Upon Arrival in Minnesota
OVERVIEW
This page highlights important areas for consideration and action upon arriving on campus at the University of Minnesota. Please review each and follow the appropriate hyperlinks to access the associated information and activities.
**Please Note: This information may be subject to change due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Please check the links for further information or email Laura at icgc@umn.edu with questions. The COVID 19 Updates page also has current updates**
ARRIVING IN MINNESOTA
If you will be arriving for the first time in Minnesota and would like to utilize the free Gopher Chauffeur service for transportation from the Airport to Campus (available for international and domestic students), more information can be found at the Boynton Health Services website.
HOUSING
Housing in the Twin Cities is plentiful but requires some research and prior planning. Here are a few resources to get you started:
UMN Off-Campus Housing Listing
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office serves the more than 6,200 international students and 1,900 international scholars from more than 130 world locations at the University of Minnesota. ISSS maintains a list of useful guides that help international students navigate the transition into the University of Minnesota and the surrounding community. Within this list you will find the the ISSS new student website, promoted by MDP international students and alumni as a "must read!"
If you are coming from overseas, please be aware that short-term housing is available for new international students at modest daily rates. The housing is located in Centennial Hall, a university residential hall. You can read about this option on the International Early Arrival Housing page of the University’s Housing and Residential Life site.
( ! ) International students should make sure to check into International Student and Scholar Services (190 Hubert H. Humphrey School | 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55455) as soon as possible upon arrival to report entrance into the country and to release the hold for course registration.
As an international student, you undoubtedly have a unique set of questions and concerns regarding life in the US, Minnesota, the Humphrey School/University of Minnesota and how to make a successful start.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Make sure you have fulfilled all immunization requirements before the semester begins.
UNIVERSITY ID CARD
Once you arrive on campus, be sure to obtain your University of Minnesota ID Card (U Card) from the U Card Office at Coffman Student Union.
HUMPHREY BUILDING ACCESS
After you’ve obtained your U Card, stop by the front desk of 130 Humphrey Center to be given access to Humphrey-specific labs, meeting rooms, and the Jernberg Student Lounge. This will also be your key to gaining after-hours access to the Humphrey Center once the semester starts.
DISABILITY SERVICES
If you will be using the Disability Resource Center, register with them as soon as possible so that they can guide you in setting up necessary resources well before the beginning of the semester. Find them here.