International Undergraduate Students
New international undergraduate students must attend International Student Orientation from Monday, August 28–Wednesday, August 30, 2023. 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 Welcome Week, together with all incoming undergraduates, scheduled for Thursday, August 31–Monday, September 4, 2023. Degree program undergraduate students should register for International Student Orientation (also known as Week 8 of New Student Orientation) on the Hofstra portal at my.hofstra.edu. You will need your Hofstra username and password to register. The registration will open in mid-January. After you sign up, an email confirmation will be sent to your Hofstra email address within two business days. 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. Please note that the International Student Affairs office will take care of International Student Orientation registration for INTO Undergraduate Pathway and J-1 exchange students, so these students do not need to register on their own.
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 Fall 2023 must attend Graduate International Student Orientation, which will take place from Monday, August 28–Tuesday, August 29, 2023. 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 via their Hofstra email account. New international students with assigned on-campus housing are invited to move in beginning on Sunday, August 27, 2023. 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!
Virtual Orientation Folder
During orientation, new students receive a lot of information about on-campus resources. Sometimes, the volume of information can be overwhelming. We have compiled information about these resources in our virtual folder. With the virtual orientation folder, you will be able to peruse the available resources on your computer and at your leisure. Additionally, the virtual folder is part of Hofstra’s Yellow and Blue Make Green environmental initiative, as it reduces the amount of paper products distributed during programs.