Freed-Hardeman University

• Year of foundation: 1869
• Location: Henderson, Tennessee, USA
• Age of students: from 16 years
• Language of instruction: English
• Type of institution: private Christian university
• Number of students: about 2000 people
• Accommodation: residence.

Freed-Hardeman University is a well-known American private university located in the state of Tennessee and has been conducting successful educational and outreach activities for the past one and a half centuries. The university has accreditation of relevant authorities and organizations, regularly occupies high places in the rankings. Today, students from around the world are studying for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs; special educational programs and short courses are available. Freed-Hardeman University pays great attention to the spiritual and moral education and development of students in the spirit of the Christian worldview and humanistic ideas of goodness and justice. Teachers and specialists have a high level of qualification and transfer invaluable experience and knowledge to students.

Freed-Hardeman University is ideal for those who want to get a quality education while being in a friendly family atmosphere. A university graduate can boast of professionalism, broad erudition and deep moral principles that help achieve success in professional and work activities.

Dozens of scientific departments and institutes operate at Freed-Hardeman University, offering programs in a variety of specialties: from nursing, pharmacy, computer science and engineering to philosophy, pedagogical education, and fine arts.

The FHU campus has five women’s and four men’s residences. Women’s residential buildings are represented by:

• Scott Hall and Dixon Hall — luxury rooms: two fully furnished bedrooms connected by a shared bathroom,
• Bradfield Hall — bedrooms for several students with shared bathrooms on the floors,
• Porter‑Terry Hall — three‑person luxury rooms located next to the common living area, each with its own bathroom,
• Hall-Roland Hall — standard rooms, apartments for two, with each accommodation format having access to a shared bathroom.

List of Male residential buildings includes:

• Benson Hall and Sewell Hall — luxury accommodation, where every two rooms share a bathroom,
• Farrow Hall — shared bathrooms on the floors,
• Paul Gray Hall — standard double rooms, luxury rooms with access to bathrooms on the floor.

All residences have a lobby, recreation areas, and laundry rooms with free washing machines and dryers. All rooms are equipped with wireless internet access and high‑definition cable TV.

Students who have earned 90 or more credit units and have a GPA of at least 2.50 may apply to live in the university’s privileged residences: Tyler Hall (for women) and Woods‑East (for men), where apartments/apartment‑style living spaces have been prepared. Each apartment is designed for four residents and includes four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a washing machine, a dryer, a living room, a dining room, and an equipped kitchen.

All students living on campus are required to choose one of the meal plans, which include a certain number of meals per week and additional points for purchases in university stores and cafes. There are three large dining halls and a cafeteria on the campus grounds — all of them can be accessed according to the purchased meal plan. The diverse menu always includes vegetarian and vegan dish options, and allergens are indicated for each dish.

During studies in the USA, a large role is given to sports, creative, and spiritual and moral education of students. Students can engage in various sports and creativity, lead an active out-of-class life, participate in circles of interests and sections, developing their talents in various fields. Divine services, joint prayers, classes on spiritual themes are held. List of available sports is represented by:

• Basketball,
• Football,
• Cross country,
• Baseball,
• Golf,
• Tennis,
• Softball,
• Volleyball,
• Track.

Different types of art sections are available for international students, among them are:

• Musical groups,
• Playing in the orchestra,
• Painting and drawing,
• Design and fashion,
• Playing musical instruments,
• Vocals,
• Theater art,
• Acting in theater and cinema,
• The photo.

Directions of clubs and communities consist of:

• Academic and professional (25 clubs),
• Public (6),
• Religious (2),
• Student government.

Various festivals and celebrations, conferences and workshops, educational and recreational activities are held on and off campus. Students can attend theaters and cinemas, music concerts, shops and shopping centers, travel and tours.

• More than 150 years of successful academic activity,
• Included in the US News & World Report ranking as one of the universities with the optimal cost‑benefit ratio,
• Student‑to‑faculty ratio — 13:1,
• Awarded the “Outstanding College” award in 2019–2020,
• The student community includes local and international students who have come from 34 states and more than 25 countries,
• The university chapel is open daily.

FHU is located in the small town of Henderson, Tennessee. Its campus features academic and residential buildings, sports facilities, a chapel, and much more — students live and study in excellent conditions to acquire high‑quality professional knowledge and develop their individual strengths and talents.

The following Freed‑Hardeman facilities are particularly noteworthy:

• Two research centers with research laboratories equipped for high‑tech scientific work;
• Full‑scale baseball fields;
• A performing arts center with a black box theater;
• A sports center with a multipurpose hall and a gym;
• A visual arts center featuring specialized studios for design, painting, and crafts;
• Clayton Chapel and the Mormon Church of Christ Henderson;
• A music arts center with classes in playing musical instruments, vocal performance, orchestral performance, and performance halls;
• A softball stadium;
• Tennis courts;
• An indoor training center with fields for softball and baseball;
• Digital Innovation Center;
• Large library with access to printed and electronic resources;
• Medical Clinic.

Freed‑Hardeman has numerous recreation and additional development areas, including Student Life Offices, meeting rooms for circles of interests c, residential, residences, several large restaurants and a coffee shop, and open spaces for walking and sports activities.

FHU operates almost all year‑round, as programs at different levels of education have different durations and schedules. The academic year consists of several fixed semesters:

• Autumn: August–December,
• Spring: January–May.

At the end of each semester, exam sessions are held. Students’ schedules depend on the chosen level of education, but most of them study on weekdays and have days off on weekends and holidays.

An approximate list of additional expenses consists of:

• Registration and administrative fees,
• Educational deposits,
• Accommodation,
• Meal plan,
• Textbooks,
• Academic materials,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Individual support not included in the curriculum,
• Personal expenses.

Applicants need to fill out the registration form, provide the required documents and pay the admission fee, after which they will have an interview. Based on the results of communication with the candidate, the admissions committee makes a decision on enrollment, helps with оформлении visa documents and provides all necessary information about arrival to campus, accommodation in residence, and curriculum.

More than 90% of graduates are successfully employed in their specialty every year, holding high positions in regional, national and international companies.

Applicants applying to FHU from abroad must have a foreign passport, health insurance, and health certificates, as well as a visa or residence permit for studying in the United States.

The admission criteria depend on the chosen level of education, but the following will be common:

• Academic certificates: a high school diploma and certificates of preparatory courses/bachelor’s degree/master’s degree,
• Language test results: TOEFL iBT (from 70), Duolingo (from 100), or an equivalent.

Those wishing to enroll in master’s and doctoral programs must provide a motivation letter and letters of recommendation from their previous place of study or employment. Any application will be enhanced by individual achievements in studies, sports, creative pursuits, and social life.

Freed-Hardeman supports its students with various funding programs: scholarships, grants, loans, and the "work-study" program.

Most scholarships are based on academic achievement and are limited to $15,000 per year, covering part of the cost of the academic program. Some of the most popular ones include:

• Scholarship for Academic Excellence,
• Board of Trustees Scholarship,
• Transfer Student Scholarship,
• FHU Promise Program,
• Tennessee Hope Scholarship,
• Scholarship for Medical School Students,
• Church Scholarship Co-financing Program.

There are support programs focused on helping in difficult financial situations: they help pay for the educational program if the student demonstrates good academic performance and actively participates in extracurricular university activities.

The "work-study" program allows you to combine obtaining a degree with part-time work on campus or at partner organizations. This way, students can both cover the full cost of education and gain professional skills.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision