English Language Institute Admissions

Admission Requirements

If you have any questions about the ELI application, please email eli.office@galladuet.edu. Please note that admission to the ELI does not constitute admission to the undergraduate or graduate programs at Gallaudet University.

Scores on the ACT, SAT, TOEFL, or any other standardized examination are NOT required for admission to the ELI. All ELI applicants will undergo an in-house screening set of tests for admission. During ELI Student Orientation, students take placement exams that are used to gauge proficiency levels and place students into appropriate class levels. Admission criteria are listed below.

• Both international and domestic applicants can be admitted.
• Has finished high school, college, or the highest secondary schooling possible in their home country. Transcripts should include some form of separate writing class and reading class, mathematics, history, science, and geography classes. These classes represent a liberal arts education. Grades must be at or above the passing or satisfactory rating.
• Deaf or hard of hearing applicants are eligible for admission. Hearing people who plan to major in deaf-related fields or hearing professionals who work with deaf or hard of hearing clients are eligible.
• Age 18 or older

Readmission Requirements

If the applicant for readmission has been absent from the ELI program for more than one year, then the applicant needs to show evidence of academic activity that occurred during the absence in order to qualify for readmission. An applicant can request an exception to this requirement if a letter explaining the reason(s) for the absence is submitted with the application.

Obtaining a Visa – For International Applicants Only

Website: International Student Services

You must have a valid F-1 or J-1 student visa before you can begin studies at the ELI. Gallaudet University is authorized to issue form I-20 and DS-2019 for academically and financially qualified applicants. Persons who hold B-1/B-2 visitor visas may not enter the ELI or register for courses. In order to obtain a visa, you must first submit all required admission documents and forms in the ELI application process. After the ELI has determined that you meet all requirements including financial ability to pay for your studies in the U.S., Gallaudet University will send you an I-20 or a DS-2019 form. You will then use this form to make an appointment with the U.S. embassy in your home country, and take the form together with copies of your admission and financial documents to the American embassy or consulate to request an F-1 or J-1 visa.

What to Expect

The ELI provides screening tests geared toward placing qualified ELI prospects in English Levels IV-VI. The screening tests serve the ELI administration as a guide to determining whether to admit the prospect to the ELI and how long a student may stay at the ELI.

There are four steps to the ELI application process:

• First Step: Academic Qualifications
• Second Step: Screening Tests and Interview
• Third Step: Financial Qualifications
• Fourth Step: ELI Admission

To meet the admissions criteria during the screening process, the following scores need to be achieved by the ELI prospect:

• 70% or better score on the Matrices, which assess learning capabilities and visual logic
• 70% or better score on the English Writing Test (EWT), which assesses writing, logic flow, grammar, and reading comprehension skills
• 70% or better score on the Sign Language Interview, which assesses basic American Sign Language skills

Only qualified applicants who passed the screening tests for Levels IV to VI can proceed to Step 3 – Financial Qualifications.

The screening results are for those who are qualified for levels IV to VI admissions only.
The ELI also provides qualifying tests to determine if an ELI student is ready to enter university studies. The duration of stay at the ELI program is highly individual and depends on prior existing language skills in both English and in the mother tongue. It is possible an ELI student may stay for only one semester or for up to three and half years. Students entering our program with high intermediate language proficiency tend to qualify for admission to university study more quickly than those with limited language proficiency.

Deadlines

Website: Applications and Forms 

             ONLINE APPLICATION

International and domestic ELI applicants have different deadlines due to Homeland Security requirements for international applicants. In addition, the international deadline also takes into consideration that new international students need more time to apply for an F1 or J1 visa at their American embassy or consulate. Most visa applications need about two months to be processed and granted. Only after the new international student has been granted a visa can the flight ticket be purchased.  There is no time-saving measure that can be done to make this international process go quicker.

ELI Application Deadlines for International Applicants

Fall Semester: If you plan to enter the ELI program in the fall semester, we must receive all required application documents by May 30.

Spring Semester: To enter in the spring semester, we must receive all required application documents by October 30.

ELI Application Deadlines for Domestic Applicants

Fall Semester: If you plan to enter the ELI program in the fall semester, we must receive all required application documents by July 15.

Spring Semester: To enter in the spring semester, we must receive all required application documents by December 15.