University of 2017‐18 Factsheet for Incoming Exchange Students CONTACT INFORMATION Office Study Abroad Office

Contact Information University Center for International Studies Study Abroad Office 802 William Pitt Union 3959 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15260 ☏ +1 412‐383‐7413  +1 412‐383‐1766 internationalexchanges.pitt.edu

Hours of Operation Monday – Friday: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and University holidays.

Contact Jessica SUN (Ms.) Exchange Program Manager & Graduate Fellowships Advisor [email protected] +1 412‐383‐7165

Important Websites Office of International Services: http://www.ois.pitt.edu/ Processes international student visas and documents.

Office of the University Registrar: http://www.registrar.pitt.edu/ Manages registration systems, student transcripts and records.

Panther Central: http://www.pc.pitt.edu/ Houses the ID center, housing services, dining services and other student services.

Office of Student Affairs: http://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/savmv Oversees student affairs including life on campus, residence life, cross‐cultural and leadership issues, etc.

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ADMISSIONS INFORMATION Lengths of Study Fall, Spring, or Academic Year (both Fall and Spring)

Application Link Application site: http://www.abroad.pitt.edu/intlnondegreeapp

Application

Materials 1. Online application 2. Passport. Scan a copy of your official passport information. Note that your passport should be valid for at least six months after your departure from Pitt when your visit ends. Students who are applying for a new passport at the time of application should notify Pitt of this within their application. 3. English Language Requirements. A scanned copy of the official TOEFL/IELTS scores is acceptable. Please refer to the details below for minimum requirements. 4. Transcripts. A scanned copy of the official transcript from your home institution, with your either your institution’s seal or logo. Students should have what is equivalent to a 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale.

Language of Instruction and All courses taught and all exams administered will be in English. Non‐native English speakers must meet one of the following minimum requirements: Exams  IELTS Band Score 6.5  TOELF iBT 80  TOELF pBT 550  TOEFL computer‐based 213

According to University of Pittsburgh policy, students who score less than 100 on the TOEFL iBT, 600 on the PBT, or Band 7.0 on the IELTS must take an additional test of English language proficiency administered by the English Language Institute (ELI) on campus upon arrival. The schedule of the test is updated each semester ‐ http://www.linguistics.pitt.edu/centers/testing‐ept.php. Students interested in taking ESL courses must take the proficiency test to assess their abilities.

Application Deadlines Nomination Deadlines (your home institution must nominate you as an exchange student to Pitt by the following date): Year (Fall & Spring) 2017 ‐ 03/01/2017 Fall 2017 ‐ 03/01/2017 Spring 2018 – 09/30/2017

Application Deadlines: Year (Fall & Spring) 2017 ‐ 03/25/2017 Fall 2017 ‐ 03/25/2017 Spring 2018 – 10/15/2017

Tuition Costs No tuition costs. This is paid to your home institution. Unfortunately, Pitt does not offer any scholarships to incoming exchange students.

For select courses that require special equipment, such the physical education courses or studio art courses, fees maybe charged. For a list of the courses, please see the “Special Course Related Fees” for the following website here: http://www.registrar.pitt.edu/courseclass.html.

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Dates & Events Fall 2017 Semester Spring 2018 Semester International Student Aug. 18 – 20, 2017 (Tentative) Jan. 2, 2018 (Tentative) Check‐in Course duration Aug. 28, 2017 – Dec. 8, 2017 Jan. 3, 2018 – Apr. 20, 2018 Final Exams Dec. 11 – 16, 2017 Apr. 23 – 28, 2018

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS In order to be an exchange student, your home institutions must nominate you as an exchange student. Incoming exchange students should check‐in with the home institution to make sure they are being considered nominated exchange students.

1. Go to the Exchange Application at http://www.abroad.pitt.edu/intlnondegreeapp. Students will need to click on “APPLY HERE FOR THE PITT EXCHANGE PROGRAM” to begin the process.

2. Indicate whether or not you have received your login credentials.

3. You will then be asked to fill out the following form and then an email will be generated to you to activate and verify your account information. Remember to write down your password somewhere safe, as you will use your email and password

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to continually log into the account to submit your application. Note that “First Name” indicates your given name, whereas “Last Name” means your family or surname.

4. Once you have re‐entered the application after you have received the email confirmation, you will be asked to choose the terms that you wish to come. Note that exchange students should select either Spring, ####, Fall, #### or Year (Fall & Spring), ####.

5. Students will then be brought to The Program Application Page. Each item is a link with either an online form or instructions.

6. Fill out the Admissions Information ‐ Exchange questionnaire. This includes information regarding your status, area of study and English Language requirements. At the button of each questionnaire, you have the option to “Save” or to “Submit.” Questionnaires are not considered complete and cannot be reviewed until you click “Submit” to finalize your responses.

