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.

Please complete the course at least one week prior to arriving in Dayton. Start the course here.

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@shushijia.net 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.shushijia.net and log in. Having trouble finding something in Porches? Refer to this helpful guide to find what you’re looking for..

Purchase Health Insurance

To protect your health, safety, and finances, the university requires international students to possess health insurance coverage for you and your family. Coverage must meet university standards, be active while you are enrolled (including vacations), and be verified every semester. After arriving, you will be asked to submit your health insurance information to our office through Porches on the International page using this guide(opens in a new tab).

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 I am enrolled at UD, including vacations, for myself and dependents.

Some popular international student health insurance providers among UD international students:

• ISO Insurance
• Visit Insurance
• PSI Health Insurance
• PGH Global
• International Student Insurance

The list above and below are provided as a courtesy and are in no way endorsements. Students are free to choose a health insurance plan that best suits their needs and meets the requirements above. 

Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Plan:

• Access to doctors
• Access to specialists
• Pre-existing conditions coverage
• Emergency and hospital care coverage
• Regular physicals and healthcare screenings coverage
• Prescription drug coverage
• Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB-GYN) access
• Additional benefits
• Cost

The US healthcare system is one of the best in the world but it is also one of the most complex and expensive too. Protect your health and finances -- purchase a health insurance plan!

Watch the video below for an overview of the healthcare system in the United States.

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.

All students must submit evidence of vaccinations and purchase health insurance. Continue reading to learn more about these specific requirements.

Immunizations

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

To do this, students must download and complete the health requirement form. This form can be found on the Health Center’s website. Information must be verified by a physician in your home country and submitted before arriving to Dayton.

Health Insurance

International students are required to have adequate health insurance coverage during their entire time at UD. Insurance should be active upon your arrival a

To protect your health, safety, and finances, the university requires international students to possess health insurance coverage for you and your family. Coverage must meet university standards, be active while you are enrolled (including vacations), and be verified every semester. After arriving, you will be asked to submit your health insurance information to ISSS. 

Click here to learn more about this requirement.

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.