International Students and Online Education

UNM Online provides international students the freedom to earn their degree without leaving home. If you are not a U.S. citizen and live outside the United States, you can take online courses without having to apply for a student visa or take on the cost of immigrating to the United States. This provides you the opportunity to earn a degree from an accredited research university with a commitment to diversity and lifelong learning.

Considerations

There are some issues you should consider before enrolling in online courses or degree programs with UNM Online:

  • If you are an international student in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa, only three credit hours of online education per semester can count toward the minimum full-time enrollment requirement. The number of credit hours required for full-time status differs for undergraduate and graduate students. Students are permitted to take more than one online course, but only three credit hours online will count towards full-time enrollment. For more information, please refer to the enrollment rules provided by UNM’s International Students & Scholars Office.
  • If you are a student living outside the U.S. and are not a U.S. citizen, taking an online course or program from UNM will not qualify you for either a visa or for work authorization in the U.S. following your chosen program of study.
  • International students seeking admission to UNM will have to demonstrate proficiency in English by taking the TOEFL exam (minimum scores are dependent on the degree program you select).
  • Not all countries or professions accept degrees obtained through distance education as sufficient for educational experience. It is crucial that you contact your country's education department and appropriate professional licensing bodies before enrolling with UNM Online in order to determine whether an online degree is right for you.

While we carefully track issues related to international authorization and licensure, it is the student’s responsibility to understand the requirements for whether an online degree will be recognized in the student’s country of residence and/or any country in which the student intends to work; how the collection of student data may be used in that country; and whether there are any tax implications in addition to the price of tuition. For a full explanation of visa requirements and limitations, please contact the UNM International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).

Programs By Country

It is the student’s responsibility to understand the requirements for whether an online degree will be recognized in the student’s country of residence and/or any country in which the student intends to work; how the collection of student data may be used in that country; and whether there are any tax implications in addition to the price of tuition. 

Several countries will not formally recognize foreign online degrees, which may have implications for students who later seek to enroll in other educational programs, or for those who seek employment with that country’s government or employers requiring specific credentials. International students considering an academic program that leads to a professional license should first confirm with the appropriate licensing board in their country of residence or the country in which they intend to work as to whether an online degree from UNM is recognized when seeking licensure or certification.

Click on each country link in the table below to find out which UNM online programs are available in that country.

Student Complaint Information
CountryContactsImportant Information
AlbaniaMinistry of Education and Sports
AlgeriaMinistry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
ArgentinaMinistry of Education
AustraliaAustralian Department of Education and TrainingThe Australian Department of Education and Training does not require the University of New Mexico to register as an online education provider in Australia. HOWEVER, any overseas qualifications or certifications would still need to be assessed by the appropriate Overseas Qualifications Unit in each Australian state/territory.
AustriaFederal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
AzerbaijanMinistry of Education
BahamasMinistry of Education
BahrainMinistry of Education (Manama)
BangladeshMinistry of Education
BrazilMinistry of Education
Canada - New BrunswickNew Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and LabourThe New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour does not require that foreign universities obtain authorization to offer online degree programs in the province. As a result, the University of New Mexico is permitted to offer online degree programs and courses to students located in New Brunswick. In addition, UNM is listed on Canada's Master List of Designated Education Institutions, meaning that Canadian students attending UNM Online may seek funding from their provincial student financial aid authority.
ChileMinistry of Education
ChinaMinistry of Education
ColombiaMinistry of National Education
Czech RepublicMinistry of Education, Youth, and Sports
EcuadorMinistry of Education (Ministerio de Educación)
FranceMinistry of National Education, Higher Education, and Research
IndiaIndia Department of Higher EducationThe Association of Indian Universities does not formally recognize foreign online degrees for equivalence, which may have implications for students who later seek to enroll in other educational programs in India, or for those who seek employment with India's government or employers requiring specific credentials.
IraqMinistry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
IrelandHigher Education Authority
IsraelMinistry of Education
ItalyMinistry of Education, Universities and Research
JapanMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT)
LebanonEducation Center for Research and Development
MalaysiaMinistry of Education
MexicoNational Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions
NorwayNorwegian Council for Higher Education
PolandMinistry of National Education
Saudi ArabiaMinistry of Education
Slovak RepublicMinistry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic
SpainMinistry of Education, Culture, and Sports
SwedenSwedish Council for Higher Education
SwitzerlandState Secretariat of Education and Research (SER)
The NetherlandsMinistry of Education, Culture, and Science
United KingdomDepartment of Education