Congratulations on your Conditional Admission to the University of Arizona and your admission to the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) at the University of Arizona!
You will begin your studies in our University Track pathway program, which will include six academic general education credits and advanced ESL courses, in Fall 2026. If you successfully complete this program, you will receive our endorsement and begin your full studies at the University of Arizona in January, 2027. You will be immersed in U.S. academic life and benefit from studying with CESL's award-winning faculty and thoughtfully designed program which prepares students for university study.
Important Dates and Deadlines
| Acceptance Form Completion (required to issue I-20) | May 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Confirmation | June 1, 2026 |
| Report Date | August 18, 2026 |
| Session Duration | August 24 - December 11, 2026 |
Acceptance Process
You have been conditionally admitted to the University of Arizona dependent upon completing the CESL University Track Program over the Fall semester.
- Complete your acceptance documentation by following the link in your acceptance email, please have the following prepared before you begin as these are needed for immigration processing:
- Copy of your Passport photo page or proof of US Citizenship
- For the Financial Guarantee Requirement: Financial Information (for example, a Certified Bank Statement; documents from government sponsors must include amount of support and also dates that support will be provided)
- For the Financial Guarantee Requirement: Financial Guarantee Authorization.
- If you are younger than 18, Minor Documents.
- Additional files for International students transferring from another U.S. institution
- Our admissions team will ensure all documents submitted are correct and work with you if any updates are needed.
- Once all documentation is correct, your I-20 and the Letter of Admission will be processed and emailed to you, typically within 5-7 business days.
- You will follow the steps to acquire your F-1 Visa
- We will request confirmation of your planned attendance on June 1, 2026.
- Check in with CESL by your assigned report date and receive your orientation schedule.
Your tuition payment is due on your report date, or you will incur late charges.
Housing
Conditionally admitted students may apply to live in the residence halls. Space is limited so apply early. For residence hall information during the academic year (fall and spring), contact Residence Life Housing Assignment Services at housing@arizona.edu or call (520) 621-6501.
University of Arizona Residence Life website: https://housing.arizona.edu/
With conditional admission to UA, you can apply directly to Residence Life for on-campus housing.
Next Steps
Once your visa is acquired and you have housing in place for the fall, we will send an enrollment verification email that needs to be submitted by June 1, 2026. Then you will to report to CESL by August 18, 2026, which is the start date for Intake and Orientation.
FAQ
Students will take one university class (3 credits) per 8-week session and learn content similar to what they will encounter in their first year as undergraduate students and thereby improve their language abilities. They will also enroll in a CESL-supported general education course for credit; this course will count toward any major at University of Arizona. With CESL's English Language Endorsement, students in the University Track Pathway will fulfill UA's minimum English language proficiency requirement without taking an additional TOEFL or IELTS exam.
- The curriculum is designed to prepare students with the linguistic and academic skills necessary for success at the university.
- Each session is 8-weeks long. Students spend 2 sessions in U-Track.
- Students take one for-credit UA general education class (6 class hours per week/5 clock hours), a support class for the credit class (5 hours per week), two additional courses appropriate for academic English preparation (such as advanced speaking/listening course, an advanced writing course, a case studies course, or an advanced reading/vocabulary course) (5 hours each per week; 10 hours per week total), and an elective (1 hour per week)
16 Week Session
Find the costs below for the two session sequence lasting sixteen weeks as well as the financial guarantee requirement.
Total Program Costs
| Costs | 16 Week Session |
|---|---|
| CESL Tuition | $5600 |
| CESL Fees | $1820 |
| UA Course Fees and Tuition | $6053 |
| Living Expenses (estimated) | $8726 |
| Total | $22,199 |
Breakdown of CESL Program Fees
| Student Services Fee | $600 |
| Technology Fee | $460 |
| Mandatory Campus Health Fee | $380 |
| Mandatory Student Health Insurance Fee | $380 |
| Total CESL Program Fees | $1820 |
Materials
There may be additional charges for materials for some classes (extra online books students must purchase). These are approximately $50-$60 per class (maximum 4 classes).
Dependents
If you bring dependents (legal spouse and/or children under 21 years of age) you will need to provide additional evidence of $800 per month for a spouse and $500 per month per child.
A financial guarantee is an official bank statement, or scholarship offer, which promises to sponsor or pay for a student's academic studies. The amount to be covered includes tuition, fees, books, and the cost of living. If you are submitting a personal bank statement it must have been issued within the last 6 months. Bank statements must be in English. If it is not your personal bank statement you must include the financial guarantee authorization from the account holder.
Financial Guarantee Requirements
- Must be recent, within 6 months of being issued
- Needs to be in English
- Needs to be on official bank letterhead
- Needs to show account balance (not average in the account)
- Date of issuance
- Name of account holder
- Needs to be checking or savings
Total Needed for University Track Program Financial Guarantee: $22,199.00
*see cost tab for breakdown
What is conditional admission?
Conditional admission refers to being academically admissible to the University of Arizona, but that an applicant still needs to meet the English proficiency requirement. Conditional admission is offered for all undergraduate programs.
Will I take university classes?
Yes! Each session, Undergraduate University Track Pathway students enroll in a General Education class similar to courses any first-year UA student would be required to take. These are special CESL sections of these courses and they count for every major. Most sessions, you will also have the opportunity to experience regular university lectures and interact with guest university speakers as part of CESL’s University Seminar class.
How long will it take to finish my University Track Program studies?
CESL students study in the program for 2 sessions (1 semester).
Does my University Track Pathway GPA affect me once I'm fully admitted to the UA?
Yes. All of the grades you earn in your UA courses count towards your UA GPA. Although the grades in your CESL courses do not count towards your UA GPA, they will determine your progression through the U-Track Pathway.
Can I participate in CESL clubs and activities once I'm enrolled in the U-Track Pathway?
Yes! You are still a CESL student and you are highly encouraged to participate in CESL’s clubs and activities.
Do you offer scholarships or financial aid to help with tuition?
Unfortunately, we do not offer any kind of scholarship or financial aid for our programs. Students may seek private sponsorship from their governments or other organizations.
Have questions?
You can email the department directly using the address below.
Department Email
cesl@arizona.edu