Founded by the Florida legislature, the primary purpose of Florida Linkage Institutes is to strengthen economic, cultural, educational, and social ties between Florida and foreign countries. We promote dialogue on cooperative research, technical assistance, and student and faculty exchange, enhancing language training and bilateral commerce between postsecondary institutions and foreign nations.
The Linkage Institute Program provides out-of-state tuition waiver awards with the purpose of providing eligible international students the opportunity to pay in-state tuition rates at institutions within the State University System of Florida or Florida College System. For more detailed information about the program and the eligibility requirements, please visit the specific Linkage Institute’s website.
REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW APPLICANTS
New applicants to the Florida Linkage Institute Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Program must follow these steps:
1. Prepare Your Application Documents
- Essay: A 500-to-700-word essay (12-point font) summarizing the applicant’s educational and professional goals and explaining how their specific area of interest contributes to the linkage between Florida and country of citizenship (Eastern Europe or Canada). The essay should describe the applicant’s personal and academic interests and achievements*
- Letter of Recommendation: Preferably from an academic reference familiar with the applicant’s academic work. This letter must be issued on the official letterhead of the institution or organization to which the recommender is affiliated. Additionally, it should include the recommender’s contact information, be hand-signed, and submitted as a scanned PDF*
- Passport: A legible copy of the passport photo page showing the applicant’s full name and country of citizenship*
- University/College Letter of Acceptance: Official notice of admission issued on official University / College letterhead and including details such as the admission term/semester, academic program, and any other relevant admission details (if available) **
- Copy of Form I-20 issued by University/College: Most recent Form I-20 issued by University/College (if available) **
*NOTE: Required application document.
**NOTE: Document may be pending at the time of application submission and by the application deadline (not required for applicant consideration for the award). However, if the applicant is selected to receive the award, the document will be required for award processing.
2. Complete and Submit the Online Application Form
Access the Florida Linkage Institute Application Portal and create an account. Complete a New Florida Linkage Institute Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Program online application form, upload the prepared application documents (outlined in the previous step), and submit your online application.
3. Submit Your Official Academic Transcript
After submitting the online application and required application documents, new applicants must submit to the Linkage Institute their most recent official academic transcript showing a minimum cumulative/overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
An official academic transcript is an original document produced by an educational institution, issued in a secured paper or electronic format, reflecting a student’s academic record, which includes grades earned and GPA. Hard copy transcripts are considered “official” when they arrive in a sealed, stamped, official envelope. Electronic transcripts are considered “official” when received directly from a secure site formally associated with the sending institution.
- Applicants Currently Attending a U.S. Institution: Please have the U.S. Institution send your most recent official academic transcript directly to the Linkage Institute.
- Applicants Currently Attending a Non-U.S. Institution: Academic transcripts from institutions outside of the United States must be evaluated by a credential evaluation company that is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The directory of NACES member organizations can be located here.
Please have your non-U.S. Institution send your official academic transcript to the credential evaluation company you select and request both a course-by-course evaluation AND a GPA calculation. The credential evaluation company must send the official academic transcript evaluation directly to the Linkage Institute.
NOTE: Josef Silny & Associates and World Education Services are the recommended evaluation companies by the University of Central Florida.
Applicants can request their official academic transcript or official academic transcript evaluation be delivered electronically (secure PDF) OR for it to be mailed to the Linkage Institute. Here are the physical and electronic delivery options:
Florida-Eastern Europe Linkage Institute
4356 Scorpius Street, Building 139
Orlando, Florida 32816-0130, USA
Email: eeli@ucf.edu
Florida-Canada Linkage Institute
4356 Scorpius Street, Building 139
Orlando, Florida 32816-0130, USA
Email: fcli@ucf.edu
IMPORTANT: Applications will only be considered if the complete online application with all required application documents (meeting the eligibility requirements) AND the official academic transcript or official academic transcript evaluation are received by the application deadline – April 30th.
IMPORTANT: Incomplete applications will NOT be processed, and applicants will NOT be considered for the Florida Linkage Institute Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Program.
REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL APPLICANTS
Students who are currently receiving the Linkage Waiver Award must submit a renewal application to be considered for award continuation into the next academic year. However, current award recipients changing academic levels (e.g., undergraduate to graduate) will need to follow the New Applicants requirements and deadlines to be considered to receive the award for a new degree program.
