Upon the student's successful completion of the program, the ELI awards a certificate of attendance. Letter grades and written evaluations of each student's English language proficiency for each skill area are also given. Part-time enrollment in both the ELI and regular academic classes is possible. Admission to the ELI is open to those applicants who have completed a high school education or its equivalent and have at least elementary competence in English. Applicants are required to submit certified official transcripts of all prior high school or university course work translated into English and if applicable, final exam results.
Early registration is advised although there is no closing date for applications.
Students accepted from overseas by the ELI will have to enter the United States with a student F-1 visa. Admission to the ELI does not guarantee subsequent admission to the regular university program of Ottawa University. However, most students are accepted conditionally into the regular university program and then begin taking regular academic courses, even part-time, once they reach minimal proficiency levels. The housing deposit will be used to help pay for the room for the first semester, and the enrollment fee will be refunded upon graduation or completion of the formal withdrawal process. No late registration will be permitted after the fifth day following the registration days in each semester.