Programs by Destination

Courses
The undergraduate catalog has information on available courses. Each course is listed by department with descriptions and prerequisites, or previous courses you must have taken to enroll in the course. Undergraduate exchange students must enroll in a minimum of 12 quarter hours. A typical course load is 3-4 courses per quarter. The OEA suggests planning to choose additional courses in case your first choices are not available.

To plan your classes, visit the schedule of classes which lists the time and days each class is offered. Please be sure to look for classes on the Athens campus for the appropriate quarter.

Exchange students are not able to register for courses prior to arrival. You will be assigned an academic advisor upon arrival to help with registration and academic course concerns. You will register for courses during the orientation period at Ohio University.

English Proficiency
Undergraduate students do not need to take an English proficiency exam before arriving at Ohio University; all non-native speakers of English must take an Ohio University English language proficiency exam prior to registering for classes. They must also agree to enroll in any English language courses found necessary by the results of this examination. There is a fee for the exam and the International Student Orientation that may not be covered by your exchange program. Visit the International Student & Faculty Services website for more information about the costs of these services.

Health Insurance
Ohio University requires all international students to carry health insurance purchased through Ohio University. Ohio University's insurance will meet coverage requirements for the duration of your stay, starting with the first day of classes. For more information,visit Student health insurance and scroll to 'International students'.

Note: This requirement does NOT apply to students from Denmark who must provide proof of coverage to International Student & Faculty Services (ISFS) when they arrive in Athens.

Your Ohio University Bill
Each student who attends Ohio University will have a financial account with the Office of the Bursar. This student account will reflect fee charges not covered by the exchange agreement, room and board charges, student health insurance fee, English Proficiency Exam and orientation fees, printing and copying fees, special course fees, and health center fees. Visit the Bursar's Office eAccount page for further information about your student account.

You will be charged for your health insurance, TOEFL and Orientation fee once you are registered for classes. If you are living on-campus, you will also need to pay for your room and board once you are registered. We suggest that you arrange to have access to the necessary amount when you arrive. You can learn more about methods of paying your OU bill here.

Many exchange students find it is easiest to pay bills and handle money in the US by opening a bank account in Athens and having the money transferred from your home bank, particularly if you will be in Athens more than one quarter. Opening a bank account in the US is also helpful if you are living off-campus, because you will pay monthly rent and utility bills by a check from a US bank. You can learn more about opening an account in Athens during International Student Orientation.

Arriving On Campus
In your acceptance packet, you receive an arrival form with instructions on how to schedule your airport pick-up and temporary housing for the first few days you're in Athens. This includes the type of housing available (usually double dorm rooms) and the cost per night. Please make your reservations, and fill this form out and return it to the OEA to inform us of your intentions. The deadlines are listed on the Arrival form.

International Student and Faculty Services offers a shuttle service to incoming international students.  The shuttle service offers transportation from Port Columbus International Airport to Athens, Ohio. For specific dates of the shuttle and to make a reservation, please visit Transportation Services. The $25 fee for your arrival shuttle will be refunded to your student account by the OEA.

Credit Transfer
To transfer the credits you earn at Ohio University back to your university, you must visit the OEA and sign a transcript release. This allows the OEA to request your transcript and send it to your program coordinator at your home university. If we do not have your signature on file, we cannot send your transcript. For your transcript to be issued, you must also have paid any remaining balances on your student account. This includes any copying charges or other fees. You can clear your account at Chubb Hall. If you have a remaining balance after you have left Athens, you can pay it online by credit card for a small fee. You can learn more about methods of paying your OU bill here.

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