Frequently Asked Questions: Incoming Exchange Student

The main requirements you need to meet are English proficiency and GPA.

• English Proficiency - Please see what test scores/documents are accepted here.
• GPA
  • Direct Exchange - You will need an overall GPA equivalent to a 3.0 on a 4.0 US scale to be accepted. This is equal to a US 'B' average in all of your courses. 
  • ISEP Exchange - You will need an overall GPA equivalent to a 2.75 on a 4.0 US scale to be accepted. This is equal to a US 'B-' average in all of your courses. 

You will need to be nominated by the Study Abroad Coordinator at your home institution. Make an appointment with your coordinator to discuss your nomination, then they will send our office an official nomination email to [email protected]. 

Yes, you may study abroad at MSU as a masters student. However, Montana State University will not be able to provide you with a masters-level transcript; you will be given an undergraduate level transcript that displays the masters courses. 

A complete list of academic programs can be found HERE. 

A complete list of our institutional partners can be found HERE. 

Yes, you may attend MSU if your home institution does not have an agreement with MSU. The process can be found HERE. 

Course offerings by term can be found HERE. 

A complete list of course offerings will not be released until a few months prior to the semester start date. Even if the course is listed on the website, it is not guaranteed that you will be able to take it. 

Our office will send you an email with detailed application instructions once we have received an official nomination email from your home institution.

Send an email to [email protected] and we will reset your password. An email will be sent to you with password reset instructions. Please use the link provided in the email within 24 hours of it being sent. 

The deadline for Fall Semester applications is April 1st. The deadline for Spring Semester applications is October 1st. Given the situation at the time, these may be extended at the discretion of MSU. Please refer to your application email to see the specific application deadline. 

The Proof of Funds portion of the application requires you to upload evidence of sufficient funds showing that you have access to at least $5,150 USD ($10,300 for two semesters). This amount is required by federal law to generate your DS-2019 (your immigration document). This is in order to show that you have the financial means required for your exchange.

This proof of funds may include:

• Your personal bank statement
• A bank statement from an individual that is financially responsible for your program (e.g. a parent)
• Financial Aid letters

We recommend applying for housing as soon as you have received your application to MSU. Housing is not guaranteed and fills up quickly. You do not need to be accepted to MSU before applying for housing.

Our office sends out acceptance emails approximately two weeks after the application deadline.

Once you are officially accepted to MSU, our office will send an acceptance package to your study abroad coordinator. They will give you the acceptance materials, which include your acceptance letter and your DS-2019. You will use your DS-2019 to obtain a J-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate. 

You can schedule an appointment with the U.S. Consulate once a copy of your DS-2019 has been uploaded to your My Global Connections application. Please note that you will need the original copy of your DS-2019 to take to your appointment, so leave enough time for the document to arrive to you by mail. Typical mailing time is 2 weeks after official acceptance. 

Your SEVIS number is the number in the top right-hand corner that begins with an alpha letter (N) followed by up to 11 numerical digits. 

Schedule an appointment with a U.S. Consulate and bring all of the required documents, including the original copy of your DS-2019 (must be signed).

You can purchase your plane ticket as soon as you have been officially accepted to MSU. We recommend purchasing Trip Insurance in case you need to make any changes to your itinerary. Please read your acceptance letter carefully, as you must attend the exchange student orientation prior to classes starting. 

You will need to turn in your health forms prior to registering for courses. 

You will receive course registration instructions via email, and they will also be posted under "Learning Content" on your My Global Connections application once you are accepted to MSU. 

Your Advisor PIN/Registration Number is a PIN number that you will need to use to register for courses. The number is listed on your My Global Connections application under "Profile."

You will want to email the professor and/or the academic advisor for the department. You can search for faculty and staff contact information utilizing the MSU Directory Search function. Explain that you are an international exchange student really interested in taking the course. Remember to attach your most recent transcript for reference. 

You will want to email the professor and/or the academic advisor for the department. You can search for faculty and staff contact information utilizing the MSU Directory Search function. Explain that you are an international exchange student really interested in taking the course. Remember to attach your most recent transcript for reference. 

Once you have the instructors permission to enter the course work with our office to complete the Graduate Course petition form. 

Course syllabi change depending on the professor teaching the course. You may not be able to retrieve the course syllabus until your arrive on campus and attend the first class. If you want to try to obtain the syllabus prior to arrival, email the professor for the course utilizing the MSU staff directory. 

You can take up to 21 credits at MSU and you are required to take at least 12 credits as an undergraduate or 9 credits as a graduate student. Study Abroad students typically take 12-15 credits per semester.

Yes, please refer to this schedule for the add/drop deadlines.

 If you have fully completed your MSU Residence Life housing application you will receive your housing assignment on a rolling basis. Often housing will not be finalized until a few weeks prior to your arrival. All housing questions should be directed to [email protected].

You can arrive up to 30 days before the start date listed on your DS-2019.

Our office offers a complimentary airport pick-up shuttle. Details about sign-up will be sent out via email once you are accepted to MSU. 

You can move into the dorms as early as 2 weeks before classes start. Please note that there is a fee per night for early arrival.

Yes!

If you have paid all your student fees and have no holds on your MSU Student Account we will ship your host institution your transcript 4-6 weeks after the end of the semester. 

ISEP students - we will ship your official transcript to ISEP Global office in Washington DC. They will then forward the transcript to your host insitution. 

You are welcome to purchase and ship your official transcript at any time after you attend MSU through the MSU Office of the Registrar. They have listed detailed instructions on this process on their website. 

If you have have a hold on your account, we CANNOT send your official transcript to your home institution. You will need to contact the MSU Office of Student Accounts or the appropriate department where the hold is located.