English Language Institute

The non-refundable fee is $125 USD. The fee can be paid by money order, check or online with a credit card. The non-refundable application fee for the spouse, sibling, parent, or child of a current UF student is $50.

The fastest, easiest way is to apply online.

Go to your current international student advisor and request to transfer. Your advisor will obtain the correct form from our office. You must submit the required documents (see “What is required to apply?”). The ELI will contact your advisor to confirm the transfer date. We will mail an acceptance letter and acceptance packet to the address you provide. You may pick up your new I-20 at the ELI office when you arrive for the new semester.

Please see application requirements.

You do not need to have your diploma or transcripts translated or evaluated for admission to UF ELI. However, you must have this done for the University of Florida, Santa Fe College, or any other college or university in the United States.

Three to five business days after receiving all the required documents we will upload your letter of acceptance and I-20 to your myELI account.

Make an appointment with the US Embassy or Consulate nearest you. Make sure you take a copy of every document you have sent us regarding your admissions. If you are applying for an F-1 visa, be sure to have a receipt for payment of the SEVIS fee.

If you need more information about obtaining a visa from the United States, the EducationUSA and Department of State sites might be useful.

The ELI does not offer scholarships or financial aid for incoming students. We do offer scholarships for students already enrolled. Please see our Scholarships page for more information.

We accept a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) online or in person. We also accept traveler’s checks and money orders. We do not accept cash or personal checks.

The ELI does not provide airport transportation. Please check with your hotel for shuttle service from the Gainesville (GNV) airport. A bus is available from the Gainesville airport to UF campus (RTS website). Google “Taxis Gainesville FL” to get a list of available companies. Uber and Lyft are also widely available in Gainesville.

If you arrive early, especially during a holiday, the office will be closed and Gainesville will be very quiet! You must find your own hotel, and be sure to ask if they have a University of Florida rate. If you know when you will be arriving, please call our office. We can help you find a good hotel.

Here is a list of nearby Gainesville hotels that offer airport shuttle service from GNV: Best Western Gateway Grand and Comfort Suites Gainesville Near University

This is the university hotel located on campus (does not offer shuttle service): Reitz Union Hotel 

Please note that ELI students are not eligible for residence hall accommodations on campus (dormitories), and homestays are not common in Gainesville. The ELI does not arrange housing for ELI students directly. You can find more information on our housing page.

Orientation week is a busy time. You will attend Welcome & Registration to sign enrollment documents, and Cultural, Health, and Academic Seminars. At these Seminars, you will receive information about the UF campus and life in Gainesville, insurance and health issues, transportation, shopping and entertainment. You will also take a placement exam, receive your class schedule, and meet your teachers and classmates.

ELI tuition does not include required health insurance. You must purchase it separately. All students are required to show proof of health insurance coverage for the entire term (NOT month-by-month). You will not be allowed to attend classes without it. You can find more details about insurance and suggested plans on our Immunizations and Insurance page.

No. UF is a tobacco-free campus, so if you smoke or vape, you must leave campus to do so. UF has resources to help students quit smoking. You can find more information about those resources here.

All students must have access to a laptop or PC with a webcam and reliable internet service. We also recommend you have a quiet and appropriate workspace to study. If you purchase a laptop, UF has free Eduroam wireless internet all over campus for students. Also, you can find a map indicating all the eduroam sites in the U.S. You can log on an eduroam site with your Gatorlink account and be connected, just as you would if you are on the UF campus. As an ELI student you will also have access to all UF computer labs and libraries. Printing in the labs is available for a small fee. UF requires multi-factor authentication to access its infrastructure. Please contact Christine Voigt if you need assistance.

More information can also be found at https://it.clas.ufl.edu/policies/student-computer-requirement/.

Please see Calendar & Fees for dates, tuition, and other fees.

You may start in January (Spring C), March (Spring B), May (Summer C), July (Summer B), August (Fall C) or October (Fall B).

Spring C (January – April) and Fall C (August – December) are 14-week semesters.  Summer C (May – August) is 12 weeks.

Spring B (March – April), Summer B (July – August) and Fall B (October – December) are 7 week-semesters.

During Orientation Week you will take a placement exam. You will be tested on listening, grammar, and writing. You will be placed in the appropriate level for each skill.

Full-time students must take 23 hours of class at the ELI. You will take Grammar (5 hours a week), Listening/Speaking (8 hours a week), Reading/Writing (10 hours a week). You may also take additional elective classes like Pronunciation, Business English, Grammar for Writing, TOEFL and IELTS depending on your level and when enrollment allows.

If you experience learning barriers due to a disability, please contact Christine Voigt as soon as you can. She will help you talk to the UF Disabilities Resource Center about accommodations. You will need to do this every semester you attend the ELI. Please email Christine Voigt at christinevoigt@ufl.edu or visit her in Matherly 225F for more information.

Sometimes. These courses are electives offered each semester when enrollment allows. The IELTS and TOEFL courses are usually offered from 7:30 to 8:30am or from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

Afternoon and weekend activities are provided by the Cultural Immersion Program (CIP). Typical afternoon activities are sports, conversation over coffee, and visits to local events. Weekend trips include kayaking, canoeing and swimming in Florida’s beautiful springs, picnics and barbeques, theme parks, and trips to beautiful beaches! Another popular activity is Volunteer Day. ELI students can participate in volunteering activities in the Gainesville community. The CIP also arranges for students to have one-on-one conversation partners. Follow the CIP on Instagram @UFLELI.

Yes, all activities are covered in your tuition. However, entrance fees (fairs, theme parks, etc.), some transportation fees, food, and souvenirs are not included.

You may attend UF after the ELI. However, admission to the ELI is NOT the same as admission to UF. You will not receive credit for the courses at the ELI. Please see UF Admissions for all admission requirements to the University of Florida.

Santa Fe College will waive the TOEFL requirement for students who reach the advanced levels at the ELI. Graduating with an A.S. or A.A. degree from Santa Fe College or other Florida community colleges guarantees admission to a public university in Florida. Please see SFC Admissions for more information about admission requirements to Santa Fe College.

Typically for undergraduate courses, UF does not accept international students conditionally. Conditional admission is available on a departmental basis to the UF Graduate School. Students who exit the ELI do not have to submit English test scores to the Graduate School. Please see UF Graduate School for a list of UF departments which offer graduate degrees.

For undergraduate students, UF requires a combined score of at least 950 on the critical reading and mathematical reasoning sections of the SAT with a minimum score of 440 on each. On the ACT with writing test, a composite score of 19 is required with a minimum of 17 on the English subsection, a minimum of 19 on the math subsection and a minimum of 18 on the reading subsection.  [Average scores for UF Freshman: High School GPA 4.0 – 4.4 (on a 4.0 scale), SAT 1210-1400, and ACT 26-31.] For more information, click here.

For graduate students, a TOEFL score of 550 (computer-based), or 80 iBT.  For all other graduate test score requirements (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.) students must contact the department directly. Successful completion of the ELI may be substituted for UF’s TOEFL requirement on a departmental basis. For more information, click here.

UF offers limited financial assistance for international undergraduates. Graduate departments may offer fellowships or scholarships, but you must contact the department directly to get specific information.