Welcome!
Brookings Hall with Sunset
Welcome to WashU!

Congratulations on your acceptance to Washington University in St. Louis as an exchange student! We are confident you will have a productive and enjoyable semester or year in St. Louis. Adjusting to a new culture while beginning a demanding academic program of study can be very challenging. Your peer mentors, academic advisers, faculty, and staff will be here to support you every step of the way!

We will be sending out email newsletters every other week until your arrival on campus. Each newsletter will contain information related to different important topics. If you would like to read ahead, or have questions not answered in these emails, please refer to the digital Spring 2022 Exchange Student Guidebook. This document contains all important information you will need before arriving on campus.

We are excited to welcome you to the WashU community!

-First Year Center
Campus Contacts
Here are the main offices and contacts available to support you:

1.  Academic Divisions: Each Academic Division has an Exchange Adviser to support you during your time at WashU. 

2.  Office for International Students and Scholars: OISS is available to support you with immigration advising, academics, and support as you get to know Washington University, St. Louis, and the United States. 

3.  First Year Center: The First Year Center (FYC) hosts a Winter Welcome orientation when you arrive on campus, and is available for support related to your transition.
Important Dates
Spring 2022 Dates

Spring 2022 Exchange Student Arrival: January 12th
Winter Welcome: January 13th- January 16th 
Spring Meal Plans Begin: January 14th
Martin Luther King Holiday (no classes): January 17th 
First Day of Class: January 18th
Spring Break (no classes): March 13th-19th 
Last Day of Class: April 29th 
Reading Period and Final Exams Begin: May 2nd 
Final Exams End: May 11th 
Vaccination Requirements
All exchange and new students are required to submit immunizations, COVID-19 vaccination, influenza vaccination, and TB test results for students coming from countries with endemic tuberculosis. This information must be uploaded to the Student Portal prior to arrival on campus Learn more about Immunization requirements here. 
Enrollment Deposit
All undergraduate exchange students are required to pay a non-refundable enrollment deposit upon admission to Washington University. The enrollment deposit for exchange students is $500. This enrollment deposit covers costs for Fall/Winter Welcome, the new student orientation program, additional orientation experiences for international students, and programming offered for exchange students throughout the semester such as local excursions and holiday celebrations. 
Visa and Immigration Information
Illustration of a notebook and pen
We encourage you to begin researching the process to apply for your visa as soon as possible. Below is a brief overview of the process and documents you will need to travel to the U.S:

As an exchange student at WashU, you will need to apply for a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa at the nearest U.S. Embassy in your home country. It is your responsibility to gather information about the process for seeking a student visa in your home country.  

  • To apply for your J-1 entry visa, you will need a DS-2019 
  • OISS will prepare this document and send it to your home school’s exchange program. 
  • Typically, this takes 4-6 weeks after you are notified of your acceptance 
  • You will also need to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before your visa interview.
Links for Visa and Immigration Questions
Quick Links