Orientation

International Undergraduate Students

New international undergraduate students beginning their program in Spring 2024 must attend International Student Orientation from Tuesday, January 23 - Thursday, January 25, 2024. Attendance at all three days of the mandatory orientation program is required for all undergraduate international F-1 visa-holding students in INTO Undergraduate Pathway or bachelor’s degree programs, and undergraduate level J-1 exchange students.

International Student Orientation is followed by Winter Orientation, together with all incoming undergraduates, scheduled for Friday, January 26, 2024 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Degree program undergraduate students should register for Winter Orientation on the Hofstra portal at my.hofstra.edu. You will need your Hofstra username and password to register. The registration will open in late November. After you sign up, an email confirmation will be sent to your Hofstra email address within two business days. Please note that the International Student Affairs office will take care of Winter Orientation registration for INTO Undergraduate Pathway and J-1 exchange students, so these students do not need to register on their own.

Detailed information about orientation and arrival will be sent to the Hofstra email address of accepted students whose I-20 or DS-2019 has been issued. All new international students must participate in orientation to receive important information about the Hofstra campus, immigration regulations, academic support, and the many services available to help you succeed and have a great experience at Hofstra.

International Graduate Students

New international graduate students beginning their program in Spring 2024 must attend International Student Orientation, which will take place from Tuesday, January 23 - Thursday, January 25, 2024. Graduate international students include F-1 students in INTO Graduate Pathway, Advanced Certificate, and master’s or doctoral programs, and graduate-level J-1 exchange students. Detailed information about orientation will be sent to the Hofstra email addresses of accepted students whose I-20 or DS-2019 has been issued.

The mandatory International Student Orientation provides important information about the Hofstra campus, immigration regulations, staying healthy and safe, academic requirements, and the many campus services available to help you succeed and have a great experience at Hofstra. At orientation, you will have the opportunity to participate in activities that will prepare you to become a member of the Hofstra community and meet other incoming new students.

Graduate students may also have separate, program-specific activities in addition to the orientation mentioned above. Graduate students will receive information about any program-specific activities directly from their department or school. Please note that these events may have their own separate sign-up processes.

Transportation, Move-In, and Housing

We encourage you to review our information on how to prepare for your arrival in the U.S. at www.hofstra.edu/prearrival. Please note that new international students are allowed to enter the U.S. no more than 30 days before the program start date listed on their I-20 or DS-2019. Please remember to make appropriate arrangements for transportation from the airport after you arrive in the U.S. You may view this page of our website for directions to Hofstra and information about how to get to Hofstra using various modes of public transportation.

Please note that Hofstra does not automatically assign housing to new students, so we encourage you to consider where you would like to reside and make plans accordingly before your arrival in the U.S.

Living On Campus

To reside on campus, students must first pay the required $300 housing deposit and submit a housing application online via the Hofstra portal (my.hofstra.edu). See instructions on how to apply for housing.The Office of Residence Life will provide students with information regarding their on-campus housing assignment and move-in date via their Hofstra email account. Students with confirmed on-campus housing should check their Hofstra email regularly regarding the times, requirements, and procedures for moving in. Questions regarding on-campus housing should be directed to the Office of Residence Life.

Living Off Campus

New international students living off campus or arriving earlier than the official move-in date are responsible for finding their own accommodations. The Office of Commuting Student Services can provide advice and resources to help you find a place to live off campus. You can contact them at +1-516-463-3469 or commuters@hofstra.edu. Information on local hotels near the Hofstra campus can be found on this page.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact ISA at international@hofstra.edu!