International Students International Exchange Students Program Requirements | Program Requirements |
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Immigration InformationOnce admitted to participate in Ohio State’s international exchange program, students are issued a Form DS-2019, which is used to apply for a U.S. visa to enter the U.S. in the J-1 exchange visitor category. Additional details available at: Visa Information. The Form DS-2019 is one of many documents that new IEP students receive in their OSU Exchange Student Acceptance Packet. Documents contained in the acceptance packet include:
Two-Year Foreign Residency RequirementThe intent of the Exchange Visitor program is to allow students to complete their exchange program in the U.S. and then return to their home country so that they and their country can benefit from the exchange. Certain J-1 exchange visitors are subject to a two-year foreign residency requirement, which means that they have to return to and be physically present in their home country for at least two years after the completion of their program in the United States. Until this requirement is fulfilled or waived, the exchange visitors are ineligible for a change or adjustment of status to other U.S. visas (such as H-1, L-1, permanent residency, etc.). Not all exchange visitors are subject to this requirement. The details of this requirement should be thoroughly understood by all incoming IEP students. For more information, please visit U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor (J) Visas. Check-In and OrientationIEP students are required by the United States Department of Homeland Security to report to ISS prior to the beginning of their academic program. In order to assist students in complying with this requirement, international student Check-In and Orientation is held during the week(s) prior to the beginning of each quarter. A welcome meeting is also held for incoming IEP students before the beginning of each quarter. Detailed information regarding this meeting will be provided to students after being officially admitted to the program. IEP students are advised to take check-in, orientation, and the welcome meeting into account when making travel plans for arrival. It is highly recommended that new IEP students give themselves adequate time to participate in these required activities and begin adjusting to their new environment before classes start.Course Selection and RegistrationUndergraduate IEP students are admitted to The Ohio State University’s Continuing Education program. Admission to this program gives exchange students more flexibility and autonomy to take courses in a variety of disciplines. Graduate IEP students are admitted to the Graduate Non-degree program and take courses in their chosen discipline. Graduate courses in Law, Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry, Veterinary Medicine, and Pharmacy are not available to international exchange students. Graduate business courses are only available to those admitted directly to one of the exchange programs at the Fisher College of Business. The website of the Office of the Registrar contains a variety of important academic information, including the official Ohio State academic calendar and a searchable list of all courses offered at Ohio State. In addition to researching Ohio State’s course offerings, students are strongly encouraged to communicate with a designated academic advisor prior to arrival to facilitate the course selection and registration process. The advisor’s contact information is communicated to new exchange students after the point of admission. Tuition and FeesIEP students do NOT have to pay tuition to The Ohio State University, as they pay tuition at their home institution. However, they are responsible to pay for the following costs:
Please note that the costs listed above for OSU Student Health Insurance and the three other fees are based on rates set for the 2007-2008 academic year and are subject to future change. Every effort will be made to update this website as needed. Visit the University Registrar for an explanation of these fees. It is recommended that exchange students consider opening a U.S. bank account in Columbus so that they can use QuikPAY, Ohio State’s secure online payment system. Fees may be paid online 7 days a week, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. More information about payment procedures can be found at the The Office of the Bursar website. Fees are typically due on the first day of classes in a new quarter, so it is suggested that students make a fee payment plan before they arrive in Columbus. Required Health Insurance All international students at The Ohio State University are required to enroll in the university’s Comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan. The only exceptions are for the following groups of students:
Enrollment in Ohio State's Comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan occurs automatically once a student registers for classes. Students who wish to submit a request for review for exemption from coverage will need to complete and submit an International Student Health Insurance Waiver form by the 15th day of their first term of enrollment. The Comprehensive Plan covers inpatient and outpatient medical and mental health care, some preventative/well care, pharmacy, dental, and vision. Exclusions and limitations apply. Please visit the Student Health Insurance website for more details. Please note: for administrative reasons, exchange students actually pay the health insurance rate charged domestic/American students rather than the international student rate. HousingIn order to maximize their experience at Ohio State and get involved in the university community, it is recommended that IEP students live on campus. Housing on campus is limited and only offered after students are accepted to Ohio State. If an IEP applicant marks on the IEP Application for Admission that he or she wishes to live on campus, once admitted, a housing brochure and contract will be issued and most likely included in the OSU Exchange Student Acceptance Packet. If not immediately available, the brochure and contract will be mailed at a later date as soon as it becomes available. Undergraduate students who are under 23 years of age are usually offered housing in a variety of undergraduate residence halls. Room rates range from $1,385 to $1,825 per quarter. Both undergraduate and graduate students 23 years old by the date of arrival in Columbus are eligible for single or double rooms in University Graduate, Professional and Nontraditional Housing on campus. For students bringing dependents with them to OSU, on-campus housing cannot be guaranteed, but there may be opportunities available at Buckeye Village. University Housing has additional information concerning room rates, residence halls, and other aspects of housing issues. Off-campus housing is also an option that IEP students may choose. However, students who wish to live off-campus are responsible for securing their own housing. Residences that are located off-campus are owned and operated by private individuals or companies, and OIA is unable to make any arrangements on behalf of students. Safety and the availability of public transportation should be taken into consideration when evaluating possible off-campus accommodations. Students seeking additional help and information for off-campus housing can visit Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS). OCSS maintains an online housing search with information on accommodations both within walking distance and driving distance to the Ohio State campus. OCSS also has safety information, utility company resources and legal referrals, and they can assist students when looking for roommates. Meal PlansBoth students who live on and off campus are eligible to enroll in an Ohio State dining plan. (IEP students living on campus who choose not to enroll in a dining plan are still subject to a quarterly fee for dining facilities and programs charged all residents of University Housing.) Campus Dining Services offers five dining plans, each offering a wide variety of appealing and nutritious foods at convenient locations and hours. The differences between plans are in the number of allowable “swipes” (generally equal to one meal). You can choose the plan that best meets your needs, based on the number of meals you anticipate eating on campus. For more information on meal plans and the many locations on campus visit Campus Dining Services. Contact Information Please send all application materials to: |
