Admissions KWU

• Prepare for Key West University as a new high school graduate

  • Consider the subjects you excelled in and the results of any career aptitude test you may have taken.
  • Think about a career you are interested in based on your academic strengths and experience you may have acquired through part-time work, extra-curricular activities, or volunteering.
  • Contact the KWU admissions department to discuss how our bachelor’s degree programs can help you gain the skills and knowledge prospective employers require.

• Prepare for Key West University if you are already in the workforce

  • Review your past and current work experience.
  • Think about new skills and knowledge you would like to acquire.
  • Consider your career goals and assess how KWU degree programs can help you achieve those goals.

• Bachelor of Science Admissions Requirements

  Students seeking admission must provide one of the following:

  • Evidence of high school graduation (transcript, diploma, special diploma, diploma of completion, etc.) showing/verifying date of graduation
  • Evidence of GED completion (GED scores/GED diploma)
  • Proof of graduation from a foreign institution comparable to a United States secondary school. International applicants are required to submit translated and notarized copies of their high school diploma and transcripts
  • Florida Home Education graduation credentials
  • Proof of identification (copy of valid driver’s license, state issued identification card, US military ID, valid U.S. passport, valid passport issued by a foreign country)
    Note: Foreign documents must be accompanied by an official translation into English if the passport was issued in another language.
  • All applicants are required to submit a personal statement (500–750 words), describing their career goals, and explaining how they believe studying in a specific KWU bachelor’s program will support them in achieving their objectives.
  • If English is not the applicant’s native language, applicants must submit one on of the following as proof of meeting English language requirements for entry into KWU bachelor’s degree programs:
    • TOEFL IBT score of 60 or higher
    • IELTS score of 6.0 or higher
    • SELT score of Level 6 or higher
    • Documentation of ESL program completion
    • Proof of completing a high school where the primary language of instruction was English
  • If the student is not able to provide proof of one of the above, the university will administer its own exam to test the applicant’s proficiency in English is of sufficient level to complete the program of study. This will include a written exam in addition to an oral interview conducted in English, either at KWU premises or via a web meeting.

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Admissions Requirements

  Applicants seeking admission must be at least 18 years of age to enroll. In addition, the following requirements must be met. Supporting documentation must be submitted to the admissions department.

  • Completed Bachelor’s Degree, with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicants must provide a copy of their diploma and related transcripts. If the diploma was issued in a language other than English, a certified translated copy of the diploma and transcripts must be provided.
  • All students are required to submit a personal statement (500–750 words), describing their career goals, and explaining how they believe studying in KWU’s MBA program will support them in achieving this goal.
  • Proof of identification (copy of valid driver’s license, state issued identification card, US military ID, valid U.S. passport, valid passport issued by a foreign country)
    Note: Foreign documents must be accompanied by an official translation into English if the passport was issued in another language.
  • Two (2) years of professional work experience
  • Copy of resume
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • If English is not the applicant’s native language of instruction, applicants must submit one of the following as proof of meeting English language requirements for entry into the MBA program:
    • Score of 530 or higher on the TOEFL paper-based test (PBT), or 71 or higher on the Internet Based Test (iBT)
    • Score of 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Test (IELTS) also fully meet  language requirements for admission into this program
    • Score of Level 6 or higher on the Standardized English Language Test (SELT)
    • Evidence that the student completed at least 30 hours of Bachelor’s level work at an accredited institution of higher education, where the language of instruction was English
    • If the applicant is not able to provide proof of one of the above, the university will administer its own exam to test that the applicant’s proficiency in English is of sufficient level to complete this program of study. This will include a written exam, in addition to an oral interview conducted in English, either at KWU premises or via a web meeting.

• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Admissions Requirements

  Applicants seeking admission must be at least 18 years of age and meet the following requirements. Supporting documents must be submitted to the admissions department.

  • MBA or master’s degree in a business-related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants must provide a copy of the diploma and related transcripts. If diploma was issued in a language other than English, a certified and translated copy must be provided.
  • All applicants are required to submit a personal statement (500–750 words) describing their career goals and how the KWU DBA program will support then in achieving those goals. will support them in achieving those goals.
  • Proof of identification (copy of valid driver’s license, state issued identification card, US military ID, valid U.S. passport, valid passport issued by a foreign country)
    Note: Foreign documents must be accompanied by an official translation into English if the passport was issued in another language.
  • At least 5 years of professional work experience
  • Copy of resume
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • If English is not the applicant’s native language of instruction, applicants must submit one of the following as proof of meeting English language requirements for entry into the DBA program:
    • Score of 530 or higher on the TOEFL paper-based test (PBT), or 71 or higher on the Internet Based Test (iBT)
    • Score of 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Test (IELTS)also fully meet  language requirements for admission into this program
    • Score of Level 6 or higher on the Standardized English Language Test (SELT)
    • Evidence the applicant completed at least 30 hours of master’s degree coursework at an accredited institution of higher education, where the language of instruction was English
    • If the applicant is not able to provide proof of one of the above, the university will administer its own English proficiency exam to determine if the applicant meets the requirement. The exam includes a written exam and an oral interview conducted in English at KWU’s campus office or via a web meeting.