7. Fill out the Citizenship/Immigration Information Questionnaire. This ask information regarding your home country.

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8. Fill out the Course Request Questionnaire. This is a form that asks about your course preferences. Be sure to list ten courses that you may be interested in registering for at the University of Pittsburgh. Include both the course number and title. This form does not guarantee course registration, but informs the school of potential courses that you may be interested in taking.

9. Fill out the Dependent Information Questionnaire. Dependents may include spouse or any children that my join you on this trip. Typically, exchange students would answer “no” as no members of the family will accompany them.

10. Fill out the Incoming Student Passport Information Questionnaire. You will upload the appropriate passport information.

11. Fill out the Personal Data questionnaire. This includes information regarding your DOB, gender, marital status, contact and family information.

12. Material Submission will all be done electronically. You will scan copies of each the required documents as PDF files to be uploaded to the appropriate questionnaire. Instructions are listed when each item is clicked on under “Material Submissions.” Note: Materials are manually marked as “complete” by a reviewer. Nomination Instructions for EXCHANGE STUDENTS. No action is required by the student for the nomination process. Specific university administrators or officials will contact the Exchange Program Manager to formally nominate the student. Students should only need to make sure that their home institutions are aware of their application to the University of Pittsburgh.

Admission Decisions for EXCHANGE STUDENTS. Students will be notified via email whether or not they have been admitted as an exchange student to the University of Pittsburgh. Once students are admitted the progress for visa processing and course registration will begin.

Overall Admissions Cycle Here are approximate schedules for the admissions cycle for each term. Please note that these are estimations for your reference. More information and details will be provided closer to the actual date.

Fall Semester or Full Year Spring Semester Nomination by home Late February or Early March Late September or Early institution October

Application Period March October

Application Deadline Last day in March Last day in October

Application Decision Mid April Mid November

Visa application May – July December Process

Registration May December

Orientation Mid‐August Early January

Classes Begin Late August Early January

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ACADEMIC INFORMATION Choice of courses Exchange students may select courses offered within the college that they are admitted into, granted that there is availability and that they meet the prerequisites. The colleges include:  Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences: http://www.asundergrad.pitt.edu/  College of Business Administration: http://www.cba.pitt.edu/  Swanson School of Engineering: http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/

Actual course descriptions may be found online through the following site: http://www.courses.as.pitt.edu/. Students are also advised to visit the specified departmental websites to check additional course information. For example, for Psychology courses, visit the Psychology department’s website. For a list of the undergraduate academic departments, please consult the following site: http://pitt.edu/academics/undergraduate.

Academic Calendar Fall Term: August 28 – December 16, 2017 Spring Term: January 3 – April 28, 2018

Students must arrive several weeks before the start of classes to attend orientation. Additional final exams occur during the final week of the semester. You may see academic calendars here: http://www.provost.pitt.edu/information‐on/calendar.html.

Full‐time Enrollment Incoming international exchange students must maintain full‐time enrollment, which is at least 12 credit hours. At the University of Pittsburgh, this is typically 4 courses, with each at 3 credit hours. Students are not permitted to enroll in more than 18 credit hours. For this reason, since listed courses are not guaranteed, it is recommended that students submit at least ten courses at the time of application as a part of the application form to ensure full‐time status.

Registration At the University of Pittsburgh, course registration occurs after students are admitted. Students will utilize an online platform known as PeopleSoft and will work directly with either the exchange program manager at the University of Pittsburgh, the Director of International Engineering Initiatives (engineering students) or a specified academic advisor from the College of Business Administration (business students) for enrollment in coursework. To access PeopleSoft, you will need to go to my.pitt.edu once you have been admitted.

Prerequisites Enrollment into courses is contingent upon availability and fulfilment of prerequisites. As an exchange student, you may not be able to immediately register for courses. A review of your transcript by the specified academic department may be necessary in order to receive permission.

Transcripts Students will need to fill out the Transcript Release Form online after admission AND a hardcopy document during Orientation to ensure that two copies of the official transcript are sent to the appropriate contact at their home institutions. Transcripts will not be mailed to student residences.

Personal electronic or hardcopies may be ordered for a small fee of $6 ‐ http://www.registrar.pitt.edu/transcripts.html.

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LIVING INFORMATION Housing Panther Central 3990 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (412) 648‐1100 Website: http://www.pc.pitt.edu/housing/

Panther Central may aid you in finding on‐campus housing. There are 20 possible residence halls that, if available, can be reserved with a $325 deposit paid in advance. The average rent per semester is around $3100‐$4200, which equals around $775‐$1050 a month. On‐campus housing is NOT guaranteed for exchange students.

Students can begin this process once they have committed to coming to Pitt after admission and have received formal information from Panther Central.

Click on “Room Information” on each hall to see pricing. The cheapest option is Tower A, and the most expensive is . Additionally, you may review a few electronic brochures regarding housing online here: http://www.pc.pitt.edu/publications.php

Information regarding off‐campus housing can be found through the Off‐Campus Living here: http://www.ocl.pitt.edu/. Students exchanging for one semester should look into sublets or a roommate who may be searching for someone to fill a vacancy as most apartment leases are for a full‐year.

