Five Branches University welcomes international applicants from all over the world. We support a bicultural and bilingual environment, offering our Doctor and Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and our postgraduate Doctorate program in English and Chinese.

Five Branches defines an international applicant as someone who is a citizen or permanent resident of a country, other than the United States, who wishes to pursue a Master’s or Doctoral degree at our university. Five Branches University is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students and complies with all federal guidelines and directives of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

International applicants follow the same application and admissions procedures as required of resident students, in addition to meeting the international application requirements. We recommend international applicants begin the admissions process six months to one year prior to the desired priority application date. International students are not eligible for U.S. federal financial aid.

International Application Requirements

If you are an international applicant applying for an F-1 student visa through Five Branches University, you must submit the following documents along with the completed application. It is important to write your name (as it appears on your passport) on your application and all supplemental documents.

1. A photocopy of the first page of your passport
2. Transcript evaluation
   If you have completed college or university level education in another country, you must have your transcripts reviewed by a credential evaluation agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. Transcripts need to be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. The evaluation, containing the total number of earned credits and cumulative GPA, should be sent directly to Five Branches University by the evaluating agency. We recommend World Educational Services (WES),www.wes.org
3. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
   If you are an international applicant and have completed at least a two year (90 semester credit or 135 quarter credit) baccalaureate level education from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or from an equivalent English language institution in another country, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may not be required.
   
   

   Applying for DTCM and the English-speaking DAOM, MTCM, and Mac Programs

   You are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test (iBT) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

   The minimum scores to achieve on these tests are as follows:

   TOEFL			IELTS
   iBT
   80			Level 6

   When taking the TOEFL, please enter the appropriate Five Branches assigned code on the

   Score Report Request Form:
   Santa Cruz campus assigned code: 4459
   San Jose campus assigned code: 5881
    

   Applying for Chinese-speaking DAOM, MTCM, and MAc Programs

   You are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet based test (iBT) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam prior to entering the internship clinic level.

   The minimum scores to achieve on these tests are as follows:

   TOEFL			IELTS
   iBT	Speaking Exam	Listening Exam
   45	18	15	Level 5

   When taking the TOEFL, please enter the appropriate Five Branches assigned code on the

   Score Report Request Form:
   Santa Cruz campus assigned code: 4459
   San Jose campus assigned code: 5881
4. Financial Statement
   A Financial Statement, certified by a financial institution, verifying the availability of at least $35,000 in U.S. dollars. This amount should cover your education and living expenses for one academic year. If you need the university to issue an I-20 for your dependents, you will need to calculate an additional $4,000 for each dependent. In addition, you may want to consider having additional funds for off-campus months and miscellaneous expenses. We recommend having approximately $7,000 for this purpose. If your tuition or living expenses are going to be partially or fully paid by a sponsor, the Financial Statement must be signed by your sponsor, stating they assume financial responsibility for the designated amount.
5. Health Insurance
   International students must provide proof of health insurance coverage prior to student registration. Due to the high costs of medical insurance in the United States it may be advantageous to purchase health insurance coverage in your home country. We recommend you purchase a healthcare policy for yourself and any dependents, with a minimum coverage of 250,000 per incident, and a deductible of no more than $500 per person, per year.Prior to your arrival into the United States we recommend you obtain from your primary physician, medical records for you and your dependents. These should include a medical history describing previous illnesses, surgeries, and records of all immunizations, including those received in childhood. In addition, since dental costs in the United States tend to be considerably higher than most other countries, you are advised to have any necessary dental work completed in your home country prior to your arrival in the U.S.

International Applicants Currently Studying in the U.S.

If you are an international student who is currently on an F-1 student visa, enrolled at another college or university, you must submit the following documents along with your application materials:

1. A photocopy of your visa, contained in your passport
2. A photocopy of your I-20 Form

Once you have been accepted to Five Branches University, a Transfer Release Form must be signed by your current school’s admissions office, verifying you have maintained your visa status and are eligible for transfer. Please contact the Five Branches University admissions office to receive a copy of this form.

For personal service please call or email our Admissions department :
San Jose – (408) 260-0208 or sjadmissions@fivebranches.edu
Santa Cruz – (831) 476-9424 Ext 31 or admissions@fivebranches.edu

Thank you for your interest in Five Branches University!