• Transfer of Credit Hours

  • Credit hours earned elsewhere may be evaluated and considered towards program completion. The applicant must present a transcript and catalog from  the institution where the courses were completed, during the application process. The institution must be accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency or international equivalent and the grade must be a “C” or higher.
  • A maximum of 90 transfer credits can be counted towards earning a bachelor’s degree from KWU.
  • No more than 18 transfer credits can be applied to the KWU MBA program.
  • A maximum of 9 transfer credits can be counted towards the KWU DBA program.

  The following general conditions apply for U.S. applicants:

  • KWU generally awards credit for prior coursework completed at licensed and accredited institutions in the United States, provided that the coursework is substantially comparable to the coursework required of the KWU program the student intends to enroll in.
  • Students are required to provide an official copy of their transcript(s) when applying for transfer credit.
  • KWU recognizes the validity of military training as potential college credit. All military training that has been reviewed by the American Council on Education (ACE) and meets the requirements of a student’s undergraduate degree plan may be eligible for transfer credit. Only transcripts received directly from Army/ACE or Sailor/Marine will be accepted for official review.

  The following general conditions apply for international applicants:

  • Students who are interested in applying for transfer credit from coursework completed outside of the United States are responsible for submitting the following documents, along with their transcripts and credit transfer request form:
    • Proof of the transferring institution’s licensing and accreditation status. An official English translation of such documents must be provided if the documents are in a foreign language. The business name of the translation service must be included with all translated documents submitted.
    • If student transcripts and diplomas were issued in a foreign language, a notarized translation of the documents must be submitted to KWU for consideration. The business name of the translation service must be included with all translated documents submitted.
    • Students may be required by KWU to submit course descriptions (translated into English if the descriptions are in a foreign language).

  Note: All prior learning is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and credit is awarded at the discretion of KWU.

• International Students

  • Key West University welcomes from prospective international students.  Our mission is to establish an international community of academic faculty and industry professionals who think innovatively and collaborate to equip students with the skills and competencies that they need to succeed in the global force.
  • Our instructors are committed to teaching course curriculums that are focused on building the skills and competencies valued by multinational employers.
  • Since KWU offers 100% online degree programs, international students can complete their program without relocating to the U.S. Affordable tuition rates provide students the opportunity to earn a high-quality degree at tuition rates significantly lower than traditional U.S. universities.
  • The online learning format of our programs allows working students the flexibility to complete coursework at KWU around their work schedules.
  • All international applicants seeking admission to KWU must demonstrate English language proficiency and meet program entrance requirements. Please refer to our admissions requirements above or our catalog for detailed information.
  • Prospective international students are welcome to contact the Admissions department with specific questions, or to request further assistance regarding the admissions process.

• Determining if Online Learning is Right for You

  Key West University is a provider of online education. If you never experienced studying online, consider the following to determine if online learning is for you.

  • Online learning is one of the most convenient ways for adults with busy lives to obtain a quality education. Unlike classroom-based learning, online learners are not required to attend classes at a specific time and location. Instead, students are expected to spend on average 10–15 hours per week studying course materials and completing related assignments.
  • Course materials are available to students on a 24/7 basis. They have the flexibility to choose what days and times are most convenient for them to study. However, students need to organize and manage their time effectively to meet deadlines for submitting assignments.
  • Students and instructors get to know each other and work together through interactive chat forums and emails.All projects and assignments are submitted by students through KWU’s online learning platform. Instructors use the same platform to provide written feedback to students and assign grades. Therefore, it is important that students feel comfortable communicating online, in written format.
  • Students are encouraged to communicate with professors and Personal Learning Advisors (PLAs) when they need assistance with assignments, have trouble with the learning platform, or for any other issue. KWU staff are focused on assisting students to successfully complete each course in their program of study.

2023/2024 Start Dates

• Fall Trimester
• Registration Deadline
  Oct 2
• Start Date
  Oct 10
• End Date
  Dec 17
• Winter Break
  Dec 18, 2023 — Jan 2, 2024

• Spring Trimester
• Registration Deadline
  Jan 29
• Start Date
  Feb 5
• End Date
  Apr 14
• Spring Break
  Apr 15, 2024 — May 5, 2024

• Summer Trimester
• Registration Deadline
  May 6
• Start Date
  May 13
• End Date
  Jul 21
• Summer Break
  Jul 22, 2024 — Sep 22, 2024