Entry Requirements
General Requirements
To be admitted to any UofN course, an applicant must provide proof of the ability to do university-level course work in the language in which the seminar, course, or degree program is offered.
All students applying for degree programs must satisfy the secondary school completion requirement, which is graduation from an approved secondary/high school or its equivalent. Applicants who have not had opportunities to complete formal secondary school must adhere to specific guidelines established and approved by the UofN Core International Leadership Team. Applicants who have graduated from their nation’s secondary schools or recognized secondary equivalency programs must provide student records (transcripts) or certificates showing satisfactory completion to one of the UofN International Registrar offices.
Students with considerable life experience and who have completed a Discipleship Training School, but without a secondary school graduation (high school) equivalent, may be permitted to work toward a degree if the following conditions are met:
- The student’s life experiences, such as work, on-the-job training, or ministry, have equipped the student to function effectively at the university level.
- The student must satisfactorily complete two approved post-DTS schools. One must be a course from the Core Curriculum. A written recommendation from the school leader of both schools must be sent to the Dean of the College in which the schools were taken, in order to confirm the student’s competency and commend the student’s continuation in tertiary education within the UofN.
Admission to the UofN and any of its sponsored programs is open to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex or educationally unrelated handicaps. The UofN reserves the right to change schedules and course offerings as deemed necessary. The University of the Nations is a degree granting institution (Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s). Because UofN branches are located in many different nations, no attempt has been made to secure one nation’s accreditation. See the section “Considerations About Accreditation” under Accreditation.
YWAM DTS Prerequisite
The YWAM Discipleship Training School (YWAM DTS) is a prerequisite life experience for all courses and degree programs. All UofN applicants must first satisfactorily complete a fully qualified DTS, including the field assignment, before being permitted to attend any course or degree program. DTS is an intensive Christian training course beginning with a 12- week lecture/teaching phase followed by an 8 to 12-week practical field assignment. It is designed to encourage students in personal character development, to deepen a living relationship with God and to identify their unique individual gifts and callings in God. Additional details can be found here. Cross-cultural exposure and global awareness are special emphasis throughout the training, which prepares students to reach current and future generations and to answer the call to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
Transferring Credits
Admission will be granted to students who have begun their work at other colleges or universities, providing the student satisfies the regular requirements for admission to the UofN. In order to apply for transfer credit, the applicant should request a transcript of coursework from the previous school to be forwarded to their UofN College Academic Advisor for evaluation. Additional information can be found in the Credits & Accreditation section.
Vaccinations & Immunizations
Mandatory TB Test
The state of Hawaii requires that all students enrolled at the University of the Nations Kona have proof of a negative Tuberculosis Test. This TB test must have been taken within one year prior to the start of your school. Please send all results via email to Student Services before your arrival day. You may send a photo or scan and do not need to send the original document. All students arriving without this proof will need to fill out a paper TB screening form on Arrival Day. We recommend US students have this done before arriving in Kona.
For international students, the state of Hawaii does not accept any international proof of a negative TB test, including chest x-rays, except for the universal Quantiferon Gold blood test. If your country provides this test at low/no cost, bring/upload a copy of the negative results in English. Students coming from Northwestern Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand may be able to pass the screening without needing a TB skin test if never any known exposure to TB or international travel. Students who come from countries that the state of Hawaii deems high TB risk will need to have the skin test done in Kona. Those who come from countries who give the anti-TB vaccination (BCG) may test positive. Any student with a positive skin test, per state regulations, will also need to get a chest x-ray done for proof of negative TB, cost – $65USD.
Outreach Vaccinations
Most outreach locations will require all basic childhood vaccinations to be completed, as well as Hep A, Typhoid, and updated Tetanus within the past 5 years. Get these before you come if at all possible. These vaccinations can be obtained in Kona but will be expensive. Malaria medication, if required, will be prescribed in Kona, and purchased by the student.
If a student is not up to date on childhood vaccinations, or feel strongly against receiving travel immunizations, that is their choice and decision, but they will be directed by school staff to a safe outreach location. If a student has received no childhood vaccinations, it is not possible to complete all of them safely during a three months course.
