Pre-Arrival Activities
Welcome new Terps!
The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) staff are here to support you.
To begin your academic journey Fearlessly, we list below important information and resources. Before you arrive, attend an online webinar, register for your required orientations and sign up for cultural and social events.
During your first week on campus, we hope you will have fun, meet new friends and feel prepared to start your journey.
Join our information webinars during which you can meet a member of our staff, an International Student Advisor. During these two webinars, you will learn everything you need to know as a new international student.
Immigration Overview Webinars
During this webinar, you will learn about the I-20 / DS-2019 document process. You will have an opportunity to meet an advisor, learn about the services we provide, and ask any questions you may have.
Engagement with ISSS
After you complete the ISSS checklist and we have created your immigration document, we will invite you to take part in this webinar. During the webinar, you will meet a member of our staff who will present ISSS resources to help you. The resources include our weekly emails called “Tips of the Week” and events planned for your first week on campus. You will also meet a current international student and be able to ask questions.
- Mon, Jun 10th at 9am ET
- Thur, Jun 13th at 9am ET
- Fri, Jun 21st at 9am ET
- Wed, Jue 26th at 9am ET
Meet and Greet with International Orientation Leaders (IOL)
New students will have an opportunity to talk with IOLs in small group virtual sessions. You can ask questions such as what it is like to study at UMD, get advice on how to make the most of your time, and meet current and new students before you arrive on campus!
You can register for as many of the following scheduled sessions as you like:
- Tue, July 16th at 10am ET
- Wed, July 17th at 10am ET
Starting two months before arrival, we send a weekly Tip of the Week to all new students. These emails are meant to help prepare you for coming to the U.S. and adjusting to life at the University of Maryland. Look for them in your inbox.
As a new international student, you should complete the online orientation before you arrive.
We offer a self-paced, online orientation to fit your needs. You will access the orientation course via CANVAS/ELMS, the University of Maryland's academic system. Once you complete the orientation, you will receive a certificate.
Starting in December, you will be able to self-enroll. Once we receive your enrollment, we will email you the link to your orientation. To access CANVAS/ELMS, you will need your university email and password. Activate your UMD Directory ID at identity.umd.edu and set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
During the online orientation course, you will learn about:
- campus resources
- tools to adjust to a new educational environment
- what current students love about being a Terp
- the ISSS team and how we're here to support you, and
- your immigration responsibilities.
ISSS’s International Student Orientation is not the only orientation you will have. Your school and/or department will also have orientations.
Undergraduate students and undergraduate transfer students will register to attend the University of Maryland’s Office of Undergraduate Studies Orientation. You may also need to attend your academic department orientation. During this orientation, you will meet with an academic advisor to register for classes.
As a new undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, you will attend:
- International Student Orientation - Online
- New Student Orientation - In person
- Possible Department Orientation - In person
Graduate students will complete the New Graduate Student Orientation online.
As a new graduate student at the University of Maryland, you will complete:
- International Student Orientation - Online
- New Graduate Student Orientation - Online
- Possible Department Orientation
- English Language Evaluation for International Teaching Assistants
The week before classes begin, we host activities for you to learn more about the community. You may begin to register for these events on iTerp one month before the start of classes. You can find more information about these activities in the Tip of the Week email.