webster University will refer for testing any student about whose English language proficiency an academic department, an individual faculty member, or an academic advisor has concerns. The English as a Second Language (ESL) recommendations will become part of the student’s graduation requirements.
• A 300- to 400-word essay on a topic of your choice. You may describe a special interest, experience, or achievement.
• A curriculum vitae (résumé) that documents prior employment and experience.
• Two letters of recommendation from teachers and/or employers.
• Additional official documentation may be required depending upon an applicant’s program of interest or previous educational background. Individuals will be contacted if such documentation is required to complete their application file.
• Students requiring a visa to study in the country in which their campus is located will be required to provide additional documentation for the visa process. Visa documentation requirements can vary at international campus locations depending upon the applicant’s citizenship status and/or country of origin at the time of acceptance to the University. Applicants should check with the campus they plan to attend for specifics. The University will notify applicants if additional documentation is required to complete the application file.

Application Submission

Applications should be submitted online at http://www.webster.edu/admissions whenever possible. Your application materials should be submitted to the Admissions Office at the campus you wish to attend. Campus addresses, phone, and fax numbers are listed under Locations, Degrees, and Majors.
Applications from abroad normally should be complete and on file at the University at least four to six months before the beginning of the initial entry term, as visa processing can delay your entry into the country in which the campus you plan to attend is located.
Completed applications for the St. Louis, Missouri, campus and the metropolitan U.S. campuses should be airmailed to:
Office of International Recruitment and International Services
Webster University
470 East Lockwood Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63119-3194
U.S.A.

Please direct any courier  packages (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.) to:
Webster University
40 North Rock Hill Road
Webster Groves, Missouri 63119-2242 USA
Attn: International Recruitment

English as a Second Language

Selected English as a Second Language (ESL) program courses are offered on the St. Louis campus and the international campuses in Vienna, Austria; Leiden, The Netherlands; Geneva, Switzerland; and Hua-Hin/Cha-am, Thailand. While intermediate and advanced level courses are normally offered, entry in a specific term is determined by available ESL offerings and the applicant’s current level of English language proficiency.
All ESL courses carry undergraduate credit. For graduate students, ESL courses are graded on a Credit (CR) or Fail (F) basis. These courses are transcripted on the graduate transcript but do not count toward graduate program degree requirements; however, the grades they earn in ESL courses are posted on their official University transcripts, are calculated in the cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA), and may impact the graduate student’s academic standing (all regular probation or dismissal policies apply to these courses).
Additional information on the University’s ESL courses is available in the University’s Undergraduate Catalog under the Department of International Languages and Cultures. Information on specific campus offerings is available from the Admission Office at the desired location.

The Admission Decision

The Admission Committee individually evaluates each applicant’s potential for academic success at Webster based on the following:

• Cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale
• Grades in the sequence of courses required for the undergraduate major
• Grades in graduate program prerequisite courses previously completed
• Achievement on examinations and tests
• English proficiency scores
• The essay, the recommendations, school/community achievements, and/or professional work experience also are considered in the admission decision. A decision regarding admission is made soon after the application file is complete.Add/Drop/Withdraw Procedures
• MAT, MA, MS, MSN, MBA, MHA, MFA, MM, MPA, D.Mgt., Ed.S.
• A student may add or drop a course by completion of an official Add or Drop Slip prior to the conclusion of the drop/add period. Informing the course instructor is not sufficient notice for adding or dropping a course. (Students may drop or add online.)
• A student may add a course within six calendar days of the first officially scheduled class meeting of the course section, except for the online MBA In these circumstances, absence from one class meeting is permitted.
• A student may drop a course within the first two weeks of the term. For more detailed information please refer to the Refunds section of the catalog. In these circumstances, the enrollment is not recorded, tuition charges are not incurred, and certification for veterans’ educational benefits is not filed.
• The drop or add procedures must be followed when a student changes from one section of a course to another section. A change from one section to another must occur during the drop/add period. Changing a section without following these procedures may result in no credit being awarded.
• A student may withdraw from a course by filing a Withdrawal Petition prior to the Friday of the sixth week of the term. A grade of W will be recorded on the transcript. Students should consult the Refunds section under Tuition, Fees, and Refunds for further information.
• If veterans’ educational benefits apply, the regional V.A. office will be notified of the date on which a student officially ceases attendance.

Academic Warning, Probation, and Dismissal
MA, MS, MBA, MHA, MFA, MM, MPA, D.Mgt.

Graduate students are expected to maintain a minimum B grade average to remain in good academic standing. The graduate student has a responsibility to demonstrate the ability to complete graduate-level coursework, including the ability to write clearly and succinctly. If the student receives grades of C, F, or ZF, the following conditions prevail:
Before Advancement to Candidacy (within first 12 credit hours of the program)

• Probation Before Advancement—A student who receives a C grade is on probation.
• Dismissal Before Advancement—A student who receives two C grades, an F, or a ZF is dismissed. A specialstatus student who receives one grade of C or below is dismissed, without further right to appeal for reinstatement.

After Advancement to Candidacy (after successfully completing first 12 credit hours of the program)

• Academic Warning—A student who has been advanced to candidacy and receives one grade of C is sent a notice of academic warning.
• Probation After Advancement—A student who receives one grade of F or ZF or two grades of C is placed on probation. The student is deemed to be on probation as soon as the grade which results in probation is submitted.

Students will receive formal written notice of probation by the Office of Academic Affairs in St. Louis. Students on probation are expected to limit their enrollment to one course (3 credit hours) per term.
Webster University employs academic advisors to assist in dealing with academic problems and student concerns. The student should make every effort to determine the circumstances that have led to inadequate performance. Students on academic probation should normally enroll in only one course per term. The academic advisor should be consulted when the academic performance of the student is inadequate.
Dismissal After Advancement—A student who receives a grade of C and a grade of F or ZF, or two grades of F or ZF, or three grades of C is automatically dismissed from the University. The student is deemed to be dismissed as soon as the grade which results in dismissal is submitted. Students will receive formal written notice from the Office of Academic Affairs in St. Louis. Students who are dismissed cannot enroll or attend classes unless and until they are reinstated or readmitted pursuant to relevant policies. Dismissal from a graduate program is dismissal from Webster University. The University also reserves the right to dismiss students who continuously withdraw from coursework and do not make satisfactory academic progress.
Students can also be dismissed from the program for violations of United States criminal codes.
Any conduct that is detrimental to the school and/or other students will result in the termination of educational benefits from the Veterans’ Administration.
Students should consult the Sequential Master of Arts and the Sequential Master of Business Administration sections under Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration for probation and dismissal policies for those degree programs.

Petition/Graduation Requirements

The student is responsible for completing degree requirements including, but not limited to, changes of grade, core course substitutions, program evaluation, and the petition to graduate, in accordance with the dates listed in the Academic Calendar. A student should complete a petition to graduate at the time of registration for his or her final term.
Prior to their degree completion, students are assigned a non-refundable graduation candidacy fee, which covers degree audit functions, diploma production, and future transcript requests.
 

Transcripts

A student request for an official transcript must be in writing and directed to the Office of the Registrar. The University will issue the official transcript only if the student's account is paid in full.
An unofficial copy of the transcript is sent to the student after completion of degree requirements. The University issues the unofficial transcript only if the student's account is paid in full.

Diploma

The University will issue the diploma to students who have completed all degree requirements if the student's account is paid in full. Diplomas are sent from the Office of the Registrar at the conclusion of each term.