Frequently Asked Questions
I live outside of the United States. How do I take English as a Second Language classes at Fullerton College?
All international students who would like to study at Fullerton College on the F-1/F-2 visa must apply through the International Student Center. ESL classes are offered to students who are pursuing an Associate Degree or Certificate program. However, Fullerton College is not currently authorized to accept F-1/F-2 visa students for ESL only programs.
When are ESL classes scheduled?
During the FALL (late August – December) and SPRING (late January – May) semesters, classes are generally scheduled twice a week, either Mondays/Wednesdays (MW) or Tuesdays/Thursdays (TTh), with classes in the morning, afternoon, and even at night. Night classes generally start at 7:00 pm. Friday only classes are also offered. We also have short term classes that start halfway through the semester. Some classes are offered during the summer semester (June – August).
The college publishes a schedule of classes for each semester. Click here to see the current class schedule
What is the difference between ENGL 110 F, ENGL 101 F, and ENGL 100 F
ENGL 110 F (Enhanced College Writing for Non-Native Speakers – 5 units with language and extra academic success support)
ENGL 101 F (Enhanced College Writing – 5 units with extra academic success support)
ENGL 100 F (College Writing – 4 units)
All 3 courses are equivalent, and they all satify the Written Communication General Education Requirement for an associate’s degree and transfer to a 4-year university.
You should take ENGL 110 F if you want to …
- transfer to a college or university: ENGL 110 F fulfills CSU A2 or IGETC 1A GE requirements for written communication
- earn a degree: ENGL 110 F fulfills the Fullerton College local degree requirement for written communication
- focus on refining your language skills: ENGL 110 F provides additional grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary support for non-native English learners
- work with ESL professors who are experts in teaching the English language: ESL professors have master’s degrees in Linguistics or TESL (or related field)
Can I skip a course in the ESL core sequence?
Some students who show outstanding progress in their core academic reading and writing classes (ESL 82, 83, 184) will have opportunities to skip a course in the sequence through Pop-Up exams. Your professor will explain this to you during the first week of class.
What is the difference between ESL classes at Fullerton College and ESL classes at NOCE
ESL classes at Fullerton College help students develop the English skills they need to be successful in college. Reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary are emphasized in these courses. There are also support courses to help students improve their listening, speaking, and pronunciation skills. All Fullerton College ESL courses are COLLEGE CREDIT courses. Students are expected to do homework assignments outside of class and be prepared for class discussions. Students take tests and quizzes in class and receive a semester grade. Regular attendance is required. Many Fullerton College ESL students plan to earn a two-year degree or certificate or transfer to a four-year university.
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ESL classes at the North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) help students improve their English skills for day-to-day life in the United States. Conversation, workplace English, citizenship, and life skills are emphasized in these courses. These courses are NON-CREDIT courses (not for college credit). Students spend more hours in class but do less homework compared to a CREDIT class. Regular attendance is important but not required. NOCE also offers some advanced courses that introduce students to academic English. Many beginning ESL students first study English at NOCE for one or two years before transferring to Fullerton College to continue their English studies.
Click here to start your application.
Go to the North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) website for more information about their ESL program.
How much does it cost to take ESL classes?
Fees at Fullerton College, as with other California Community Colleges, is $46 per unit. ESL classes range from 2 to 5 units. Many students qualify for Financial Aid and the fee waiver.
You can use the calculator available on the Fullerton College website to estimate your total cost of attendance. Non-resident tuition applies to international students (F-1/F-2 visa).
NEW LAW (AB 1232): Starting in spring 2023, newly arrived immigrants, refugees, and asylees are exempted from paying the non-resident tuition fee on ESL courses. This exception applies only to individuals who, upon entering the US settled in California and have resided in California for less than 1 year. Only the tuition fee for the ESL course is exempt.
More information about admission and registration for Fullerton College is available on the Admissions and Records Office website.
If you’re an international student, please visit the International Student Center website.
I have been in California for less than a year. Do I still have to pay for non-resident tuition?
