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Welcome Incoming IBS International Students

This website was created to help during your transition to our Graduate Program and perhaps even the United States. If you have any suggestions for information you would like listed on this page, please email them to ibs@d.umn.edu.

Direct all questions relating to your admission, arrival, orientation activities, class schedule/registration, etc., to:

Dawn Johnson, Director of Graduate Studies Assistant
251 SSB, 1035 Kirby Drive
Duluth, MN 55812
(218) 726-6898

IBS International Student Welcoming Committee

Created and Managed by: Cecilia Perez de Lara Rodriguez, 1st Year IBS Ph.D. Student

IBS New Student Orientation - Mandatory

University of Minnesota Graduate School

International Student and Scholar Services Website

Your Passport to the University of Minnesota- International Students

University of MN - Duluth

UMD - International Student Services
International Student Services (ISS) is the office dedicated to serving UMD's international community. Its primary mission is to assist international students in successfully accomplishing the goals that brought them to the University by using all available resources.

UMD International Student Handbook

Off-Campus Housing

Staff & Contact Information

Before you arrive:

  1. Confirm your Enrollment by visiting the Graduate School website and login to your online application to check the status and to confirm your enrollment.
  2. Apply for your Student Visa OR begin your visa transfer process (Visa transfers are students coming from another U.S. college or university)
  3. Research off-campus housing options. If you need to secure off-campus housing, then you should arrive 3 weeks prior to the start-date so that you have sufficient time to search for housing.
  4. Plan for your Expenses and Payment of Tuition. The 2012-13 estimated minimum cost of living for one year (12 months) will be $16,417. This figure is the combination of costs of living expenses, books and supplies, mandatory student fees, health insurance, and (if applicable) tuition at the standard Graduate School rate for 6-14 credits.
  5. Choose your Arrival Date.
    • If you hold a graduate assistantship, you must be on campus to begin employment on the starting date indicated by your department. Beginning an assistantship late will result in less salary paid to you and will also affect your tuition and health care benefits. Check with your department to see if you are required to come earlier to attend a special orientation for graduate assistants.
    • You are not required to attend the ISSS Orientation on the Twin Cities Campus.
    • You are required to attend the IBS Orientation Program, held the week prior to your Assistantship start date.
  6. Send your Immunization Record
  7. Initiate Your U of M E-Mail Account Please Note: A Social Security number is not needed to activate your email account. You may leave this field blank.
  8. Read the Intentional Student Ambassador blog to learn about life at the U of M.

After you arrive:

  1. Plan Transportation from the Airport
  2. Arrange transportation to Duluth, MN
  3. Attend Document Check and bring the your documents
  4. Attend IBS Orientation Program
  5. Look for details about UMD Graduate Orientation
  6. Remove any registration holds and register for classes
  7. Contact Your College/Department You will need to obtain necessary permissions for registration
  8. Update addresses on OneStop
  9. Sign up for Health Insurance when you Register for Classes
  10. Obtain Identification Cards
  11. Pay Tuition & Fees
  12. Subscribe to the ISSS Weekly Update

Important Links

Visas

It is very important to enter the United States with the proper visa. You must apply for an entry visa stamp in your passport so that you can enter the US in student status. F and J entry visas can only be obtained outside of the United States at a U.S. embassy or consulate. To apply for an entry visa, follow the steps outlined on this website: http://www.isss.umn.edu/new/visas.html

SEVIS

New F-1 and J-1 students and scholars are required to pay a SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee before applying for a U.S. entry visa. The fee is $200 for F-1 students, and $180 for J-1 students and scholars. The fee does not apply to scholars and students who are continuing with the same program (those who are not entering on a new I-20 marked, “Initial” or a new DS-2019 marked, “Begin a new program”). Canadian citizens, must pay the fee before going to the U.S. port of entry. For more information about the requirements and how to pay the fee, please go to SEVIS (SEVIS I-901 Fee)