The Office of International Affairs hosts Pre-Arrival Sessions in a webinar format as a resource to help guide new international students as they prepare to begin at Ohio State. The webinars are available to new international students prior to the International Student Orientation and students' arrival on campus.
Throughout the series, students will hear directly from teams across the university including academic advising, Student Life, Buckeye Link, immigration services and health and wellness.
The Pre-Arrival Sessions will help new international students:
- Prepare for the visa application and immigration process for arrival in the United States
- Understand and meet orientation and immigration check-in expectations and responsibilities
- Understand important requirements for completing the vaccination requirements and tuberculosis testing before arrival
- Transition successfully to student and academic life at Ohio State
Whether students are joining as an undergraduate or graduate, these sessions are a great way to ask questions, meet other incoming students and begin building your Buckeye community before arriving on campus.
There are two Pre-arrival Sessions for new international students arriving for autumn semester 2026, and students are encouraged to attend both. Graduate students also will have an opportunity to meet with the experts about off campus housing to learn how to find the perfect place for you in Columbus.
Students admitted for autumn 2026 should have received an invitation to attend the Pre-arrival Sessions. If you missed the email and would like to register, please contact global-engagement@osu.edu.
Session One
Tuesday, June 2, 8 - 9:30 a.m. EDT
Topics that will be discussed include:
- Immigration and applying for a visa
- Financial planning
- Housing and dining overview
- Off-campus housing
- Academic/course registration break-out sessions
for undergraduate and graduate students
Session Two
Tuesday, June 9, 8 - 9:30 a.m. EDT
Topics that will be discussed include:
- Vaccinations and Tuberculosis testing
- Mental health and wellness and health insurance
- Preparing for arrival
- Orientation and getting involved
- Doing business with Buckeye Link
- Immigration reminders
- Overview of Global Gateways in China, India and Brazil
- Current student panel breakout session. You will receive a link
to join the break-out session during the webinar
Off-campus Housing
Thursday, June 11, 8 a.m. EDT
Join the Willie J. Young Sr., Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement for a housing webinar to learn more about the off-campus housing process and tips and tricks for renters. And, of course, you'll have an opportunity to ask questions about living in the off-campus area of Ohio State. There's so much to explore!
Graduate students admitted for autumn 2026 should have received an invitation to attend the off-campus housing session. If you missed the email and would like to register, please contact global-engagement@osu.edu.