Renewal applicants to the Florida Linkage Institute Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Program must follow these steps:
1. Prepare Your Application Documents
- Essay: A 500-to-700-word essay (12-point font) that describes the renewal applicant’s initial academic goals and how these have been achieved during the year, or how these goals have changed based on the renewal applicant’s experience during the past year***
- Passport: A legible copy of the passport photo page showing the renewal applicant’s full name and country of citizenship***
- Most Recent Form I-20***
***NOTE: Required renewal application document
2. Complete and Submit the Online Application Form
Access the Florida Linkage Institute Application Portal and login to your existing account. Complete the Renewal Florida Linkage Institute Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Program online application form, upload the prepared application documents (outlined in the previous step), and submit your online application.
3. Submit Your Official Academic Transcript
After submitting the online application and required documents, renewal applicants must submit to the Linkage Institute their most recent official academic transcript showing a minimum cumulative/overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Please have your current Florida University/College send your most recent official academic transcript directly to the Linkage Institute.
An official academic transcript is an original document produced by an educational institution, issued in a secured paper or electronic format, reflecting a student’s academic record, which includes grades earned and GPA. Hard copy transcripts are considered “official” when they arrive in a sealed, stamped, official envelope. Electronic transcripts are considered “official” when received directly from a secure site formally associated with the sending institution.
Applicants can request their official academic transcript be delivered electronically (secure PDF) OR for it to be mailed to the Linkage Institute. Here are the physical and electronic delivery options
Florida-Eastern Europe Linkage Institute
4356 Scorpius Street, Building 139
Orlando, Florida 32816-0130, USA
Email: eeli@ucf.edu
Florida-Canada Linkage Institute
4356 Scorpius Street, Building 139
Orlando, Florida 32816-0130, USA
Email: fcli@ucf.edu
IMPORTANT: Renewal applications will only be considered if the complete online application with all required documents (meeting the eligibility requirements) AND the official academic transcript are received by the application deadline – April 1st.
IMPORTANT: Incomplete applications will NOT be processed, and failure to complete the necessary steps to renew the Linkage Waiver Award will result in the award being rescinded.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
OUT-OF-STATE TUITION EXEMPTION PROGRAM
The Linkage Institute Tuition Exemption Program provides an out-of-state tuition waiver, referred to as the Linkage Waiver Award, which enables eligible F-1 international students to pay in-state tuition rates at institutions within the State University System of Florida or Florida College System. It is important to note this program does not offer direct monetary awards or scholarships. Instead, the Linkage Waiver Award reduces the overall cost of tuition by waiving the out-of-state fees, thereby representing significant financial savings for the award recipient. The out-of-state tuition waiver is processed directly by the Florida institution where the awardee is enrolled.
AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND DETAILS
Students are eligible to pursue any academic major, undergraduate or graduate, provided they are enrolled in a degree-seeking program (i.e., AA/AS, BA/BS, MA/MS, PhD/EdD).
However, programs such as English as a Second Language (ESL), English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses, non-credit programs, market rate programs, privately funded programs, and other specially funded programs do not qualify for the out-of-state tuition waiver offered by the Linkage Institute.
Yes, the Linkage Institute Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Program is available for eligible F-1 international students attending any institution of the State University System of Florida or Florida College System.
Yes, the Linkage Waiver Award can be extended for the duration of the recipient’s degree program. However, recipients must renew their Linkage Waiver Award each academic year by adhering to the Renewal Applicants requirements and deadlines.
Failure to renew the Linkage Waiver Award will result in the award being rescinded. To be reconsidered, eligible F-1 international students must apply as New Applicants and meet the respective requirements and deadlines.
The Linkage Waiver Award is granted for a maximum of twelve (12) credit hours per semester for undergraduate students, and nine (9) credit hours per semester for graduate students, applicable to the Fall and Spring semesters only. Please be advised the award does not extend to the summer semesters.
The Linkage Waiver Award is distributed annually and is applicable for the upcoming academic year, encompassing both Fall and Spring semesters. Please note the Linkage Waiver Award does not extend to the summer semester. Students planning to start their academic program in the Spring semester must still submit their application by the stated deadline for the upcoming academic year.
No. The EELI/FCLI out-of-state tuition waiver award (Linkage Waiver Award) does not apply to non-credit programs, market rate programs, privately funded programs or any other specially funded programs, English as a Second Language (ESL), or English for Academic Purposes (EAP) classes.
Applicants are encouraged to confirm with their academic program if the Linkage Institute Tuition Exemption Program will apply.