Alternatively, students interested in homestays, in which a room is provided within an American household, can look at the following two options:  GlobalPittsburgh ‐ http://www.globalpittsburgh.org/our‐programs/homestay‐program  OvECS Ltd ‐ http://www.azhomestay.com/

Arrival Support When arriving, Panther Central will also support you in answering general questions and concerns. There is also an orientation week for new students that will help you adjust as you begin at Pitt.

Unfortunately, the University of Pittsburgh will no longer be providing shuttle service from the Pittsburgh Airport to the University of Pittsburgh. Please refer to the following website for travel arrangements from the airport: https://ois.pitt.edu/about‐us/new‐here/new‐international‐students/travel‐ arrangements/.

Estimated Costs Costs Estimated for a Full Year at Pitt Estimated Costs Based on 2017‐18 Year (Divide in half for one semester estimations) Tuition & Fees Covered through your home institution payment systems Medical Insurance $2,470.00 Books & Supplies $2,000.00 Rent/Food/Personal/ $17,010.00 Transportation** TOTAL $21,480.00 **Actual living expenses vary according to lifestyle and living arrangements

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Cost of Living Pittsburgh is considered one of the most livable cities within the United States, and major contributor to this is the affordability of living costs when compared to other metropolitan areas within the U.S.

The average cost of housing for students living off‐campus in is around $1100 a month, including rent and utilities (gas, electric and cable). That number does not include living, health insurance, book and incidental expenses. These costs can be reduced somewhat when sharing your apartment or dormitory with a roommate.

http://www.ocl.pitt.edu/how‐much‐does‐it‐cost *Please note that you will have to provide proof of funding for at least $6,001 in living and insurance costs per semester.

Health/Medical Insurance All international students are required to have health insurance coverage during the time of their exchange terms or visiting terms. Students have the option of purchasing coverage through the official UPMC Student plans or through a private provider. All plans, however, must be a U.S.‐based plan, purchased through an American company, that meets the minimums required for J‐1 visa holders. International insurance plans will not be accepted.

According to U.S. federal government standards, J1 visa applicants and their dependents are required to have medical insurance coverage with the following minimum benefits [22 CFR 62.14].

 Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness  Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000  Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000  A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

Acceptable insurance options may be found here: https://ois.pitt.edu/resources/health‐ insurance/#nonstudent.

Immunizations At Pitt, immunizations are not required for incoming exchange students, but are highly recommended.

However, if students plan to live in University Housing, students must be immunized against Meningitis. For a full list of the requirements, please see the Immunizations Page here: https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/shs/university‐requirements/.

Individuals must submit proof of such immunizations to Health Services before arrival to Ms. Joyce Weber at [email protected]. Your PeopleSoft ID should be included with your submission.

Fees & Public Transit There is no enrollment fee for exchange students, and you will have access to student services such as health, wellness and security & transportation.

Free public transportation to anywhere in the city is included with your Pitt ID. For details and routes regarding public transportation, please see the Port Authority website below: http://www.portauthority.org/paac/default.aspx

Pitt also offers on shuttles to take students with Pitt IDs around campus: http://www.pc.pitt.edu/transportation/

Student Life Student life is flourishing at the University of Pittsburgh. Hundreds of student organizations allow

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students to build community, and programs such as Pitt Arts allow students to go to cultural activities like the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Art Museum, Phipps Conservatory for free or highly discounted prices. See the below sites to find out more about student organizations and student activities. On campus, there are over 450+ student organizations as well as club sports teams.

https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/sorc/ ‐ Website for Student Organization Resource Center where you can find information on all the student organizations at Pitt.

http://www.pittarts.pitt.edu/ ‐ Information about free and discounted cultural activities that are available with your Pitt ID card.

PITTSBURGH INFORMATION About the City The city of Pittsburgh is mainly divided into neighborhoods. Oakland is the neighborhood by which the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus is housed.

Oakland is located five minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, which is the second largest city in the state of Pennsylvania. Within the immediate vicinity of Oakland there is Shadyside, The Strip District and Squirrel Hill; all being great places to grab some food or go shopping.

In 2010, Forbes named Pittsburgh America’s most livable city and in 2014, the Atlantic ranked Pittsburgh near the top ten in “Best Places to Pursue the American Dream”. It is a fun, young city with many attractions. The most notable being the point in downtown Pittsburgh where three rivers (Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio) meet at one location which is marked by a beautiful fountain and the Duquesne Incline which hikes people up Mount Washington to provide spectators a beautiful view of the city. Websites about Pittsburgh:  http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/  http://www.coolpgh.pitt.edu/  http://pittsburgh.urbanistguide.com/

About the Airport The Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is located about 30 minutes away from Pittsburgh city proper. Aside from getting there by private car and taxi, students may also take the 28X Airport Flyer bus to and from the airport. Details regarding its stops may be found on either the Port Authority or the PIT airport.

More details regarding the PIT may be found online: http://www.pitairport.com/home.

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