Hello, exchange students!

Welcome to the second Bear Bulletin: Exchange Student Edition for incoming exchange students. As a reminder, you will receive this newsletter twice a month until you arrive. It contains important information about dates and deadlines, Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome, and more. Please note, the Bear Bulletin will only be sent to your WashU email account beginning in June.

This edition of the Bear Bulletin includes the Exchange Student Guidebook, immunization requirements, more information about receiving your visa, and reminders about the May 2024 Checklist.

- Student Transitions & Family Programs

Important Dates

Fall 2024

August 20: Exchange student move-in

August 20-24: Fall Welcome

August 26: First day of classes

September 2: Labor Day (No classes)

October 5-8: Fall Break (No classes)

November 27-December 1: Thanksgiving Break (No classes)

December 6: Last day of classes

December 9-18: Reading period and finals

May 2024 Checklist

Each month this summer, there will be important items you need to complete to ensure you are as prepared as possible for your start at WashU. Some items on the May checklist include:

• Submit your housing application if you plan to live on-campus.
• Activate your WashU email account.

Visa & Immigration Documents

We encourage you to begin researching the process to apply for your visa as soon as possible. Below is a brief overview of the process and documents you will need to travel to the U.S.

As an exchange student at WashU, you will need to apply for a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa at the nearest U.S. consulate in your home country. It is your responsibility to gather information about the process for seeking a student visa in your home country.  

To apply for your J-1 entry visa, you will need a DS-2019. The Office for International Student & Scholars (OISS) will prepare this document and send it to your home school's exchange program. Typically, this takes 4-6 weeks following notification of your acceptance to WashU. You will also need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, before your visa interview.

Visa & Immigration Resources:

• Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS): Information on WashU policies and requirements.
• U.S. Department of State: Information regarding visa categories, application process, and timelines. 
• U.S. Embassy: Links to all U.S. consulates with specific information based on country. 

Apply for Housing

For those choosing to live in Residential Life-managed housing, please complete the Housing Application in the Housing Portal as soon as possible.

To complete the Housing Application, please follow these steps:

• Log into the Housing Portal via your WebSTAC account.
• Click on Applications from the navigation menu.
• Select Academic Year Application for Continuing Students from the drop-down menu.
• Select the application for the upcoming academic year.
• Complete each page of the application.

Learn more about completing a housing application. Contact Residential Life or call 314-935-5050 with any questions about housing.

For those choosing to live in non-Residential Life-managed housing, we have an apartment referral service that may prove helpful as you solidify housing. 

Immunization Requirements

All students are required to complete several online forms and submit a medical/health history including proof of certain immunizations. Students living in Residential Life-managed housing will not be able to move-in without completing the health history form in the Student Portal. Log into the Student Portal and select Medical Clearances to access the health history form.

Additionally, all students are required to complete a TB risk screening; those who are identified through this screening as having spent significant time in a country with endemic tuberculosis will be required to complete a TB test.

We encourage you to learn more about immunization requirements. 

Move-In Day & Fall Welcome

We're excited to welcome you to campus in August! Move-In Day for all exchange students is on Tuesday, August 20. Those students living in Residential Life-managed housing must arrive between 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. There will be a free dinner and required check-in with Student Transitions & Family Programs at 6:00 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 20.

Bear Beginnings: Transfer & Exchange Fall Welcome will take place Wednesday, August 21 through Saturday, August 24. Attendance is required. The draft schedule is available to view.

Please complete the Transfer & Exchange Fall Welcome Registration form by Monday, July 1 and the International Transfer & Exchange Arrival form by Monday, August 5. To complete the Arrival form, you will need to know all logistics surrounding your arrival to St. Louis including your flight information.

Student Health Insurance



All international students are automatically enrolled in the basic student health insurance plan unless there is proof of U.S. insurance through a U.S. employer via an employee parent or spouse/partner. More information can be found in the Student Guide to Health and Well-being Services.

All students are automatically enrolled and charged for the entire academic year. If you are studying at WashU for only the fall semester, you must email studentinsurance@wustl.edu to request only one semester of coverage. In your email, include the following:

• A request for fall-only insurance coverage as an undergraduate, international exchange student
• Your full name
• Your sex
• Your date of birth
• Your WashU ID (six digits)
• Your WashU email
• Your phone number
• Your local address

Enrollment Deposit



All undergraduate students are required to pay a non-refundable enrollment deposit upon admission to Washington University. The enrollment deposit for exchange students is $500. This enrollment deposit covers costs for Fall/Winter Welcome, the new student orientation program, additional orientation experiences for international students, and programming offered for exchange students throughout the semester such as local excursions and holiday celebrations.