Prospective J-1 Exchange Students
J-1 exchange students visit UVA as full-time students for a period of usually one or two semesters pursuant to a formal reciprocal exchange agreement between UVA and their home institution.
Admissions
The following application process is for admission to the School of Architecture (Fall semester only; and excluding the graduate program), College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and School of Engineering and Applied Science. The same process should be used for application for admission to the McIntire School of Commerce, but is only available to qualified students from the University of Auckland, the University of Bath, University of Birmingham, Bocconi University, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, University of Nottingham, Peking University, Sciences Po ~ Paris, and Singapore Management University.
- Step 1: Obtain your home institutions permission to apply to UVA as an exchange student under the terms of your home institution’s agreement with UVA.Exchange students must be approved (e.g. “cleared”, “nominated,” etc.) for participation in an exchange program by their home institution.
- Step 2: Submit the Exchange Student Application to the International Studies Office. Additional information about applying to ISO, including application deadlines, is included in the form.
Please contact the International Student and Scholar Advisor for J-1 status to confirm the application procedures for all other schools.
If admitted, an exchange student will receive an email from UVA to notify him or her of the successful application. In addition, UVA will send an acceptance package to the accepted student's institution abroad. This package should then be forwarded to the student.
Course Selection and Registration
Exchange students coming to UVA under the terms of an ISO-administered exchange program cannot select or register for UVA courses until after they arrive at UVA and have attended ISO's New Student Check In.
All exchange students in ISO-administered programs are admitted to UVA as undergraduates. UVA's Undergraduate Record (“Course Catalog”) is available online at http://www.virginia.edu/registrar/. The “Course Catalog” contains all courses offered at any time. The “Course Offering Directory” becomes available midway through the previous semester (about 3 months before spring semester classes begin and about 6 months before fall semester classes begin). Note that UVA cannot guarantee that an exchange student will be able to enroll in any specific course offered.
Students admitted to UVA under a general agreement administered by ISO do not have access to courses at the following UVA schools: School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Curry School of Education, Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Law, McIntire School of Commerce, School of Medicine, and School of Nursing.
Costs
Under the terms of UVA’s exchange agreements, UVA tuition and student fees are waived for exchange students. Student fees do not include health insurance. Exchange students must obtain and pay for their own health insurance.
Additionally, the ISO requires that all students provide documentation of the availability of at least $5,000 per semester of attendance at UVA. Normally bank statements or letters from sponsors (such as parents) is sufficient documentation of these funds. This $5,000 is the minimum amount of funds necessary for living expenses in Charlottesville.
Housing
For Fall semester, students can submit a housing application by going to the Housing Website at www.virginia.edu/housing and clicking on "Applications."
For Spring, students should email the Housing Division at housing@virginia.edu, requesting accomodation and listing their preferences for residence (see the Housing Website). This should be done before November 30. In December vacancies will be determined and students will be emailed a housing offer.
For more information on J-1 status and coming to UVA, please visit the ISSP homepage.