The Florida Linkage Institute Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Program is highly competitive. Due to the limited number of awards available, not all applicants will be selected for an award.
The review committee evaluates new applications based on several factors. The applicant’s GPA is a critical factor, with a minimum of 3.0 required, but a higher GPA will make applicants more competitive. In addition to GPA, the applicant’s essay and letter of recommendation are significant components of the review process. A well-articulated essay and a strong recommendation letter will enhance the student’s application and improve their ranking.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS
An official academic transcript is an original document produced by an educational institution, issued in a secured paper or electronic format, reflecting a student’s academic record, which includes grades earned and GPA. Hard copy transcripts are considered “official” when they arrive in a sealed, stamped, official envelope. Electronic transcripts are considered “official” when received directly from a secure site formally associated with the sending institution.
You can request an official academic transcript from your current institution’s Office of the Registrar, either in person or through their website.
Transcript evaluations are required only if your most recent enrollment was at an institution outside the United States. In such cases, your academic transcript must be evaluated by a credential evaluation company that is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The directory of NACES member organizations can be located here.
Please have your non-U.S. Institution sends your official academic transcript to the credential evaluation company you select and request both a course-by-course evaluation AND a GPA calculation. The credential evaluation company must send the official academic transcript evaluation directly to the Linkage Institute by the application deadline.
No, as a new applicant with prior university/college experience in the United States, you are only required to submit your most recent official academic transcript from the university/college you attended most recently. High school transcripts are not needed in this case.
Yes, your application will still be considered if all other required application documents (essay, letter of recommendation, copy of passport, and official academic transcript or official academic transcript evaluation) are submitted and meet the eligibility requirements by the application deadline.
We recognize your official letter of acceptance and Form I-20 may be pending at the time of application submission and by the application deadline. These two documents are not required for initial consideration of your application for the Linkage Waiver Award. However, should you be selected as a recipient of the award, the submission of these documents will be necessary for award processing.
No. Inquiries regarding your application status and/or submitted documents can only be addressed directly with you. The Linkage Institute must comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations. Your privacy is our utmost concern. Any requests or questions from individuals other than the applicant will not be answered. For additional information about FERPA, please visit: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.
Applicants will receive an official email notification from the application system once their application is complete. A complete application is defined as one in which all submitted documents have been reviewed and accepted, including the official academic transcript or official academic transcript evaluation. Applicants also have the option to login to the application portal to verify the status of their application.
It is imperative for applicants to regularly check their email for updates concerning their application. In the event an applicant has not received the email notification and the application deadline is approaching, it is the applicant’s responsibility to follow up with the Linkage Institute to ensure their application is complete by the deadline. Incomplete applications will NOT be processed, and applicants will NOT be considered for the Florida Linkage Institute Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Program.
The Linkage Institute begins evaluating complete and eligible applications only after the application deadline has passed. While every effort is made to provide timely notifications, decisions regarding awards are generally communicated between the end of June to early July. All notifications are sent via email; therefore, it is imperative for applicants to regularly check their email and stay informed about the status of their application.
Yes, applicants who were not selected for the Linkage Waiver Award are encouraged to reapply during the next application cycle. To strengthen your application, it is recommended applicants reconsider and review application supporting documents, as well as maintain a high GPA.
AWARD MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
If you are selected to receive the Linkage Waiver Award, you will receive an email notification outlining the details of your award. After you confirm your award acceptance, you will receive detailed instructions for the next steps, which may involve the submission of any outstanding documents, such as your official letter of acceptance and/or Form I-20, if not previously submitted. Furthermore, after completing your course registration, you are required to submit a detailed class schedule displaying each course name and the number of credit hours per course, as well as your name and your school’s information.
Please carefully review your Linkage Waiver Award email notification and follow all outlined steps to ensure timely processing of your award.
Before the semester begins, all Linkage Waiver Award recipients must submit their detailed class schedule displaying each course name and the number of credit hours per course, as well as their name and their school’s information. This documentation is required for award processing.
If there are any changes to their schedule, recipients are required to resubmit the updated schedule.
Yes, you may enroll in additional credit hours. However, please be aware the out-of-state tuition waiver award will not apply to those additional credit hours.
Recipients of the Linkage Waiver Award are required to maintain full-time enrollment status at the Florida State University or College they attend, which is defined as a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours per semester for undergraduate students, and nine (9) credit hours per semester for graduate students, applicable to the Fall and Spring semesters. This requirement is in accordance with F-1 immigration status regulations.
