Complete the Pre-Orientation Course
The ISSS pre-orientation course contains important information about academics, culture, living in Dayton, immigration and more. It is designed for students who have yet to arrive in the US but want to get an early start on understanding what life will be like in Dayton.

Register yourself on the Homebase website using program code 145-54-41.  

Activate UD Login
Check your personal email address for a message from UD Information Technology (UDit). They will send your official username and a link to activate your account with a password that meets the system criteria. 

Can’t find the email or need help? Contact helpdesk@udayton.edu or call +1 (937) 229-3888.

Request Airport Transportation
ISSS offers free transportation from Dayton International Airport to and near campus. This service is provided 30 days prior to the start of orientation. Request this service at least 7 days in advance of your arrival.

Secure Housing
If you are not required to stay on campus, you are responsible for finding housing on your own. ISSS does not arrange housing for students. 

If you would like to stay in on-campus housing, visit the Housing & Residence Life (HRL) website for details.

If you are looking for housing off campus, consider these resources:

• www.apartments.com
• www.zillow.com
• www.rent.com
• List of apartments near the university

If you do not have housing when you arrive to Dayton, you may need to stay somewhere temporarily. To find temporary accommodations, consider these options:

• The Marriott at the University of Dayton is the closest hotel to campus. 
• www.airbnb.com 
• www.hotels.com 

Use UD’s address – 300 College Park, Dayton, Ohio 45469 – to help refine your search.

Complete Health Requirements
All students at the university are required to submit evidence of immunizations and other medical requirements. See the section below for more details.

Register for Classes
Each department handles registrations slightly differently.  You will have time to speak with your academic department during orientation. If your department pre-registers you or you are able to register yourself, you can view your schedule by visiting porches.udayton.edu and log in. Having trouble finding something in Porches? Refer to this helpful guide to find what you’re looking for..

Purchase Health Insurance
UD requires international students to possess adequate health insurance coverage for you and your dependents (if any). Please review the details below in the "Health Requirements & Insurance" section for more information.

Attend International Student Orientation
Attending international student orientation is required of all new international students.  See the section below to learn about the important topics and activities at orientation.

Obtain Student ID Card
A UD student ID card (or FlyerCard) is necessary to access campus buildings on campus and other important services. Visit Campus Card Services’ website to learn how to obtain your card.

Submit Contact and Health Insurance Information
Immigration regulations require international students to submit a local phone number and address to ISSS. Additionally, ISSS requires students to certify they possess adequate health insurance coverage and submit emergency contact information. 

You will submit this information during international student orientation. 

Activate Your Cellphone
Having a US phone number will help you stay safe and access important services. We urge you to activate your cellphone and obtain a US phone number as soon as possible after arriving in the US. 

There are many options to choose from. You can find those in our pre-orientation course, or do your own research.

Open a Bank Account
If you plan to work at any time in the US, having a local bank account is necessary. Students often open an account at one of the banks near campus. 

You can view local banks in our pre-orientation course.

Go Shopping
A free shopping trip to Walmart is scheduled during orientation. Walmart is a popular store that carries groceries, clothing, houseware and more.  

Additionally, ISSS offers discounted Lyft rides to new students for the first few weeks of the term. Lyft is a popular ridesharing app in the US. You’ll receive a code which will provide a $4-5 discount on each one way trip. Some limits apply.

Watch your email for more details about these transportation options. 

Complete the Post-Orientation Course
New students are also required to complete our post-orientation course. Consisting of several online training modules, the course is a review of the information presented at orientation and an introduction to new topics that we didn’t have time to cover. 

You will receive notification by email when the course opens (typically within 1-2 weeks after classes begin).

All new students must attend Bridges international student orientation, the official welcome program for new students. At orientation, you will:

• Meet other students
• Learn about important university offices and services
• Meet with representatives from your academic departments
• Undergo a medical screening
• Learn about important immigration requirements

Attendance is required and will be tracked throughout the program. Missing part of all of orientation may prevent you from registering for classes and/or violating your immigration status.

Refer to the section above for orientation dates. You will receive more information about orientation, including detailed schedules, as the date approaches.

Immunizations

To protect the health of everyone on campus, the University requires all students to submit evidence of vaccinations and other medical history. 

To do this, students should download the health requirement form (example below) from the Health Center’s website. 

Information on the form must be verified by a physician, and must be submitted before orientation to healthcenter@udayton.edu. If not completed beforehand, UD will require you to receive the required vaccinations and tests in Dayton at your own expense.

Health insurance

The US healthcare system is expensive and complicated. To protect your health, safety, and finances, UD requires international students to possess adequate health insurance coverage for themselves and their dependents (if any). Coverage must meet our standards, be active while you are enrolled (including vacations), and be verified regularly.

Your health insurance must meet these standards:

• Cover at least a minimum of $250,000 per condition.
• Have a deductible of $500 or less per individual.
• Provide $50,000 or more for medical evacuation to your home country.
• Provide $25,000 or more for repatriation (removal of remains after death) to your home country.
• Be in effect for the entire time you are enrolled at UD, including vacations, for yourself and any dependents (if applicable).

To understand how health insurance works in the US, visit this website.

Prepare the following documents before traveling:

• An I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1)
• A F-1 or J-1 visa
• A valid passport with at least 6 months validity
• Receipt of I-901 fee payment

Review our guide for additional details about these important documents, including how to obtain a visa and how early you can enter the US.

Enrollment requirements

Immigration regulations require F-1 and J-1 students to enroll for a full course load each semester. Students starting in the summer must also enroll full-time.

The table below indicates the number of credits to enroll in to be considered full-time. This varies by academic level and program.

Most of your classes must be in-person. Only a maximum of 3 credits of online courses can be applied towards the full course load requirement.