After Admission

Congratulations—you’ve been admitted to Indiana University! Now it’s time to take the next steps to prepare for your semester in Bloomington.

Please see https://one.iu.edu/task/iu/create-my-first-iu-account for information on setting up your email. Questions? Email ithelp@iu.edu. In order to use your IU account, you will also need to set up the two-step login process through Duo. Duo instructions can be found here.

Once you have access to your IU email, check your inbox daily; you will start getting important information sent to that account regarding housing and billing.  After your arrival on campus, faculty and staff will only correspond with you via your IU email.

This is necessary before you can register for courses! You may also need to complete a citizenship verification form before you can register for courses. You should have received an email with instructions about these details within a week of admittance.  You can find instructions to complete this form here.

You may receive an e-mail from IU informing you that action is needed to verify your status in the United States. This e-mail is about citizenship verification, which is easy to complete online and takes only a minute. Clear your Citizenship Verification Hold by filling out this form. You must have your IU account set up to access this form.  This may take a business day or two to process before the Citizenship Verification form is available. Sometimes citizenship verification is required before a student can register for classes, but not always.

To enter the United States, you must secure a J1 visa. If you haven’t already, please begin the visa application process immediately. For more information about the visa process, visit here. You should also monitor your local U.S. embassy or consulate’s website for the latest information about U.S. border restrictions and requirements. Still have questions? Contact intlexch@iu.edu

Exchange students almost always stay in university housing because short-term leases for off-campus housing can be complicated.

Indiana University offers exchange students housing through Residential Programs and Services (RPS). 

The application is currently available for exchange students and can be found here. You will need your IU ID to apply.  Please apply and complete your housing contract as soon as possible.

Please note:

• There will be a $200 non-refundable application fee for housing. Do you not complete the contract until you are sure you are coming; there will be a cancellation fee.
• Rates listed on the housing website are full academic year rates. Students are billed half each semester. Students who are only attending IU for one semester can expect to pay the semester rate.
• RPS typically places exchange students together unless they request to be placed with an American student. You may request one roommate. Assignments are made by gender.
• RPS maintains a residence hall packing list. You will need to purchase bed linens.

Questions about housing? Contact RPS directly here.

International students are automatically enrolled in IU’s International Health Insurance Plan, unless approved for an exemption. Fees for the health plan will be charged to your bursar account, typically by the beginning of August.

For more information about IU Health Insurance, click here.

Questions about exemptions can be directed to intlexch@iu.edu, and questions about coverage under IU’s international plan should be directed to studenhc@iu.edu.

The Hamilton Lugar School Office of Education Abroad will work with you to enroll in courses. Upon your admission, we will share with you a course registration form where you will outline your preferred courses.

You can search  for classes through the public iGPS course search. (Note: Select “IU Bloomington” for the campus and the relevant term. You can then enter the keyword, subject, or course prefix to further filter the results. You are required to take 12 credits while you are at IU and they must all be at the Hamilton Lugar School. To find courses in the Hamilton Lugar School, browse the following departments/subjects:

• Central Eurasian Studies
• East Asian Lang & Culture
• European Studies
• Global & International Studies
• India Studies
• International Studies (International Law & Institutions classes are here)
• Latin American Studies
• Middle Eastern Lang & Cultures
• Near Eastern Lang & Cultures
• Russian & East European Studies
• Southeast Asian Studies

iGPS offers a brief description of the course, as well as the date/time and any course prerequisites. You can refer to the Campus Bulletins for prerequisites and longer course descriptions here.

Traveling from your home country to Bloomington can be an exciting adventure!

You are responsible for finding transportation from the Indianapolis International Airport to your housing in Bloomington; about a 1-hour drive. Most students will choose to take the Go Express Shuttle to Bloomington and then take a Lyft/Uber/Taxi to their housing location.

For more information about getting here.

All exchange students must complete the arrival survey coming soon.