If you anticipate enrolling in fewer credit hours than awarded, it is imperative you consult with the Linkage Institute to discuss your circumstances and any necessary steps to remain in compliance with award requirements. Furthermore, if you are receiving the award for the entire academic year but find you only require credit hours for one semester, please notify the Linkage Institute. This will allow for the redistribution of any unused credit hours to other eligible students.
The Linkage Waiver Award is applicable only to students who are physically present in Florida. As such, your class schedule must primarily consist of in-person courses to qualify for the award.
However, F-1 immigration status regulations permit international students to enroll in one online class (up to three credit hours) per semester as part of the full-time enrollment requirement. If you wish to take an online class, and your enrollments complies with F-1 immigration status regulations, then the online course can be eligible for the Linkage Waiver Award.
No. Recipients of the Linkage Waiver Award are required to maintain full-time enrollment status at the Florida State University or College they attend, which is defined as a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours per semester for undergraduate students, and nine (9) credit hours per semester for graduate students, applicable to the Fall and Spring semesters. This requirement is in accordance with F-1 immigration status regulations.
However, if you are in your final term and are required to enroll in fewer credit hours to graduate, you may still be eligible to receive the award. In such cases, you must submit a request for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) authorization from your international advisor and provide documentation to the Linkage Institute of the RCL approval. This documentation will confirm your eligibility to receive the award for part-time enrollment.
At the conclusion of the semester, all recipients of the Linkage Waiver Award are required to submit their final grades report displaying the grade earned for each course and their overall/cumulative GPA. Final grades reports must be submitted to the Linkage Institute within ten (10) days from the last day of finals.
Acceptable documents for submission include an unofficial transcript, a degree audit, or any official report from the student’s school account that displays all final grades and GPA totals for the semester.
No, the Linkage Waiver Award is only applicable to one program at a time. If you are graduating from your current academic program and are considering graduate school (or another academic program), you will need to follow the New Applicants requirements and deadlines to be considered to receive the award for your new degree program.
However, if you are only changing your undergraduate major and the previous coursework taken while receiving the Linkage Waiver Award is applicable to the new major, you can submit a letter from your academic advisor certifying this information to maintain your award.
Prior to completing or terminating your studies in Florida, you should provide written notification to the Linkage Institute regarding your intentions to return to your home country.
Recipients of the Linkage Waiver Award are required to always maintain a minimum cumulative/overall GPA of 3.0. If your GPA falls below this threshold, you will be placed on probation with the Linkage Institute. You will be granted one semester to improve your cumulative/overall GPA to the required 3.0.
Failure to achieve the minimum 3.0 cumulative/overall GPA by the end of the probationary semester will result in your Linkage Waiver Award being rescinded.
No. Spring semester grades are not required to be included in the official academic transcript you submit for your renewal application. Given the renewal application period for the EELI/FCLI runs from January 1st to April 1st, Spring semester grades will not be available by the application deadline. You are only required to submit your most recent official academic transcript, which should include the final grades from the most recently completed term prior to the renewal application.
No. Only official academic transcripts will be accepted for renewal application purposes.
ADDITIONAL CREDIT HOURS
Yes, it is permissible to request additional credit hours beyond the amount initially awarded. However, please be advised the availability of such awards is limited, and additional credit hours may not always be available.
To formally request additional credit hours, please send an email to the Linkage Institute specifying the exact number of credit hours you are requesting, as well as your anticipated graduation term.
Each student accepted into the Linkage Institute may be granted additional credit hours a maximum of two times during their participation in the program. Priority consideration for additional credit hours requests will be given to students who are closer to graduation. Please note there is no guarantee your request for additional credit hours will be approved, nor that you will receive the full amount of credit hours requested. The allocation of additional credit hours is contingent upon multiple factors, including the availability of credit hours and the volume of requests received.
All requests for additional credit hours must be submitted by the following deadlines: August 1st for the Fall term and December 1st for the Spring term.
CONTACT US
Florida-Eastern Europe Linkage Institute
4356 Scorpius Street
Building 139
Orlando, Florida 32816-0130, USA
Phone: +1-407-823-2337
Fax: +1-407-823-2526
Email: eeli@ucf.edu
Florida-Canada Linkage Institute
4356 Scorpius Street
Building 139
Orlando, Florida 32816-0130, USA
Phone: +1-407-823-2337
Fax: +1-407-823-2526
Email: fcli@ucf.edu
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