Congratulations on Your Admission

Carefully read all of the sections below about preparing for your arrival on-campus. This information will be updated between now and orientation, so please return to this page often to check for updates.

Dates

Orientation

Orientation will be held on Thursday, August 22nd, in the Memorial Union. Schedule to be announced.

All new international students are REQUIRED to attend orientation. 

Arrival

You should plan to arrive on Wednesday, August 21st or before to get settled into your housing before orientation.

First Day of Classes

Fall 2024 classes begin Monday, August 26th at 4pm.

Click this link for other important dates & deadlines.

Planning your Travel

Fargo Airport

Students can arrive at Hector International Airport in Fargo: https://www.fargoairport.com (Airport code: FAR)

You will NOT go through Customs at the Fargo airport upon leaving the plane. You will go through Customs at your first port of entry to the United States. The Fargo airport is not large, so once you depart your plane, the baggage claim is only a minute or two away.

Weather

Before you depart for Fargo, please watch the weather forecast for your arrival date and dress appropriately.

If you are arriving in the summer or early fall, the weather can be warm and pleasant, or very hot. Fall can also be cool, so a light jacket is recommended. 

If you are arriving in winter, the weather can be very cold with snow, so be prepared with a coat/jacket, hat, gloves, and warm shoes.

Weather Channel: Current 4-day forecast for Fargo, ND (zip code 58102 for North Fargo)

Nearby Hotels

If you are arriving before your on-campus housing is available, you may need to stay temporarily in a hotel. Some hotels in Fargo offer complimentary shuttles and/or meals. Shuttle services may include drop-off at NDSU, please ask about this service when booking your hotel. View the following websites for information on hotels options:

    http://www.fargomoorhead.org/hotels.html

Other Important Information

Required Health Insurance

Every year, the health insurance through UnitedHealthcare StudentResources begins August 16th for Fall entry, January 1st for Spring entry, and mid-May for Summer entry.

All students are required to purchase university approved health insurance. Full payment of insurance is due upon registration. If you arrive earlier than the date the mandated health insurance policy is effective, you will be responsible for finding insurance coverage during the gap period before coverage begins. If you have no insurance during that gap and you require medical treatment here in the United States at that time, you will be responsible for any medical charges before the policy begins.

Click here to download a PDF handout which summarizes why the policy is important and how enrollment in the policy happens for new students. You can find more detailed information on this page.

Tuition, Fees & Payments

Tuition and fees will be applied to your student account once you have registered for classes. In order to register for classes, students must read and review the Financial Obligation Agreement, a copy of it can be found here: https://www.ndsu.edu/onestop/financial-obligation-agreement

Students can pay account charges in-person via check or cash at NDSU OneStop. Students can also make international wire transfer payments via FlyWire. More information about making payments can be found here: https://www.ndsu.edu/onestop/accounts. It is also extremely important to familiarize yourself with critical university dates and deadlines. You can view the most current dates and deadlines here: https://www.ndsu.edu/registrar/dates.

Fun things to do in Fargo

Want to know about fun things to do in Fargo in the winter? Check out this page which will give you some ideas of fun things to do even when it's cold out.

Here is a link to the visitor's bureau for Fargo-Moorhead for a full listing of events and things to do in the community year-round: https://www.fargomoorhead.org/things-to-do

Housing

If you have been admitted and need to apply for on-campus housing, apply here.

Click here for important academic dates and deadlines for the upcoming semester/academic years: Dates & Deadlines

NDSU Bookstore & Course Materials

The NDSU Bookstore offers a large selection of new, used, rental and digital textbooks. Shop in-store or save time by ordering at www.ndsubookstore.com. Compare prices on each title and have your order shipped directly to your home or pick it up right on campus.

Students can also charge up to $1000 for course materials during fall and spring semesters and at the end of the semester bring us your current editions in good re-sellable condition, and we'll buy them back. We also have an online Course Materials Student Exchange so you can get the best price for your book and you'll help another student save money at the same time. The NDSU Bookstore is your one-stop-shop for course materials. For more information visit http://www.ndsubookstore.com/coursematerials.

Immunization Screening Appointment

All new international students are required to complete an immunization screening appointment through the NDSU Student Health Service. Click here for more information: https://www.ndsu.edu/studenthealthservice/need_an_appointment/international_students

NDSU Student Card

You can choose the photo that you use for your NDSU Student Card. Prior to your arrival for orientation, submit a photo of yourself using the guidelines below. Your ID card will be printed when you visit the NDSU Card Center after arrival on campus. Instructions and guidelines are listed here: https://www.ndsu.edu/cardcenter/onlinephotos.

If you have questions, please contact us at 701-231-6252 or ndsu.cardcenter@ndsu.edu.

Meeting New People

Getting involved on-campus is a GREAT way to meet new people. If you want to reach out to different student organizations at NDSU, you can learn about the student organizations and associations on campus here: https://myndsu.ndsu.edu

Contact

Contact your advisor at NDSU.ISS@ndsu.edu.

Top of page