Policies for International Students (F-1, J-1 and H-4 Visas)
We welcome your interest in the Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance (RAQA) graduate program of Temple University School of Pharmacy. This page explains policies for international students. For more detailed information on Applying, please refer to the Application link for International Students.
ABOUT THE RAQA GRADUATE PROGRAM
The MS in RAQA requires the completion of 12 courses of 3 credits each. It is classifed as STEM.
Courses are offered evenings and weekends during three semesters a year: Fall (Sept - Dec), Spring (Jan - Apr), and Summer (May - Aug).
We offer both on-campus and online courses. F-1 and J-1 visa status require students to complete courses on-campus. F-1 students must be full-time, which means taking at least 9 credits or three courses every fall and spring semester. Students may accelerate their studies by taking four courses a semester over three semesters provided they have permission from the Graduate Studies Office. Tuition increases accordingly. Many F-1 students pursue an OPT in the summer after they graduate.
Location and Facilities
Our campus is located in a business office center. There is no campus housing or dormitories.
Most F-1 visa students live at the University's Main Campus, which is approximately 20 miles away, and travel to our campus via train or Uber. The local train station is 1.5 miles away, so it is not easy to walk at night during the winter months.
There is no walking access to stores at our campus. Our building has two vending machines and is close to a pizza grill, but food and beverage choices are limited.
Our campus has a computer lab which current technology required for RAQA courses, including access to Banner, Canvas, and Software Secure. There is no fee for registered RAQA students to use the lab, which is kept open when classes are in session.
TOEFL REQUIRED
Applicants to the MS in RAQA must be fluent in written and spoken English, since they must make oral presentations and write papers in courses. The regulated industries of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology use a specialized regulatory language which contains acronyms and unique terminology. Industry regulatory and quality positions require strong written and oral language skills. For these reasons, the TOEFL or IELTS is required for all M.S. applicants who completed degrees abroad.
- The minimum scores that Temple accepts for the TOEFL are:
- 585 for the paper version (PBT)
- 230 for the computer version (CBT)
- 85 for the Internet-based version (IBT).
The minimum IELTS is 6.5.
If you have not achieved the minimum TOEFL score, your application will not be considered. There are no exceptions.
H-4 students requesting to take online courses must demonstrate that they have met the minimum IELTS or TOEFL scores. Otherwise they may only take on-campus courses at our campus.
When permission is given to F-1 students to take an online course, the student must take that course at the Fort Washington computer lab; this is done to make sure that visa requirements are met.
PURSUING ONLINE COURSES AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
Due to visa requirements, all international students with a J-1 or F-1 visa are required to take courses on-campus during their first two semesters in the RAQA program. At least one course must meet on a weeknight.
H-4 students providing acceptable TOEFL scores and WES reports may pursue courses online. If they do not have TOEFL scores and WES reports, they may only take on-campus courses.
In subsequent semesters, J-1 and F-1 students may take a maximum of one online course per semester, provided they have earned an overall minimum GPA of 3.33 in all RAQA courses and also obtain the permission of the RAQA Office. That 3.33 GPA must be maintained each semester. Iif a student does not earn a 3.33 in a given semester, permission will not be granted to pursue one online course in the following semester. In addition, if a student earns a grade less than a B in any required course, permission will be not granted to pursue any online courses.
All F-1 and J-1 students must take online courses in-person at the Fort Washington Computer Lab. There are no exceptions to this rule.
H-4 students taking online courses must have access to an individual laptop or computer and have hard-wire access to the Internet for online courses.
The School of Pharmacy reserves the right to require international students to pursue traditional classroom courses during their entire program of study.
IMPORTANT WEB SITES
Office of International Students and Scholars: Information on U.S. visas, housing for Temple students, and additional fees for international students.
World Education Services (WES): Transcript and degree evaluation service
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Determines proficiency in the English language.