For International Students
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The resources below will help you prepare for life in Evanston.
Connect with Current Students
Want to learn more about life as an international student at Northwestern? The Global Wildcats are international student volunteers available to answer your questions. To connect with a Global Wildcat via email or to schedule an online meeting using Zoom or other conferencing platform, email globalwildcats@u.northwestern.edu.
There are many ways for you to get involved in the campus community. Explore Northwestern's student organizations to get a feel for what’s going on at Northwestern.
Arrive Early and Get Acquainted
International Wildcat Welcome (IWW)
New students should plan on arriving to Northwestern’s Evanston campus in time for International Wildcat Welcome, a program specifically designed for new undergraduate international students.
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) will engage with you through email and virtual sessions before your arrival, beginning in June. Arrivals and airport pickup will be Sunday, September 7 and International Wildcat Welcome programming will take place on September 8 and 9.
Wildcat Welcome
International Wildcat Welcome will precede Wildcat Welcome, Northwestern's mandatory weeklong orientation for all new students. Wildcat Welcome discusses college transition issues, advising and course registration for your first quarter and provides an opportunity to meet your entire class. Wildcat Welcome will be held the week prior to the start of classes. Do not plan to make any other arrangements during that time period, as you'll be in programming most of the time.
Classes begin on September 16, 2025. Students will register for classes during Wildcat Welcome.
Student visa information
Northwestern University’s Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) is the main source for support and advising services to international students. Incoming students who do not hold U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or a visa status that allows full-time study will need to secure a student visa or transfer a current SEVIS record in order to study at Northwestern.
Information about how to request the documents necessary for your study in the U.S. will be available in March 2025.
Financial Assistance Next Steps
Financial aid awards were extended only to those international students who were admitted and applied for financial aid at the point of application. For international students who received a financial aid award, please review our explanation for international students and reach out to our International Financial Aid Team if you have any additional questions or concerns. Some students may qualify for additional financial support for transportation costs, fees related to immigration, or technology costs.