NEW LAW (AB 1232): Starting in spring 2023, newly arrived immigrants, refugees, and asylees are exempted from paying the non-resident tuition fee on ESL courses. This exception applies only to individuals who, upon entering the US settled in California and have resided in California for less than 1 year. Only the tuition fee for the ESL course is exempt.
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For all other Fullerton College classes, non-citizen students holding a permanent resident (green card) visa must have legal residence in California for a minimum of 12 consecutive months preceding the day before the first day of the semester. So if you’ve been in California for at least a year by the start of the semester you’re applying in, you are considered a California resident. More information about Residency Requirements is available at http://admissions.fullcoll.edu/residency.
If you have any questions about your residency or if you believe you have been incorrectly charged non-resident tuition, please contact .
I am an AB 540 (undocumented) student. Do I still have to pay for non-resident tuition?
AB 540 allows all persons, including undocumented immigrant students and those who have been granted a T or U visa status, who meet the requirements set forth in Section 68130.5 of the Education Code to be exempt from nonresident tuition in California’s colleges and universities.
Any student, other than a non-immigrant alien, who meets all of the following requirements, shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges, the California State University and the University of California (all public colleges and universities in California).
Students who are nonimmigrants [for example, those who hold F (Student) visas, B (Visitor) visas, etc.] are not eligible for this exemption.
Who Qualifies?
- An alien student who is without lawful immigrant status (undocumented, out of status)
- Students who are nonimmigrants and who are victims of trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes who have been granted T or U visa status, under Title 8 of the United States Code, Sections 1101(a)(15)(T) or (U) are eligible for this exemption
- A U.S. Citizen and/or Permanent Resident card holder who does not meet the California residency requirement
More information about Residency Requirements is available at http://admissions.fullcoll.edu/residency.
If you have any questions about your residency or if you believe you have been incorrectly charged non-resident tuition, please contact .
Do I need to have TOEFL or IELTS scores to attend Fullerton College?
International students (F-1/F-2 visa) should contact the International Student Center for specific Proof of English Proficiency requirements.
Most students already in the United States don’t need TOEFL or IELTS scores to apply to the ESL program at Fullerton College. Once they apply to Fullerton College, they must take the ESL Guided Self Placement to help determine their appropriate English level placement. They will also meet with a counselor to discuss which courses to take.
Students coming from another college and having previously completed an ESL class should schedule an appointment with a Fullerton College Counselor to determine if they will need to take the ESL Guided Self Placement at Fullerton College.
What do I select under Intended Major or Program of Study in the online application?
Many ESL students decide to pursue a degree, transfer, or career certificate program offered by Fullerton College while taking ESL classes and developing their English language skills. Your selection in the “Intended Major or Program of Study” helps our academic counselors give you more information about the program that interests you. Therefore, all new students must select at least one of the several academic programs offered by the college. To learn more about these programs, visit the Hornets Pathways page. ESL offers two certificate programs: (1) ESL Certificate of Proficiency in Academic English and (2) ESL Milestone Certificate of Achievement – Pathway to Transfer. Learn more about these two certificates here.
You will be able to change your selection once you meet with a counselor and discuss your educational plan and the classes you will be taking every semester.
How do I complete the new student online orientation?
Most new students are required to take the online orientation. After you apply to Fullerton College, you will receive an email that would indicate whether you will need to complete the orientation or are exempt. Students who are exempt from the orientation are still welcome to take it.
To access the online orientation, please log into your myGateway account, click on the “Fullerton” tab, then click on the “Fullerton College Orientation” hyperlink.
Watch this video to learn how to access the orientation.
How can I get help if I'm having trouble logging in MyGateway or Canvas?
Students can get technical support services from ACT (Academic Computing Technologies) Help Desk. To contact the ACT Help Desk call 714-992-7111 or email
One common technical issue that ESL students experience is this error when logging in MyGateway:
CAS is Unavailable. There was an error trying to complete your request. Please notify your support desk or try again.
If you get the error above, we recommend that you change your computer or device’s language to English before logging in and try again.