Entry Requirements

PREAMBLE

MSU International Student Admissions Policy & Procedure

Entry of students into the University shall be guided by the following guidelines. Senate has the final authority and their interpretation of these procedures shall be final. International students shall be admitted on the strength of their home country qualification on condition that they meet the minimum university entry requirements in their country.

General Requirements

2.1 International Admissions Criteria

International students shall be admitted on the strength of their home country qualification.
Thus, a candidate will have to satisfy his/her country’s minimum requirements for entry
into a study programme similar to the one sought at MSU.

2.2 Translation of Documents

Translation of qualifications and other relevant documentation shall only be done by
entities approved by MSU. Such translation shall be duly authenticated.

2.3 Language Requirements

Applicants are advised that English is the language of instruction and general institutional
communication at Midlands State University (MSU). Every student must satisfy the
University that s/he has command of the English Language adequate for university study
prior to embarking on his/her study programme of choice.

2.4 Registration with Other Institutions

Candidates registered with other Universities/Institutions may not be allowed to enrol for
study at MSU.

2.5 Application Fee

Application fee is US$50.00.

2.6 Modes of Entry

2.6.1 Entry Requirements

For Entry Requirements, see below.

2.6.2 Available Modes

International Students may choose between the Conventional, Visiting and Block Release modes.

2.7 Duration of Study

2.7.1 Undergraduate (Conventional and Parallel)

Ordinarily, the minimum duration of study for Conventional and Parallel Undergraduate Degree
Programmes shall range from four (4) to five (5) years, including one (1) year of Work Related
Learning (WRL). The maximum permissible duration for undergraduate degree programmes shall be
eight (8) years for four-year degree programmes and 10 years for five-year degree programmes.

2.7.2 Visiting School Undergraduate

Minimum duration of the Visiting School Undergraduate Programmes shall range from two (2) to three (3)
years. For this mode, the WRL period runs concurrently with Level 2.

2.7.3 Masters Degrees

Masters degrees shall ordinarily last a minimum of 18 months and a maximum of 36 months.

2.7.4 Doctoral Degrees

Doctoral degrees shall ordinarily last a minimum of three (3) years and a maximum of six (6) years.

2.8 International Student Bridging Programme

2.8.1 Coordination

A multi-faceted International Student Bridging Programme (ISBP) shall be offered and coordinated by the IRO.

2.8.2 English Language Proficiency

Upon initial arrival at MSU, students from non-English speaking educational backgrounds shall take an English
Language Proficiency Test. Depending on proficiency level ascertained by the test, students may be admitted
directly to their chosen programmes of study or be required to take an Intensive English Language (EFL) programme
lasting a minimum of one semester prior to starting their chosen study programme. The EFL programme shall focus
in particular on converting into English knowledge relevant to the target discipline but acquired in other
languages. Thus, for instance, students in the Sciences shall be taught separately from those enrolling in the
Humanities.

2.8.3 Pre-Degree Modules

During this period, Departments may, at their discretion, require international students to take pre-degree
modules in order to facilitate access to targeted study programmes.

2.8.4 Advanced English Language Modules

Students pursuing degree programmes may also take advanced English Language modules. An extra fee may be levied
on interested students.

2.8.5 English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

All Level 1 International Students will be required to register with a designated tutor for English for Academic
Purposes (EAP) support. This support will focus on assignments and presentations. Every assignment and presentation
will have to bear the IRO stamp as proof of such consultation. Appropriate proof will have to be developed to cater
for assignments submitted electronically. An assignment bearing this stamp will automatically earn 10% of the total
mark. Assignments presented beyond the stipulated IRO deadline will not be acknowledged.

IRO EAP tutors will strictly limit the scope of their intervention to helping students improve their academic
communicative competence. Tutors will produce reports clearly indicating the linguistic aspect focussed on for
each assignment received. Examples of such aspects are coherence and cohesion.

Admissions Procedure

9 ADMISSION PROCEDURE

MSU Admission procedures ordinarily applied in the case of Zimbabwean nationals shall
apply to international candidates, except that:

2.9.1 Advertisement of Programmes

Programmes on offer shall be advertised to international markets through, inter alia, the
MSU Website’s IRO Webpage, official MSU social media (such as the IRO Facebook
page), approved international student recruitment agents, MSU Alumni, current MSU
students, and recruitment ‘road shows’ in target countries.

2.9.2 Application Submission

All applications shall be routed through the IRO.

2.9.3 Application Decisions

All decisions on all applications shall be routed through the IRO.

2.9.4 Communication to Students

The IRO shall be copied all administrative communication to new and existing
international students.

2.9.5 Departmental Selection

Academic Departments shall select international students for their Departments and
submit their recommendations to the University Admissions Committee for ratification.

2.9.6 Acceptance Letter

The prospective student shall be given an acceptance letter bearing a registration
number, student name, programme offered, mode of entry, duration of the programme,
fees required, orientation, registration and opening dates.

2.9.7 Fee Payment

The new student shall be able to start paying fees upon receipt of the acceptance letter.

2.9.8 Delivery of Acceptance Letters

The IRO shall email acceptance letters to all successful international applicants. Other
appropriate technologies may also be used for the same purpose.

2.9.9 Collection of Original Acceptance Letters

Every new international student shall collect his/her original acceptance letter from the
IRO office nearest to his/her campus.

3. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Students are enrolled through any of the following modes of entry:

3.1 Normal Entry

For normal entry, candidates should:

a) have satisfied the general requirements as prescribed above; and
b) have satisfied the requirements for entry into the particular programme chosen.

3.2 Special Entry into Undergraduate Study Programmes

3.2.1 Special Entry Criteria

An international candidate may apply for special entry and for permission to proceed
to a first degree with exemption from the whole or part of the normal entry requirements if:

a) s/he has obtained from a University or institution of similar status academic
qualifications (other than degrees) acceptable to Senate; or
b) s/he has obtained an appropriate number of subjects at an approved examination and
has subsequently passed an intermediate or equivalent examination at a University
acceptable to Senate.

3.2.2 Module and Examination Exemption

Applicants who qualify under this regulation for special entry may apply to the Senate
to be exempted from certain modules and examinations. Permission may be given to
complete the programme for a Bachelor’s Degree in less than the normal required
period provided that no student shall be allowed direct entry to the final level of any
programme.

3.2.3 Assessment for Special Entry

Applicants who wish to be considered under the special entry provisions may be
required to attend interviews and/or special tests at the University designed to assess
their command of the English Language, numeracy, reasoning ability and general
suitability for admission to the Bachelor’s Degree studies.

3.2.4 Re-application Restrictions

Applicants who have previously attended MSU special entry tests and/or interviews
without success will not be considered for admission under this form of entry unless in
the intervening period they have acquired additional qualifications and/or experience.

3.2.5 Transfer Method

Applicants may be accepted through the transfer method on condition that a partial
transcript/qualifications from a recognised university/institution is availed.