FAQs

The International Student Exchange (ISE) program at FIU is available exclusively to students from our partner institutions. Please check if your school is listed among FIU Partner Institutions

If your school is on the list, reach out to the Office of International Relations, Mobility, or Education Abroad at your home university for application information. If you are unsure how to contact them, please email our office at inboundise@fiu.edu, and we will provide you with the necessary contact information. 

If your school is not listed, you are not eligible to participate in FIU’s ISE program at this time. However, you may consider applying as an international student to pursue your degree at FIU (https://admissions.fiu.edu/international/).

Application deadlines are as follows:

• Fall semester and Academic Year (Fall + Spring): March 15
• Spring semester: September 15

Our exchange coordinator will review your application and send official acceptance notices to both you and your home university. We will communicate with you via email if we have questions or need additional documents, so please check your email regularly!

For students attending FIU in the Fall semester or for the entire academic year (Fall/Spring), acceptance notices (including J-1 visa documents) are typically sent via email in May or early June.

For students attending FIU in the Spring semester, acceptance notices (including J-1 visa documents) are typically sent via email in October or early November.

Please carefully follow all instructions from the Office of Education Abroad throughout the entire process!

International Exchange Students receive a tuition waiver at FIU and pay tuition and fees at their home universities.

International Exchange Students are responsible for their own housing accommodations (prices vary), health insurance (approximately $1,000 - $1,500 per semester, depending on the plan chosen), a student ID card ($10), and a small tax fee ($11-15 per semester). 

Most undergraduate courses are available to International Exchange Students, but there are some restrictions. Courses in the College of Medicine and the College of Law are ineligible for participation in any exchange agreements. Capstone courses are exclusively reserved for graduating degree-seeking FIU students. Other restrictions may also apply.

As an international student on a J-1 Visa, you are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 FIU credits and a maximum of 15 FIU credits. Of these, at least 9 credits must be in-person or hybrid courses.
You can view the course catalog to get an idea of the classes you could take. However, please note that not every class is offered every semester. You will need to wait until the class schedule is posted for the semester you intend to study at FIU to see exactly which courses will be available.

Additionally, if a course has specific prerequisites, students must provide evidence of having completed those prerequisites to enroll. Internship courses are not accessible to exchange students, and senior seminar and special topic courses are typically reserved for the graduating class of that year.

As part of the application process, you must get approval from your academic advisor at your home university for the courses you wish to take at FIU. If there are any uncertainties, please encourage students to contact our office for clarification.

No, the Office of Education Abroad (OEA) at FIU will enroll you in classes based on the list of courses approved by your academic advisor at your home university. 

The Course Selection form for the Fall semester (with approval from your academic advisor) is due by May 1st. For the Spring semester, the Course Selection form (with approval from your academic advisor) is due by November 1st. Unless instructed otherwise.  

FIU typically publishes Fall class schedules in mid-April and Spring class schedules in mid-October. Schedule an appointment with your advisor at your home university around these times to obtain course approval.

Note: Fall semester FIU Class Number begin with the number 8 (e.g. 83887) 

Spring semester FIU Class Number begin with the number 1 (e.g. 15219) 

We will send one official FIU transcript to your home university at no cost to you. Your home university will use this transcript to award credit as appropriate. Additional copies of your official transcript can be ordered at any time for a fee.

To request an official copy of your transcripts, please follow the instructions provided below:

https://onestop.fiu.edu/student-records-myfiu/academic-records/view-or-order-transcripts/ 

1. Select "Order an Official Transcript" under Alumni and Former Students.   
2. Enter your FIU student email address and click Continue.  
3. In the New Learner Account, provide personal and contact information, and choose a password.  
4. Enter the Confirmation Number sent to your email and click Submit.  
5. Complete the required enrollment information. If you don't have a Social Security Number, select "Don't have one?" under the Your last 4 SSN requirement. Check "Finish creating my Parchment account without placing an order right now" and click Continue.  
6. Click "Order."  
7. Select the delivery destination. To send transcripts electronically to your home university, choose "I'm sending to myself or another individual" and select the appropriate option.  
8. Fill out recipient information and click Continue.  
9. Provide required information, sign and consent, then click Continue.  
10. Review the Order Summary and continue.  
11. Complete payment information and submit payment.  
12. Upon successful payment, you will receive a confirmation email.  
13. If transcripts were ordered electronically, the recipient will receive an email with a link to access the official transcripts. You can also track your transcripts on your Parchment account.  

The transcript is available for download for 30 days, so prompt attention is requested. The requester will receive an email notification once the transcript is accessed.  

Currently, international exchange students typically reside in FIU’s residence halls at MMC. This arrangement allows you easy access to classes, opportunities to engage in campus life, and peace of mind with campus security ensuring your safety.

For more details about FIU housing, please visit: https://housing.fiu.edu/

Miami is a large metropolitan city with limited public transportation options, and FIU is situated away from downtown Miami and the beaches. Traveling to and from these areas requires significant time and expense. Living on campus provides an added convenience. 

According to the Florida Board of Governors and FIU policy, all international students with a J visa status must have medical insurance before registration. Documentation should be emailed to insure@fiu.edu.

Students will receive an "IMI" insurance hold on their accounts and cannot register for classes or continue enrollment without meeting the medical insurance requirement.

Complete the medical insurance requirement by:

1. Purchasing the FIU Sponsored Health Insurance Plan.
2. Submitting an International Student Alternative Health Insurance Compliance Form completed by your current insurance company and approved by FIU Student Health Services.

If you have your own policy, your insurance company must complete and send the Compliance Form to the Health Compliance Office (HC) at least 2 weeks before registration. The form must verify:

• Coverage meets minimum requirements.
• Contact details of a U.S. claims agent.
• You are covered under the policy.
• Insurance is paid through the current year.

HC will review your policy and clear you to register if it meets requirements. If not, you must provide compliant insurance documentation. Alternate policies cannot be evaluated without the completed Compliance Form.

Processing documents takes 24-48 hours on weekdays. Check your hold status at my.fiu.edu.

The Health Compliance office is available via email (insure@fiu.edu) and phone 305-348-2688.

For more details, please visit: Insurance for International Students website.

Yes! An orientation for the Inbound ISE students is scheduled the Friday before your semester at FIU begins. Attendance is mandatory for all inbound exchange students each semester. More details will be provided upon acceptance into the ISE program.

The Office of Education Abroad (OEA) is your first point of contact for support. You can approach us with questions regarding housing, course enrollment, visa needs, cultural adaptation, financial matters, and beyond. If we cannot address your concerns directly, we will connect you with someone who can!