Admissions

^{*This is required reading for international applicants*}

International applicants must review and sign an International Student Admissions Policy, indicating they understand and will abide by the following information. This is pertinent to prospective Master of Athletic Training students who received or are currently completing their bachelor's degree or equivalent at an accredited institution outside of the United States and who will have an F-1 visa status. Our policy and procedures are in accordance with University of Utah Graduate School International Student policies and federal guidelines. Please review these policies and procedures on the Office of Admissions website.

APPLY EARLY
International applicants are required to meet and follow the same admissions requirements and procedures as domestic applicants. It is important to submit your ATCAS application early (we recommend by January 1 at the latest) so we can properly review your prerequisite information. We may ask for additional information. 

If you are admitted to the MAT program, you will then apply to the Graduate School for formal admission to the university and to submit documentation for receiving an I-20. If you submit a Graduate School application after February, you risk leaving insufficient time for I-20 and F-1 visa processing. The MAT program and Graduate School cannot guarantee the processing time for receiving an F-1 visa once an I-20 is issued. As such, we reiterate the importance of applying as early as possible. 

COURSEWORK EVALUATION
For international students, we realize your degree or course types may be different compared to a United States institution. It will be the applicant’s responsibility to provide sufficient documentation (course outcomes, syllabus, etc.) that explains their international coursework intended to fulfill the prerequisite requirements. Official English translations must be provided if the transcripts are issued in the native language. All international student transcripts and documentation will be reviewed by a faculty committee to determine if the prerequisite course topics are met.

If the faculty committee determines some of the prerequisite courses are not met by your previous degree or coursework and you do not have access to complete them in your home country, you will be asked to complete those courses while at the University of Utah within the first two (2) semesters of the Master Athletic Training program. This will be permitted for up to three (3) prerequisite courses. If more than three (3) courses must be taken, you will not be eligible for admission to the Master of Athletic Training program. 

SUBMITTING FOREIGN COURSEWORK & TRANSCRIPTS
In the ‘Colleges Attended’ section in ATCAS, you will have the option to order an official evaluation for foreign transcripts. An official evaluation is not required for the ATCAS application. If you are offered admission and invited by the MAT program to apply to the Graduate School, the Office of Admissions will perform these evaluations. You are still welcome to order official evaluations through ATCAS if you would like to do so. Official evaluations take 2 – 3 weeks starting from the time ATCAS receives transcripts from the student’s institution.

After adding your foreign college or university, you will notice that ATCAS does not allow for transcript entry for foreign institutions. Under your ATCAS ‘Check Status’ section, it will indicate that transcripts from foreign institutions are ‘Not Required’. In place of ordering an official evaluation (again, you may still order if you wish), please email your foreign transcripts and supporting documentation directly to the Academic Program Manager, Jess Leighton, at jessica.leighton@utah.edu. Canadian schools that issue English transcripts are not considered foreign by ATCAS and you will be allowed to enter your transcript information and order official transcripts in ATCAS as normal.

MAINTAINING F1 STATUS
In the event you are admitted to the Master of Athletic Training program, you will experience unique advantages and challenges while maintaining F-1 status as an international student. In tandem with the support offered by our program and offices on campus, it ultimately falls to you, the student, to understand and comply with university, program, and federal policies. These policies include, but are not limited to: 

• Graduate School application documentation
• Proof of English proficiency (if applicable)
• I-20 certificate and F-1 visa requirements

The offices on campus best equipped to assist and guide admitted international students as they comply with these policies and meet all requirements are: 

• Office of Admissions
• International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) 

PROGRAM START DATE & FULL TIME ENROLLMENT
International students must maintain full-time enrollment in accordance with F-1 visa requirements. This will require international students to begin their studies early during the first half/block of summer semester, rather than the second half/block of summer semester in order to maintain an on-campus presence. For those applying to begin their program in 2027, the international student program start date is May 18, 2027. 

The MAT curriculum during the second half/block of summer semester does not provide full-time enrollment. As such, international students will be required to enroll in the full semester elective course PH TH 6040 offered by the Physical Therapy program in our department.

CLINICAL EDUCATION COMPLIANCE
Clinical assignments during the Master of Athletic Training program will comply with all international student employment guidelines. During the fall and spring semesters, international students may be placed for clinical assignments at sites located on the University of Utah campus or within the Salt Lake valley given it allows students to maintain an on campus presence. International students may be considered for out-of-state clinical assignments during the second half of their second summer semester. Clinical assignment opportunities for international students are outlined here:

• YEAR 1

  Summer: No clinical assignments are permitted

  Fall: On-campus (considered on-campus employment) and off-campus (considered CPT) assignments are permitted

  Spring: On-campus (considered on-campus employment) and off-campus (considered CPT) assignments are permitted

  Summer: On-campus (considered on-campus employment), off-campus (considered CPT), and out-of-state (during second half/block only, considered CPT) assignments are permitted

• YEAR 2

  Fall: On-campus (considered on-campus employment) and off-campus (considered CPT) assignments are permitted

  Spring: On-campus (considered on-campus employment) and off-campus (considered CPT) assignments are permitted