Considerations for International Students

Students pursuing online degrees should note that some countries may not formally recognize foreign online degrees, which can have implications for students who later seek to enroll in other educational programs, or for those who seek employment with their home country’s government or other employers requiring specific credentials. Additionally, some countries may or may not require foreign higher education institutions to comply with distance education regulations. Temple University does not represent or guarantee that its online degree programs are recognized in or meet requirements to comply with distance education regulations in the student’s country of residence, if it is outside the United States. It is therefore the student’s responsibility to understand current circumstances or special requirements surrounding whether this online degree will be recognized in the student’s country of residence, how the collection of student data may be used in said country, and whether the student will be subject to additional withholding taxes in addition to the price of tuition.

Blocked Countries

To comply with U.S. export control regulations, Temple University does not currently offer online programs to individuals located* in the following areas**: 

• Iran
• Sudan
• Crimea
• Cuba
• Syria
• North Korea
• Venezuela 

*Qualified and otherwise eligible students who are citizens of the above-listed countries and regions but reside elsewhere may be required to attest in a certification statement that they no longer reside in a comprehensively sanctioned country or region as part of the admissions process. Additional admissions requirements may also apply. 

**This list is subject to change as sanctions change and are added over time. Therefore, this list may not be fully exhaustive and may contain out-of-date information.

Restricted Access to Technology, Tools, Content, and Services

Certain foreign governments use firewalls to block or limit access to Internet content, which can impact a student’s ability to access course materials and supporting tools and technologies, including those provided by the university, its partners, and third parties. When available to students, the use of a virtual private network (VPN) may enhance a student’s access. Export controls can further limit Temple University’s ability to provide students in foreign jurisdictions with certain downloadable content and programs. The university is committed to working with students who experience access limitations, but as these international restrictions may be beyond the university’s and the student’s control, the university cannot guarantee full and uninterrupted access to its online educational content, technologies, tools, and services in all international jurisdictions. Please review any notices published by the program you are interested in to learn more.

For example, the Ministry of Education in China does not permit VPN access and it does not permit all Google platforms (e.g., Gmail, You Tube) to operate and limits the accessibility of Canvas, Temple’s learning management system. Virtual storage systems such as Google Drive, Mircosoft OneDrive, and Box.com have also been blocked as well.

Background Screening for Export Control and Sanctions Compliance

Qualified international applicants who do not currently hold a valid U.S. visa will be subjected to additional background checks through international databases prior to receiving an offer of admission. These screening procedures support the university’s efforts to avoid transacting with persons designated under U.S. sanctions programs.  

Data Privacy and Protection

Personal information—whether volunteered, collected through automated processes (e.g., cookies operating on university websites), or retrieved from third parties – will be processed in the United States. For students participating in Temple distance education programs from a European Union (EU) member state, please note that while the United States has not received a finding of “adequacy” under Article 45 of the EU’s Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Temple has invested considerable resources into data privacy initiatives and has established significant safeguards for personal data transfers. Additional information regarding Temple’s data collection, processing, and sharing practices, as well as a description of the rights afforded to EU distance-education students, is available here. Individual programs may provide supplemental disclosures when their practices differ. 

Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Taxes 

U.S. Citizenship or legal permanent residency is a requirement for federal financial aid and FAFSA eligibility. For information about available financial aid, please contact Student Financial Services.  University and advertised external scholarships may not be available to all international students. Students and prospective students are advised to review all eligibility criteria listed for such scholarships carefully.