If you are a student at another TCM/acupuncture school and are considering transferring to Five Branches, you can apply for our Doctor and Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine program as a Transfer Student. Five Branches University offers one of the best TCM educational programs in the United States. Our transfer policies ensure that a transfer student’s training from another school will meet the high standards of our DTCM program.

Five Branches accepts transfer students who will be completing at least 50% of their Doctorate degree at the University. If you have only one year remaining before graduation, we recommend you graduate from the school you are currently attending if possible.

Transfer Student Application Procedure and Requirements

Transfer students follow the same application and admissions procedures as required of new students, in addition to meeting the transfer student requirements as listed below. If you are a Transfer Student, transferring to Five Branches University from another TCM college, you must submit the following documents along with the completed application:

1. Cover letter stating your reasons for seeking a transfer from another TCM college, and a list of the courses you wish to transfer.
2. A letter of recommendation from a previous TCM/Acupuncture instructor, located at the TCM school you attended.
3. Catalog from your previous TCM college, stating its approval agencies and accreditation.
4. Syllabus outlining the course content for each course you wish to transfer.

You must submit your admission application by the priority application dates of May 1 (Fall trimester), and September 1 (Spring trimester). If you are interested in admission during the Summer term your application must be completed by or before March 1st.

Upon acceptance to Five Branches, you will be informed of your placement in the DTCM program, and an evaluation of your transfer credits will be completed by the admissions director. An equivalency exam may be required. Only coursework completed prior to enrollment at Five Branches, and awarded a letter grade of C or above, is transferable.

Transferring TCM Courses

Transfer credit will be accepted for TCM courses taken from a nationally accredited TCM college, approved by the California Acupuncture Board, if the courses are equivalent in content to Five Branches courses.

TCM-related courses from a TCM college not approved by the California Acupuncture Board will only be accepted within the 50% limitations of the Board. TCM courses from tutorial or apprenticeship programs are non-transferable.

Transferring Western Medicine Courses

Western medicine courses taken prior to enrollment at Five Branches may be transferred to fulfill part or the entire DTCM Western medicine track, including natural science requirements. If the natural science courses: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Human Anatomy, and Human Physiology have not been taken prior to enrollment, students may take them concurrently, within their first two years of study. These courses can be taken from a community college, a university, or online. Western medicine courses are transferable only from regionally accredited, degree-granting colleges, universities, or TCM schools. Natural science credits from non-accredited or vocational schools are non-transferable.

Transferring Complementary Studies Courses

Five Branches accepts the transfer of classes from non-accredited schools or colleges for courses such as Qigong and Taijiquan, if equivalent in content and duration. A copy of a certificate of completion or diploma, or a letter from a teacher or school will serve as a transcript.

Transferring Credit Earned through Challenge Examination or Achievement Tests

Students may petition to receive credit for one course per department via a challenge examination, with the exclusion of the Clinical Training department. You may qualify to take a challenge examination only under the following circumstances: (1) The course was previously taken and passed at another institution with a grade lower than C, and did not qualify for transfer credit or (2) The course was previously taken and passed at another institution, but the course material was not sufficient to qualify for full transfer credit.

Upon qualification, you will be provided with the course syllabus to aid in preparation for taking the examination. The examination must be taken prior to the start of the program term in which the course is required. The passing score for a challenge examination is 80%. A course can be challenged by examination only once. If you fail to pass the examination, you will be required to enroll in the course in the appropriate term at the full tuition cost.

Credit earned through assessment or achievement examinations at other Traditional Chinese Medicine schools are non-transferable. Transfer credit is not available for work or life experience.

Transfer Fees

A transfer fee will apply to the evaluation of all courses transferred into the DTCM program, with the exception of the five natural science courses. The transfer fee is 15% of the current tuition, per unit, up to a maximum of $200. If an equivalency exam is required, an additional fee of 30% of the current tuition, per unit, will apply.

For personal service please call or email our Admissions department :
San Jose – (408) 260-0208 or sjadmissions@fivebranches.edu
Santa Cruz– (831) 476-9424 Ext 31 or admissions@fivebranches.edu

Thank you for your interest in Five Branches University!