International Exchange Student Program

Nomination

All students must be officially nominated by their home institution. The nomination process will be emailed directly to exchange partners.  

Proof of English Fluency: 

UT will accept a nomination by a partner institution as proof that the student fulfills the English language requirements and possesses the academic preparation to perform well in major-related coursework. However, students from institutions where English is not the primary language of instruction will need to present a letter from the institution proving fluency in English.   

Nomination deadlines: 

Fall: March 1 

Spring: Oct. 1   

Application Requirements and Deadlines 
All nominated students must complete all application components by the stated deadlines.

The  first step in initiating the admission process will be to submit your exchange application through The University of Tampa website. The application link is provided directly to nominated students.  

The second step requires the submission of a personal statement, passport photo page and letters of financial support to generate your required immigration documentation. Detailed instructions will be sent directly to nominated students.   

Application deadlines: 

Fall: March 15 

Spring: Oct. 15   

Academic Calendar   

Academic Calendar 

Course Catalog 

Exchange students may select courses from any discipline, but must possess knowledge of the subject matter of the course. Undergraduate students are allowed to take graduate-level courses. The home institution is responsible for ensuring that students have met the necessary prerequisites for the selected courses.  

University of Tampa-SmartCatalog

Course Registration

Students will be required to submit a pre-registration form and learning agreement both signed by their home institution. Deadlines to submit the pre-registration form are March 15 for the fall semester and Oct. 30 for the spring semester. Delays in submitting this form will lessen the chances of being registered in your first choice of classes, as course registration takes place on April 1 and Nov. 1.  

Housing  

On-campus housing is not guaranteed; however, undergraduate students who apply by the stated deadlines below have a very high chance of securing accommodation on campus. Instructions on applying for housing will be provided directly to nominated undergraduate students. 

Housing on campus is double occupancy and includes the following: bed, dresser, desk, bathroom sink, toilet and shower. Linens and toiletries are not provided.  

Housing Application Deadlines

Fall semester: May 1 

Spring semester: Oct. 1 

Graduate students must seek off-campus accommodation. It is the graduate student’s responsibility to search for appropriate off-campus accommodation. Housing ranges from $1,300-1,600 per month ($3,900-$4,800 per semester). Below are resources to assist in your search. 

Off-campus Housing 

Off-campus Housing
Off-campus Housing Facebook Group

Fees

You do not have to pay a tuition fee at The University of Tampa, but you will continue to pay tuition fees to your home university. The only fee exchange students are responsible for paying to UT is the student service fee of $50 per semester. 

Student Health Insurance 

Students are required to purchase insurance through The University of Tampa. If you are a registered international student with a J-1 visa, you are automatically enrolled in the United Healthcare Student Insurance program. Please visit Student Health Insurance for more information. The per semester cost is $470. Students will have access to the Dickey Health and Wellness Center on campus. 

Immunizations

Exchange students are required to complete the immunization verification process which is handled through Med + Proctor. Instructions available here: https://www.ut.edu/campus-life/student-services/dickey-health-and-wellness-center/student-immunization-requirements 

The deadline to submit your immunization requirements is below: 

Fall Semester - July 1 

Spring Semester - Dec. 1 

Visa Requirements  

All students will be required to obtain a J-1 visa; UT will serve as your sponsor. The costs associated with the visa are $220. You can pay your 1-901 SEVIS fee at fmjfee.com. Save the receipt because you must present it to apply for your visa.  

Orientation
 
All new J-1 international exchange students who are inside the U.S. must attend the International Exchange Student Orientation. Graduate students in the Sykes College of Business must also attend the graduate orientation. See below for the dates of the orientation. 
 
At orientation, we will provide information to J-1 visa students on their important immigration rights and responsibilities of maintaining J-1 status, as well as other important information to help with student adjustment to life at UT and the U.S. 
 
