University of Tampa

University of Tampa (UT) is a comprehensive, independent institution home to 1,400 international students from 140 countries. UT is among the top American colleges as per Forbes' 2018 annual rankings. UT has also been named one of the 30 most beautiful coastal college campuses in the USA (Best Value Schools).

The university has a four-college model, with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. The Sykes College of Business is AACSB accredited and well known for its graduate programs. It was also ranked as one of the ‘Best Graduate Business Schools' in 2018 for three years in a row by Bloomberg Businessweek.

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, UT has over 200 areas of study available for students. The university is considered as one of the best in the nation for undergraduate studies according to the Princeton Review. It is also in the top tier of Best Regional Universities (U.S. News & World Report 2018).

Library facilities at UT are wide-ranging, housing over 275,000 books and 65,100 periodicals. A dynamic educational institution, the university continually upgrades its facilities. It has already made an investment of nearly USD 600 million in constructing major campus facilities.

The University of Tampa offers academic support to students through its ‘Academic Success Centre'. Several scholarships and grants are also available for students who pursue undergraduate studies at UT. About 92% of students avail the university's financial aid worth USD 72 million.

The Tampa Bay area is a commercial hotspot, with major centers of communications, business, health care and entertainment. It has a population of 2.7 million, and is known for its proximity to well-known theme parks, arts and media centers, sports facilities and the beach!

Educational excellence

The University of Tampa has strived to provide students with exceptional learning experiences in a global context since 1931. It works to support the development and success of every student by offering high-quality teaching. This is achieved by recruitment and promotion of top-class faculty with the highest credentials and standards possible.

Student-focused learning

UT's distinguished faculty features celebrated scholars, teachers and authors from around the globe, with 90% holding either a PhD or the highest possible degree in their field. UT professors keep their students at the center of their work, whether primarily teaching postgraduate courses or travelling abroad to present research. There is an emphasis placed on experiential education and striving to actively engage students in learning opportunities such as studying abroad, internship and their own research. Class sizes are also kept small, with an average size of just 21 students, to allow for individual attention from faculty.

The University of Tampa welcomes international applicants, but students must meet and provide the following admissions requirements.

• Completed application
• USD 40 non-refundable application fee
• Official transcripts of all secondary school coursework and previously attended colleges or universities (with certified English translation)
• Graduate Management Admissions Test score report (GMAT) or GRE score (for postgraduate level)
• Proof of English language proficiency (more details below)
• Personal statement written in English
• CV (for postgraduate level)
• One recommendation for undergraduate students and two for postgraduate students
• Financial Certification Form for international students
• Bank statement/proof of funds.
• Copy of biographical page of the passport (if available)

English Language proficiency must be proved by one of the following scores for international applicants:

• TOEFL score of at least 550 or 213 (computer based) or 79 (internet based).
• IELTS minimum grade of 6.5.
• Successfully complete English 112 certificate offered by ELS Language Centers, plus accompanied letter of recommendation and 500-word English writing sample.

Several ESL programs are also available for international students who meet admission requirements but need additional English language training before starting full-time degree study.

Financial aid is available to international students in a variety of forms, including various scholarships and assistantships.

UT scholarships

Partial academic scholarships up to the value of USD 11,000 per academic year are awarded qualified undergraduate international students. They are awarded to those with exceptional grades, SAT and TOEFL scores and the award amount is dependent on the level of achievement.

Graduate assistantships

Selected postgraduate students may be eligible to achieve graduate assistantships, providing a tuition waiver for up to 12 credit hours per semester as well as a USD 1,500 stipend. Graduate assistants work for an academic or administrative office for 20 hours per week whilst also carrying a full course load of at least eight credit hours and maintaining an overall GPA of 3.25. The award of assistantships is by invitation only, with many types of financial assistance available for specific individual programs.

The specialized UT Office of Career Services aims to act as a bridge between the college and graduate experience to help students achieve successful outcomes. Students are helped and encouraged to explore their career options from their first year at UT, giving them a head start in the process.

Students can take advantage of assistance on all matters from interview skills to CV and cover letter writing. For international students, they are experienced with identifying companies with experience of sponsoring F1 visas.

The Career Services Center also hosts job and internship fairs on campus to bring potential future employers directly to students and help them in their job search. Over 200 companies regularly participate in these events, and successful guest speakers are regularly hosted at the university to share helpful career insights.

With the reputation of research at UT held in such high regard, and with the help of careers services, UT students can make their applications stand out. This is reflected by recent alumni working for major companies or going on to enroll at leading graduate schools elsewhere across the USA.

University of Tampa has undergone massive campus investments in recent years, and these are continuing into 2019. Two new high-tech buildings are set to be completed in Spring 2019, supporting UT students with top quality learning facilities.

Fab Lab

The Fab Lab will host one of the most forward-thinking visual arts programs in the U.S., offering innovation and creativite space for student and faculty inventors. The digital fabrication lab will be focused on entrepreneurs, providing a collaborative maker-space to produce prototypes and products. Laser cutters, 3D printers, computer numerical control routers, large format printers and the latest computer technology will be featured for students and faculty to use in the building. It also includes a state-of-the-art photo studio and dark room, plus a reimagined printmaking studio.

Riverside Centre

The original building will be transformed from a single-story to two-storey building with modern renovations. The project will house the expansion of career services, classrooms and modern conference spaces and new faculty offices to keep pace with additional hires of high-quality staff members. The new space will support the infrastructure of UT and provide valuable services and space for students across the university.

The Four-College Model operates as UT's academic structure, helping it to retain a small-school feel despite rapid growth. Each of the four individual colleges is headed by its own dean, reporting to the wider university bosses on academic affairs.

The four colleges at the University of Tampa are:

• College of Arts and Letters
• Sykes College of Business
• College of Natural and Health Sciences
• College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education

Each academic area is allowed the freedom to establish an individual sense of identity and encourage support of the scholarly community by students and faculty. There is also a greater level of transparency via this model, which encourages external community connections to aid the creation of new and innovative programs.

UT offers a varied and creative range of study options to give students access to some fantastic learning experiences across the four well-regarded colleges.