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Graduate International Student Orientation

F-1/J-1 Student Orientation online course

All new graduate students are required to complete an online orientation course. Please see Online Orientation for F-1 & J-1 Students for complete details on how to access the required online course. 

2024 Fall Term Graduate International Student Orientation (GISO)

New graduate students arriving for Fall 2024 will participate in both a required pre-arrival online F-1/J-1 Student Orientation course and in-person international orientation programs and activities designed for graduate students (GISO). Dates and additional details of Fall 2024 GISO will be available as the term gets closer. Please check back.

Fall term GISO (held in September) is designed to help new graduate international students acclimate to life at Northwestern. You will meet your OISS advisor, review important immigration requirements, tour both the Evanston and Chicago campuses, and have the opportunity to participate in social activities.

Travel planning

  • All F-1 and J-1 with an initial I-20 or DS-2019, including transfer students, are permitted to enter the United States 30 days before the program start date listed on their documents. 

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