Travel and Arrival

Preparing Your Arrival

The International Student & Scholar Services office has created the Student Welcome Center for all international students studying at UMD that includes information about academics, campus activities, communication, money/banking, climate, cultural considerations, housing, safety & security, transportation, and more. Your MyEA portal will also detail instructions on how to get to campus from the various international airports in the metro DC area.

Undergraduate students who live on campus are given permission to move into their accommodations the day before International Student Orientation begins.
We suggest that those who are living off-campus arrive a few days prior to Incoming Exchange Student Orientation to search for housing, if necessary.
All J-1 visa exchange students can enter the US up to 30 days prior to the program start date listed on their DS-2019 form; and leave up to 30 days after their program end date.

Orientation

All exchange students are required to attend Incoming Exchange Student Orientation at the beginning of the semester.

The Incoming Student Exchange Orientation activities will assist in your academic, social, and cultural adjustment to UMD. Orientation will cover topics such as academic culture and norms, the UMD student code of conduct, housing services, J-1 immigration regulations, and health and safety. Orientation also gives you an opportunity to meet other exchange students and learn more about Maryland and the DC area.