Incoming Exchange Students

Application Instructions

International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP) Incoming Exchange Students: Incoming exchange students coming through ISEP should apply through ISEP. ISEP issues DS-2019s for ISEP incoming exchange students. USU will issue an official welcome letter for ISEP incoming exchange students, which is a necessary document for their visa appointments. Incoming exchange students should check with the U.S. embassy in their country for visa regulations at the time of their visa application preparation.

Partner Incoming Exchange Students: Incoming exchange students coming from partner institutions should work with their home institution coordinators to apply through their home institutions for an exchange program prior to applying through Utah State University.

After being approved for an exchange through their home institutions, incoming exchange students will need to fill out the Incoming Exchange Student application and upload the required documents:

  1. Original financial support documents; a bank statement in the student's name OR a bank statement in a supporter's name with an Affidavit of Support filled out by the supporter (the Affidavit of Support is a downloadable form within the application)
  2. Passport copy
  3. Official transcripts in English
  4. Proof of English language proficiency

(To search and apply for incoming exchange programs, choose "Show: Incoming" under Program Search, and then click "Search" at the bottom.)

Note: Institutional TOEFL will not be accepted. For a list of approved Proof of English Language tests, see Step 3. Students without an official English language proficiency score must register for the USU English test upon arrival before the test date and pay a $50 test fee.

Utah State University will prepare the DS-2019s for exchange students' entry into the U.S. for study as exchange students. It is not necessary to send hard copy documents of financial proof by mail for preparation of the DS-2019. Incoming exchange students will, however, need to take the original financial documentation, USU welcome letter, and DS-2019 with them to their visa appointments in their home countries. Incoming exchange students will also need to bring their original financial documentation and DS-2019 documents with them, in addition to their visas, to enter the U.S.

Note: The original DS-2019 document and welcome letter from USU (both needed for visa appointment) will be mailed to the home institution coordinators after they have been prepared.

Incoming exchange students should check with the U.S. embassy in their country for visa regulations at the time of their visa application preparation.

Requirements to Study Abroad in the U.S.

Health Insurance and Immunizations

To learn about health insurance and immunizations, please see Health Insurance.

Campus and Local Information

On and off campus resources can be found below.

Students typically take the Salt Lake Express shuttle to get from the airport in Salt Lake City to Logan.

Utah State University resources:

Utah and Cache Valley Resources:

Course Registration

After an application has been received, the study abroad advisor will contact academic advisors in the areas in which students requested courses to see if each student will be approved for his/her course requests. The academic advisors determine if students have the equivalent pre-requisites (if applicable) to take their requested courses.

Students are given this information and can register after they know which courses have been approved and have received their student A-numbers. In many cases, students will need to contact their academic advisors to have the pre-requisites waived for the courses they have been approved to take. Students are given the names and contact information for the academic advisors over the subject areas they in which they have requested courses.

Information on how to register is provided in the post-decision phase of a student’s application.

Arrivals Orientation

Incoming exchange students are expected to attend two mandatory arrival orientations:

  1. International Student Orientation: provides immigration regulations and many elements to studying at Utah State University; students get to know other international students studying at Utah State University
  2. International Exchange Student Orientation: goes over culture shock, specifics for the exchange students, and students get to know other exchange students studying at Utah State University

Dates, times, and locations for each of these orientations will be e-mailed to students prior to arrival.