Hillsborough Community College

Hillsborough Community College (HCC) is located in the vibrant waterfront city of Tampa, Florida, and surrounding Hillsborough County. Known for its year-round sunshine, the Tampa Bay region is home to some of the best beaches in the world, a vibrant cultural scene, sports of all kinds, and excellent higher education opportunities.

HCC is not a typical community college – it offers a variety of features that help to elevate the student experience. These include an Honors Program, an extensive selection of associate degree options, a Center for International Education which offers dedicated services to students arriving from abroad, and more.

The college helps students seamlessly transfer to four-year universities. If a student wants to attend a selective four-year college, a liberal arts institution, a nationally ranked university, or an Ivy League school, HCC helps them get there.

Unlike most community colleges, HCC offers on-campus student housing. Hawks Landing student apartments offer luxury student housing, located on the college's largest campus. In addition, all of HCC's five campuses are located close to a range of amenities, making for an ideal student experience.

HCC has over 2,200 faculty and staff. Teachers and support staff are dedicated to helping students reach their goals. International students learn in small classes where there's an average student-to-faculty ratio of 21:1. This small-class size is perhaps the best feature of HCC, providing students with unparalleled opportunities to engage and learn.

At HCC, professors are focused on teaching and knowing each of their students as individuals. Students have frequent opportunities to engage and contribute in the classroom. Faculty also offer on-campus and online office hours, allowing students flexibility in communicating with their professors.

HCC Honors Program

The Dr. Lydia R. Daniel Honors Program at HCC is designed to promote a rigorous academic program for exceptionally talented and motivated students, all at no extra cost. Honors classes are limited to 15 students and allow students the optimal opportunity to connect with their professors and classmates. Honors faculty are carefully selected to teach these courses. Many of the college's programs are among the best in the state and all are fully accredited.

The Honors Program also provides a dedicated advising staff for students in the program. These advisors can help students register for Honors classes and help them craft a competitive application to an elite transfer university.

Students who currently reside outside of the United States and are applying for a new, initial F-1 student visa, should complete the international student application. A full list of F-1 Admissions Requirements can be found within the application and on the Center for International Education (CIE)website.

Proof of Financial Support

Applicants must submit a current financial document/bank letter to prove financial support. This document must be in English, on official institution letterhead and bear the applicant's or the sponsor's name. It must show at least USD 25,274 USD for one year of study at HCC.

Transcripts

Applicants need to submit proof of one of the following:

• High school equivalency certificate (GED)
• Associate or higher degree
• Standard high school diploma

Some students who have graduated from a high school outside of the United States require transcripts, graduation certificates and/or exam results to be evaluated by an NACES-approved agency to prove equivalency with a U.S. high school diploma (certified translation required if transcripts are not in English).

Otherwise, for a list of countries which are exempt from the secondary school transcript evaluation requirement, see international secondary school requirements for admission.

If an applicant has attended a university or college outside of the United States, they are required to submit a course-by-course evaluation and translation (if not in English) by the application deadline.

English Proficiency

International (F-1 visa) students whose native language is not English and whose country of citizenship is not on the English proficiency waiver list must demonstrate English language competency to gain admission to the college.

There are many ways to fulfill the English language requirement, including a minimum TOEFL score of 61 (iBT), or a minimum band score of 5.5 on the IELTS test, or a 95+ on the Duolingo English Test.

Affordable option

HCC has one of the lowest tuition rates in the United States. Programs at HCC allow international students to earn an associate degree without incurring additional expenses associated with universities. They can then transfer to a four-year institution and complete their bachelor's degree. This is a much more cost-effective option than paying for a four-year college or university degree.

International scholarships

International students are unable to receive needs-based and state financial aid. However, the college has some funding in place to support eligible students. Most of these scholarships are awarded once students are enrolled at HCC. Available scholarships include:

• HCC Honors Program – various scholarships for exceptional students
• HCC Foundation Scholarships – international students can apply for an award that recognizes academic excellence.
• Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society – scholarships are available to reward academic performance.
• Study Florida International Student Scholarship – USD 2,000 annual awards are available for eligible international students.

Tuition fee waivers

International students on an F 1 visa may also be eligible for a tuition waiver through the Florida Linkage Institutes, depending on their country of origin.

Each institute has its own application process, deadline, and criteria for selecting students for these awards. Students may apply each semester for a tuition waiver until they graduate.

This includes students from Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean, China, Costa Rica, Eastern Europe, France, Israel, Japan, Mexico, and West Africa.

HCC has five campuses in Tampa Bay:

• Dale Mabry Campus: HCC's flagship campus, offering nearly all programs. Specializing in nursing and health sciences, computer science, culinary arts, and more. The student housing and international office are both located on this campus.
• Brandon Campus: for areas such as engineering technology, aquaculture, and biotechnology.
• Ybor City Campus: Embracing the rich artistic scene, this campus has robust performing and visual arts programs, complemented by art galleries, stage theatres and labs for traditional and graphic arts.
• Plant City Campus: This campus is home to many scenic nature trails and respected programs like agriculture, environmental science, and veterinary technology.
• Southshore Campus: With a proud focus on sustainability, this campus also covers programs such as business, education, nursing, and emergency medical services.

Campus life is very vibrant at HCC, and students can enjoy a wide variety of programs and activities. These include modern classrooms and technologies, dining options, bookstores, arts spaces, breakout rooms, and sports facilities. There are many clubs and groups that students can join on each campus, to ensure they lead an active student life during their time at HCC.

Accommodation

HCC offers on-campus housing at Hawks Landing student apartments, located on the Dale Mabry Campus. Residences offer affordable living with all-inclusive costs in an ideal location, with an enjoyable and fun atmosphere.

In each apartment, every student has their own private bedroom and en-suite private bathroom.

The shared living spaces include a fully equipped kitchen and washing and drying machines. Both internet and utilities are included in the monthly rent. Hawks Landing provides student Resident Assistants to enhance students' quality of life, and there are 24-hour security services.

Center for International Education (CIE)

The Center for International Education (CIE) is HCC's dedicated international office, where all global initiatives are managed. CIE supports international students all the way from admission to graduation, helping every step of the way. When students arrive at HCC, they will attend an orientation where they meet CIE advisors. They learn about immigration, visas, course registration, health insurance, and other matters. This helps to make their U.S. student experience as smooth as possible.

CIE is considered a "one-stop-shop" for international students. Rather than having to attend different areas to get help with admissions, immigration, academic issues and more, students can get all the answers they need in one location, making it much easier to tackle any problems in one go.

College services

Other college support services include:

• Academic success centers (tutoring, writing center)
• Libraries
• Counseling office
• Career resource centers
• Student disability services
• Student government association
• International student ambassadors club

HCC is an exciting college that is constantly developing and offering thrilling engagement opportunities to its students. Prospective students are advised to take a look at the college's website to read about how students represent the college in national awards, sporting events, and more.

Allied Health Building

Opened in fall 2019, the brand-new Kiran and Pallavai Patel Allied Health Building is a state-of-the-art, teaching and learning facility for the health sciences programs. The four-story building houses HCC's programs in nursing, respiratory care, radiology, emergency medical services, medical laboratory science, and others. The facility features the latest technology for hands-on learning, including life-like patients and a realistic emergency room wing.

Course Expansion

The selection of study programs available at HCC is always expanding as the college explores new options for providing top-tier education. The most recent addition is a massage therapy certification, which will be offered to students at the Brandon Campus from August 2023.