How to apply · ELA
Applying to the ELA: pick the right route first, documents second
The ELA has three routes and each one asks for a different set of documents. Choosing wrong at step one means assembling the file twice — so this page starts by working out which one you are.
Enter agent code VNI on your application — five seconds, and the most valuable thing you will do on the form
The International Application has a field for an agent code. Enter VNI. It tells the admissions office that your application came through Arkansas State University’s Vietnam Office, and it is what puts the two things below on your file.
The tuition schedule published for students from Vietnam
A-State publishes a separate cost schedule for students from Vietnam. ELA tuition itself is $4,400 for a full semester at 12 hours a week; the larger difference appears once you move into the degree that follows. Ask the office for the figure that applies to your route. This schedule is published for students from Vietnam; the agent code identifies your file, it is not a discount code anyone can type.
Free support across the whole application
The office stays with your file from submission to enrolment: identifying the right ELA route, reviewing documents before they are sent, dealing with admissions when something is missing, tracking the I-20, and guiding you through the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 and the visa interview. No service fee.
Enter it while you are completing the application — that is the reliable moment. If you have already submitted without it, contact the Vietnam Office straight away: adding it later means admissions has to amend your record, and it gets harder the longer it is left.
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ELA routes — pick the right one first
VNI
The agent code to enter on the form
80% / 90%
ELA completion replacing a test — UG / graduate
$50
Application fee, non-refundable
Ten steps to an ELA application
Step one decides the other nine — do not skip it.
- 1
Work out which route you are on
A-State splits the ELA into three routes, and each asks for different documents.
- ESL-only: English study with no degree to follow. No minimum GPA is currently set.
- ESL + undergraduate: English first, then straight into a bachelor’s degree. Freshman applicants need a 2.3/4.0 minimum on school records; transfer or post-degree applicants need 2.0/4.0 on post-secondary records.
- ESL + graduate: for applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree and will move into a master’s or doctorate. The minimum GPA is set by the individual department.
- 2
Complete the International Application
Use the form for international students and select the ELA route you identified in step one.
- Choose the right form: International Application.
- Enter agent code: VNI — the Vietnam Office’s code.
- The name on the form must match your passport exactly.
- 3
Pay the application fee
The international application fee is $50 and is non-refundable. Pay it alongside the application so the file is not left waiting.
- 4
Submit academic documents for the degree you are heading towards
What you send depends on the route, not on the fact that you are studying English.
- ESL-only or ESL + undergraduate: school leaving certificate and school transcript, with English translations where needed.
- ESL + graduate: your bachelor’s degree certificate and university transcript, not school records.
- If you are admitted on scans, bring official copies so course registration is not held up.
- 5
Provide financial evidence
The university must see that you can fund your studies before it issues an I-20 — without this there is no visa.
- A bank statement or savings confirmation in English from a bank or financial institution.
- If someone is sponsoring you, add a Financial Support Letter.
- The balance should cover tuition and living costs for the term you plan to start.
- 6
Submit a copy of your passport
- A clear scan of the photo page, with the passport still valid.
- The details must match the name used on your application.
- 7
Prepare your MMR records
This requirement is flexible, but the paperwork has to be in the right form.
- A-State asks for two MMR doses where you have vaccination records.
- If you have records, send them before you travel; they should be in English and show your name, the vaccine, the date and a doctor’s signature.
- If you do not have them, you can still apply and complete it after arrival.
- Either way, every international student takes a TB test on arrival.
- 8
Already in the US: complete the transfer paperwork
If you are studying at another US institution and moving to A-State through the ELA, complete the international transfer forms as well.
- 9
Check what comes after the ELA
Finishing the ELA is one thing; using it in place of a test score requires a specific level.
- To replace an English test for undergraduate entry: complete A-State’s ESL programme at 80% or above.
- For graduate entry: 90% or above.
- On the ELA + graduate route, check separately whether your intended programme allows conditional admission through the ELA — not all of them do.
- 10
Send everything and track the file
- Watch your email — the university contacts applicants by email, not by phone.
- If admissions asks for anything further, send it immediately and follow the latest instructions.
- Want it explained in Vietnamese: contact the Vietnam Office, at no charge.
The four things that delay ELA files
- Choosing the wrong route at step one and sending the wrong documents
- Vaccination records without a doctor’s signature, or not in English
- ELA + graduate where the programme does not accept conditional admission
- Finishing the ELA below the threshold and still needing a test score
The ELA completion level that replaces an English test
| Degree level that follows | ELA completion required |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 80% or above |
| Graduate | 90% or above |
These are the levels the university publishes in its English proficiency table, alongside TOEFL and IELTS. Reach the threshold and you move straight into your degree with no test to sit.
Source: astate.edu — Learn English at A-State · astate.edu — International Student Admission (English Proficiency) · astate.edu — Tuition & Fees (International) · Updated Aug 22, 2026
ELA application questions
Which application form do I use for the ELA?
The International Application, selecting the ELA route that matches your situation: ESL-only, ESL + undergraduate, or ESL + graduate.
Is there a minimum GPA for ESL-only?
Under the programme’s current admission information, ESL-only applicants have no minimum GPA. The routes attached to a degree do.
What GPA does ESL + undergraduate need?
The stated minimum is 2.3/4.0 on school records for freshman applicants. Transfer or post-degree applicants need 2.0/4.0 on post-secondary records.
Can I apply without complete MMR records?
Yes. You can apply and complete the requirement after arrival. If you do have vaccination records, send them before travelling. Either way, every international student takes a TB test on arrival.
Does finishing the ELA replace IELTS or TOEFL?
Yes. A-State lists “completion of A-State’s ESL Program” in its English proficiency table alongside TOEFL and IELTS — at 80% or above for undergraduate entry and 90% or above for graduate entry.
What does the ELA cost per semester?
A full autumn or spring semester at 12 hours a week is $4,400 in tuition. A mid-term late start at 6 hours a week is $2,500. Fees, housing, food and insurance come on top — see the ELA programme page for the full figure.
You are reading the ELA guide
Applying to something else? Pick the right route below.
English Language Academy
The page you are reading.
Undergraduate
Freshman and transfer applicants: a different checklist, and postal addresses for documents.
→Graduate
Master’s and doctoral study: transcripts sent directly by your university, and a higher financial threshold.
→Not sure which route you are on?
The Vietnam Office works out whether you are ESL-only, ESL + undergraduate or ESL + graduate, runs the matching checklist and reviews your documents before anything is sent — at no charge.