Spring 2024: 

General orientation for all exchange students: 
Wednesday Jan. 10, 2024 
2-4 p.m. (Plant Hall 300) 
 
College of Business Graduate Student Orientation: 
Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 
2:30-5 p.m. (Reeves Theatre, Vaughn Center, 2nd Floor) 

Upcoming semesters (time and location TBD)  
 
Fall 2024: 
Aug. 21, 2024: All exchange students 
Aug. 22, 2024: Graduate business exchange students only 

 
Spring2025: 
Jan. 15, 2025: undergraduate students 
Jan. 16, 2025: Graduate business exchange students only 
 

Exchange Student Immigration Check-in
 
All NEW J-1 international exchange students must complete the immigration check-in process virtually. Instructions for completing the immigration check-in are shown below but will also be sent to your Spartan email and are available in the ISSS portal app in MyUtampa. 
 
You will have access to begin the immigration check-in in the ISSS portal starting at 30 days before the program start date on your DS-2019, but you will not be able to submit it until after you have been issued the DS-2019 and you have arrived in the U.S. 
 
All J-1 students must check in using the ISSS Portal within 10 days of arriving in the USA (if arriving from abroad) and no later than 15 days after the first day of the semester. 

New International Exchange Student Check-in Instructions

Spartan Card

The University issues a photo identification card, also known as the Spartan Card, to all registered students, faculty and staff. The card is your primary proof of identification on campus and provides you with access to your residence hall, parking garages, meal plan, post office, library services, select classrooms, fitness center and campus events.  

 
Florida Climate

When selecting The University of Tampa as your host institution, please keep in mind that Florida temperatures can range from mid-70s to mid-90s Fahrenheit several months out of the year. 

Credits and Grading System

On average, UT courses are worth 4 U.S. credits (8 ECTS credits) and grading is on a scale from A-F. For detailed information on the grading process: https://ut.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/catalog/academic-policies-and-procedures/grading/ 
 

Academic Resources on Campus

The University of Tampa provides a variety of resources to support students in all aspects of their academic journey. 
 
Academic Support
Student Resources

 
Advising Appointments

An international advisor is available to answer general or specific questions during advising hours, which are currently offered virtually and on-campus by appointment only. 24-hour notice is required for all appointments. All J-1 students must schedule with Autumn Brucato as indicated in the appointment scheduler. To schedule your appointment please click on the link below: 

Appointment Scheduler
  
ISSS Portal Login 
 
The International Student Portal has detailed information regarding your visa status and gives access to online request forms for on-campus employment, travel signatures, etc. You can also schedule advising appointments through the portal. 

International Student Portal

Farewell Lunch 
 
Each semester all international exchange students are invited to lunch off-campus with the International Programs Office staff. This event is a great opportunity to share the highlights of your experience and provide suggestions we can consider for future exchange students! 

Spring 2024: 
Thursday, April 25 (Time and location TBD) 
 
Transcripts 

Students must order transcripts which will be issued within five weeks of the conclusion of the semester. 

Do I need to submit the housing cancellation request for the spring semester if I am an exchange student in the fall semester? 
Yes, our housing contracts are annual. If studying at UT in the fall semester, you will be asked to cancel your housing for the spring semester. Please fill out the form. It only takes a few minutes. 

Why did I receive a billing statement for UT Tuition? My tuition fees are supposed to be waived as an exchange student.

All exchange students will receive a billing statement for tuition, but all the tuition fees will be waived. The first billing notification may not have the tuition waiver applied on your student account in Workday, but the waiver should be applied on the second billing statement you receive. If you do not see the tuition waiver on the second billing notification, then please contact the bursar's office (Bursar@ut.edu).

How do I pay my student service fee and health insurance fee? 
Online payments through Workday are recommended as the most convenient way to make payments on a student’s account. For more information, visit Payment Options. 

How do I order my transcripts at the end of my exchange semester? 
For instructions on how to order transcripts online and by mail, please visit Transcript Ordering Information.