Congratulations on your selection as one of Indiana University’s international exchange participants for the upcoming academic year. There are several important steps you will need to complete in order to ensure you have a positive, productive experience.
Prior to your departure, you may request an in-person meeting or conference call with a staff member of the Office of International Partnerships to discuss your exchange. Call 812-855-8669 or email partner@iu.edu to schedule a time.
Read on for additional items to attend to before you leave for your program.
All funding support from IU will be posted as a fellowship award to your student (bursar) account approximately ten days before the start of the semester in which you will be traveling abroad. Any outstanding charges on your student account will be deducted from the fellowship award, and you will receive a refund on any remaining funds. You are responsible for ensuring that you have direct deposit set up for your refund. The Office of the Vice President for International Affairs will not handle any refund checks issued by the bursar. There are no exceptions to this policy.
All exchange participants must complete the two forms below prior to their departure from the United States. The Agreement and Release form may be sent by e-mail to partner@iu.edu. The Medical History form should be sent using the critical version of Slashtmp@IU, or by other secure means identified by the IU Data Management Council.
If you are a domestic student, you must be enrolled in at least 1 credit hour at IU during your time abroad in order to retain access to IU services, including email.
If you are an international student, contact the Office of International Services to determine the minimum number of credit hours required to maintain your visa status.
If you intend to receive degree credit for graduate work conducted on the exchange, contact the dean’s office at your school prior to your departure to learn about the type of credit that may be transferred and the documentation required. The director for graduate studies in your school is responsible for approving transfer credits.
Remember, these exchange programs do not include fee remissions or other financial aid to cover the costs of enrolling in courses or research credit hours.
Be sure to discuss course enrollment options with your academic advisor in your home department. The Office of International Partnerships cannot advise students on appropriate enrollment options.
You will receive a fellowship award to cover the cost of round-trip economy airfare to your destination. If the award is not sufficient to cover the round-trip ticket, contact the exchange program coordinator. Depending on your travel dates, you may have to cover the cost of the airfare until the allowance is credited to your student account. You may make your own travel arrangements, use a travel agent of your choice, or use one of IU’s designated travel agencies. OVPIA does not assist students with travel arrangements.
IU provides you with health insurance benefits through GeoBlue at no cost during your exchange program. The host institution may also provide or require insurance coverage; if that is the case, the host institution’s international officer will contact you directly.
To avoid any lapses in coverage between the time you complete the semester at IU and depart the United States for your exchange visit, confirm that your current health insurance coverage will continue until the policy becomes active for your exchange program. Visit IU Student Health Insurance for information about plans available through IU.
Once the host university has approved your exchange participation, you will be contacted by officials from the host university with details about next steps for visas, travel logistics upon arrival, student services, housing, health insurance, stipend distributions, and other related matters.
IU Global does not provide assistance with housing. Most partner universities provide a list of resources to help exchange students locate housing options. If the partner university does not provide such information, you should communicate with the exchange program coordinator at the partner university and request assistance.
If you are an international student on an F-1 visa, it is extremely important that you take all necessary steps to protect your status when traveling outside of the United States.
There are steps you will need to take as soon as you arrive at your destination.
Upon arrival in your host country, you must send the Office of International Partnerships the following information:
In the event of an emergency situation or crisis (personal injury or illness, natural disaster, civil unrest, act of terror, etc.), Indiana University officials will be better equipped to assist you.
The Office of International Partnerships requires all participants to complete a brief online report within four weeks of arrival at the host institution.
Begin the preliminary reportIf you have any major, unresolvable problems with the host institution at any point during your time abroad, contact the Office of International Partnerships immediately.
Within thirty days of your arrival back in the United States, you are required to complete an online final report. Failure to complete this form can result in your award being revoked, which means you could be responsible for paying back any financial support you received.
Begin the final report
