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Apply

1. Who may apply for ELI enrollment?

Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
Non-resident applicants must apply for an F-1 visa. Individuals who come to the United States on B-1/B-2 visas may not study full-time.
Students already in the United States who have F-1 visas and are studying in another intensive English program may apply for Transfer by emailing eliFREEMississippi%20for the appropriate form.
Legal Permanent Residents in the United States and US citizens who are not native-English speakers are welcome to apply for enrollment.

2. Calendar

ELI has three semester-length terms per year. Each semester is approximately 15 calendar weeks long. New students are welcome at the beginning of each term.

Semester Dates

Fall	August 17 - November 24, 2020
Spring	January 19 - May 15, 2021
Summer	TBD

Application Deadlines

Fall	June 1
Spring	November 1
Summer	April 1

3. Costs

We estimate that the cost of living in Hattiesburg and cost of attendance at the ELI for one academic year (9 months) to be $21,500. This does not include travel to and from Hattiesburg, the fees associated with your F-1 visa application, personal/incidental expenses during the ELI term, or housing and food costs during semester breaks and vacation periods when dormitories and cafeteria are closed. Insurance, textbook, and fees must be paid during the first week of scheduled classes. All tuition and fee are due on Friday of the first week of class.

Estimated One-time fees*

$50.00	ELI Application Fee, nonrefundable, payable at the time of application
$80.00	Chest X-ray, administered at Southern Miss Clinic during Registration of your first term of enrollment; mandated by state law
$120.00	T-Spot blood test, administered at Southern Miss Clinic during Registration of your first term of enrollment; mandated by state law
$140.00	MMR injections (2 @ 70.00), administered at Southern Miss Clinic during your first term of enrollment; mandated by state law. This requirement can be waived if you submit documentation verifying 2 MMRs since your first birthday.

^{* These fees are covered by the mandatory Student Health Insurance for all students
on F-1 visas.}

Estimated Fees for each semester

$4,500.00	ELI Tuition
$500.00	Fees(Includes ELI, University, and Textbook fees)
$1000.00	Health Insurance
$75.00	Residence Life Application Processing Fee, nonrefundable, charged each semester to dormitory residents
$2300.00	Dormitory Charge
$2000.00	Unlimited Meal Plan, required of all dormitory residents
$20.00	Campus Post Office box rental, required of all dormitory residents

Note: Costs are subject to change without notice.

2020-2021 Tuition and Fees Deadlines

Fall	September 4
Spring	January 29
Summer	TBD

4. How can I apply?

Complete an ELI application online here.
Submit financial support documentation. If you are self-sponsored, then we need your most recent three months of monthly bank statements. If someone else is your financial sponsor (family member, friend…), then we need that person’s most recent three months of monthly bank statements. The statements must show a minimum amount of $21,500 on deposit and immediately available. In other words, the funds cannot be encumbered in a Certificate of Deposit, a Money Market Account, or a Savings Account with a future maturity date. The funds must be available for immediate withdrawal upon demand by the account-holder. These supporting documents will need to be uploaded to your online application.
If you want to live in a campus dormitory, please notify the ELI office for assistance in your application.
In addition to your online application, payment for the following will be due (if applicable):
- $50 ELI Application Fee (non-refundable)
- $100 ELI Fee Deposit (will be applied to your charges for your first term in ELI)
- $75 Residence Life Application Processing Fee (non-refundable; include this fee only if you are applying for a dormitory room assignment)

All fees may be paid online (https://commerce.cashnet.com/usmelio).

Upload a photocopy of your passport photo page to the online application.

5. When your application is received by the ELI....

When your application and supporting documents are received by the ELI, we will send an I-20 and instructions to help you apply for an F-1 visa at an American Consulate in your home country. Do not make travel plans until your visa application has been approved.

6. Can I transfer to the ELI from another intensive English program in the United States?

Yes, you can. Apply for Transfer by emailing eliFREEMississippi for the appropriate form. Complete the top portion and then take it to your immigration advisor at your current school. Your advisor must complete the bottom portion of the form and return it to the ELI.

You should also complete the ELI Application Form and other requirements listed above (“How can I apply?”). We will communicate with you to coordinate the transfer of your SEVIS record from your current school to the ELI.

7. Financial Aid

The English Language Institute is a self-supporting auxiliary department, and as such we do not offer scholarships or other financial aid. Here are links to online resources which offer recommendations on financing your U.S. studies:

Study USA Resources

Study Abroad Handbook