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Gateway Program
for International Undergraduate Students

The Gateway undergraduate program is comprised of academic courses that are designed to help international students build the skills, knowledge, and qualifications that they will need to enter a bachelor’s degree program. The program generally lasts one to two semesters (as many as three), and upon successful completion, students are able to matriculate into their undergraduate major and college at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

IELTS or TOEFL test score submission are used for admission/enrollment. Students will be tested upon arrival for English proficiency to support their individual academic needs and further placement in the Gateway Program at UMass Dartmouth.

Admission to the Gateway program is limited to students who meet all the academic/disciplinary requirements for direct admission into their intended undergraduate major except for English proficiency requirements.

Program eligibility

You don't need to submit a separate application for the Gateway Program. When you apply to UMass Dartmouth, you'll automatically be considered for the program if you meet the following criteria:

  • Visa status: eligible for F-1 visa
  • English Proficiency:  IELTS score of 5.0 or 5.5 (or an equivalent TOEFL/Duolingo score)
  • Academic Standing: meet all GPA and secondary school requirements for direct admission into your intended undergraduate major at UMass Dartmouth

Placement options

You'll be in the program for one or two semesters, depending on your IELTS score.

  1. IELTS 5.5 and above: One-semester UMassD Gateway Program
  2. IELTS 5.0 (no band below 3.0): Two-semester UMassD Gateway Program

Additional notes

  • UMassD Gateway reserves the right to require a specific placement test/assessment.
  • Only official scores will be accepted.
  • Scores cannot be older than 12 months.

The on-campus entrance assessment will not change their placement. UMassD uses on-campus entrance assessment to determine whether a student may need extra support with specific English skills.

Cohort model

International students will participate in the cohort program together, building the academic, social, leadership and cultural skills necessary to be successful in specific academic career paths. In the Gateway program, the cohort curriculum is adapted so that it meets the needs of students interested in the varied undergraduate programs on our campus.

Advising and mentorship

Each cohort is assigned a faculty advisor and a student mentor. They assist the students with developing the knowledge and characteristics that are necessary for university success – beyond language skills such as:

  • Developing an attitude that values the learning process as much as the learning product (grades, diploma)
  • Building meaningful cross-cultural relationships
  • Understanding the University’s institutional culture
  • Using the University’s resources creatively and effectively

Mentors help students with learning beyond the classroom environment. They will lead students through a series of progressively challenging academic, social, and service activities that increasingly immerse the students into all dimensions of university life. For example, cohort members and their mentor may discuss the content of interesting books together. They will develop close relationships that will become an important part of the Gateway students’ UMassD experience.

The curriculum

One-semester UMassD Gateway Program

12-academic credits
18 clock hours

  • ALC 065 - English for Specific Majors - English for Business/English for Science/English for Engineering/English for Health Sciences/English for the Arts The course is designed to provide international Students with major specific language support using embedded tutoring (0 academic credits, 6 clock hours)
  • ALC 201– Academic Gateway (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)
  • Discipline Specific Course/Univ. Studies (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)
  • Discipline Specific Course/Univ. Studies (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)
  • Discipline Specific Course/Univ. Studies (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)
  • Discipline Specific Course/Univ. Studies (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)

Note: Student will be fully admitted to the appropriate degree program upon successful completion of the courses listed above.

Two-semester UMassD Gateway Program

Semester 1 of 2

9 academic credits
24 clock hours

  • ALC 035 – Academic Language Foundations (0 academic credits, 6 clock hours)
  • ALC 065 – English for Specific Majors - English for Business/English for Science/English for Engineering/English for Health Sciences/English for the Arts The course is designed to provide international Students with major specific language support using embedded tutoring (0 academic credits, 6 clock hours)
  • ALC 101 – Academic Gateway (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)
  • Discipline Specific Course/Univ. Studies (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)
  • Discipline Specific Course/Univ. Studies (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)

Note: Students will progress to the second semester upon successful completion of the courses listed above.

Semester 2 of 2

12-academic credits
18 clock hours

  • ALC 065 - English for Specific Majors - English for Business/English for Science/English for Engineering/English for Health Sciences/English for the Arts. The course is designed to provide international Students with major specific language support using embedded tutoring (0 academic credits, 6 clock hours)
  • ALC 201 – Academic Gateway (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)
  • Discipline Specific Course/Univ. Studies (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)
  • Discipline Specific Course/Univ. Studies (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)
  • Discipline Specific Course/Univ. Studies (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)
  • Discipline Specific Course/Univ. Studies (3 academic credits, 3 clock hours)

Note: Student will be fully admitted to the appropriate degree program upon successful completion of the courses listed above.