Terp Young Scholars

International Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be entering grades 10–12 or be a graduating high school senior
• Have an unweighted academic average of 3.0 or better (on a U.S. scale).
  • If extenuating circumstances have affected your GPA, you may still be considered by submitting a GPA Exception Appeal before applying.

International Applicants Requiring an F-1 visa and I-20

• International applicants requiring an F-1 visa and I-20s may only apply for the online option. The University does not issue I-20s for 100% online programs.
• The campus option is not open to students requiring an F-1 visa and I-20. The University will not issue the required documentation. There will be no refund of the non-refundable application fee.
• B visas are not permitted. See U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs – Visitor Visa.

Online Option

• The campus option is not available to students requiring an F-1 visa and I-20. International students requiring a visa must select the online option. There are no refunds of the application fee or program deposit if the wrong option is selected.
  • Note: The Terp Young Scholars program does not offer campus housing.

Academic Policies

See Grade, Credits, and Attendance Policy.

Application Fee and Program Deposit

• New Applicant: A non-refundable $80 application fee and non-refundable $280 program deposit are required. The program deposit will be credited toward a student’s total bill within one week of charges posting. The application fee and program deposit are not waived unless the applicant is a returning student.
  • The application fee and program deposit are non-refundable, except when Terp Young Scholars is unable to place a student in either their primary course choice or any alternate course selected on the application. In that circumstance, the application fee and program deposit will be refunded in full. No refund will be issued if the student withdraws or declines an offered placement in one of their selected courses.
• Returning students: You may request an application fee waiver code.
  • Contact program staff at tys@umd.edu, noting that you are a returning student. Staff will verify prior participation and provide a waiver code.
  • You must still submit an application as outlined below.
  • Students dismissed from the program in previous years are not eligible to return.

Required Information and Documentation (in PDF, JPG, or PNG format)

To complete the Terp Young Scholars application, prepare the following documents in PDF, JPG, or PNG format:

• Health insurance card (only required for students selecting a campus course)
• An English-language copy of the secondary school transcript or report card showing:
  • Courses currently in progress
  • Grades
  • Cumulative GPA for all completed coursework
• Citizenship documentation
  • International Applicants Residing in the U.S. with a Visa Permitting Study must submit:
    1. A copy of the student’s passport (all pages)
    2. U.S. Visa
    3. I-94 card
    4. I-20/DS-2019 (all pages)
    5. A statement from the sponsor/institution granting permission to enroll in Terp Young Scholars
  • Permanent Residents must submit a copy of the student’s permanent residency card.
  • Proof of English proficiency (through TOEFL, IELTS, or DET scores)
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Required overall minimum score of 95. For UMD to receive the scores, use the reporting code 5814.
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Required minimum band score of 7 in each section. For UMD to receive the scores, use the reporting code 5814.
    • Duolingo English Test (DET): Required passing score of 120.
    • Students from English-speaking countries or who attend a U.S. high school should upload a letter attesting to such in this application field.
• Electronic payment method (credit/debit card)
  • Submit the fee and program deposit with the application.

Need Assistance?

Information is posted on the TerpEngage webpage.

Notification

• Applications are reviewed, and admission offers are made on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Reminder notices regarding missing items are sent to the email address provided on the application. Check your spam folder regularly.
• To inquire about the status of your application, contact program staff at tys@umd.edu.