The Bridge Program provides a pathway for both international high school graduates and first-year college students who wish to pursue language competence, cultural intelligence, and higher education at Indiana Wesleyan University.
The program ranges from one to two semesters, and is tailored to foster interpersonal and academic English language skills to prepare students for authentic college classroom expectations and experiences, and raise student awareness of various cultures on campus to engage in cross-cultural communication.
While enrolled in the Bridge Program, students have the opportunity to take English language courses and regular college-level courses, in addition to participating in various events.
Students in the Bridge Program live on the IWU-Marion campus and take credit-bearing ESL courses and regular college level courses (depending on levels) that are accepted at IWU, and can also transfer to most colleges and universities in the United States.
Students may be enrolled in the Bridge Program for one to two semesters.
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to demonstrate advanced language proficiency to succeed in an American university setting, develop culturally sensitive intelligence to understand and appreciate different cultures, and become more prepared individuals to further explore their gifts and abilities.
To be considered for admission in the Bridge Program, applicants must complete an application through IWU portal, submit application materials, and participate in a phone or video interview (if needed) at least 90 days prior to the start of the program.
Applicants must meet all Bridge Program eligibility requirements.
To begin, applicants must meet at least one of the following:
Applicants must also meet the English proficiency and college enrollment requirements outlined below.
Applicants must demonstrate an appropriate level of English language proficiency through test scores, CEFR proficiency, or an evaluation by the Program Director.
Level 1
Applicants must meet at least one of the following:
Level 2
Applicants must meet at least one of the following:
Applicants must be either:
IWU's standard English proficiency requirements are:
Students whose scores fall below these requirements may be eligible for the Bridge Program.
The length of the Bridge Program is based in part on the student's English proficiency.
Two Semesters
Students with a TOEFL iBT score of 54–65 or an IELTS score of 5.5 are required to complete two semesters of the English language program.
One Semester
Students with a TOEFL iBT score of 66–78 or an IELTS score of 6.0 are required to complete one semester of the English language program.
The Program Director makes the final determination regarding eligibility and program placement before recommending an applicant for admission.
Upon their acceptance in the Bridge Program, students are tested for English language proficiency and placed into one of three levels:
*Students must earn 80% or higher in all four language courses (ESL-210, 220, 230, 240) in order to progress to the next level of the Bridge program.
Bridge Program students who demonstrate Level 3 English language proficiency will work closely with the academic advisor to determine appropriate courses.
Students are required to take the following two courses:
The transition from high school to college can be challenging for any high school student, but it can be especially challenging for international students who must also navigate the complexities of getting an education in their second language from an institution in another culture.
Questions? IWUBridge@indwes.edu
Applicants to the Bridge Program must provide evidence of adequate financial resources to cover all expenses associated with the program.
Tuition and room and board payments must be made prior to the student's arrival.
Current tuition rates can be found on the Admissions Tuition webpage.
Bridge Program students are eligible for the International Scholarship.
Annual Amount: $10,000
Eligibility Requirements: International Scholarship will be awarded to first-time incoming freshman and transfer international students. This scholarship replaces the academic scholarship with the exception of those meeting the academic scholarship requirements ranging from $11,000 to $16,000. Students meeting the higher academic scholarship criteria will have the $10,000 International Scholarship replaced by the higher academic award.
Renewal Requirements: In order to receive the four-year commitment, students must be enrolled full-time each year and meet SAP requirements to maintain institutional aid. This award is renewable up to a maximum of 8 semesters.
EFC Eligibility range: Open
Enrollment Requirements: Full-time enrollment in fall and spring semesters
