Arrival Information for Exchange Students

Your serves as your secure entry point for online services and information you'll need now and later as a ̽»¨ÊÓƵ student. Activating your IdentiKey will give you immediate access to the scholarship application once you confirm your intent to enroll. You will need yourÌýIdentiKey for the mandatory Online Experience as well.

±·´Ç³Ù±ð:ÌýIt typically takes three to five business days after you activate your IdentiKey before you can access these services.

All ̽»¨ÊÓƵ faculty, staff and students receive a ̽»¨ÊÓƵ email account.ÌýWe will use this account to communicate with you, so please use your IdentiKey toÌýlog in and start using it daily.

On-campus housing is limited, and ISSS recommends that you seek housing off-campus. Accommodations inÌýBear Creek ApartmentsÌýare extremely limited. You must apply as soon as possible (after being officially admitted to ̽»¨ÊÓƵ for the ³§±è°ù¾±²Ô²µÌý2026Ìýterm.) If you do obtain an on-campus residence, you must request a survey from the ISSS office.

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Off-Campus Housing

Please review theÌýOff-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations websiteÌýfor helpful information, including theÌý,Ìýcampus map, and theÌýOff-CampusÌýLiving Orientation.

You will be able to access ÌýÌýif you log in as a guest. You will be able to access the database using your Identikey in October.

Our campus has a culture of off-campus living for most students who have not recently graduated from high school. We share this with you because we have a very robust off-campus community surrounding our 2-mile campus and an office dedicated to supporting CU students as they seek off-campus housing. We encourage you to contactÌýOff-Campus Housing and Neighborhood RelationsÌýto understand the off-campus options and resources available to exchange students.

Students in J1 status MUST be enrolled in in-person courses.

Please keep in mind that the University of Colorado cannot guarantee that you will get into a specific class while at CU, so you must discuss alternative classes with your home institution advisors before you arrive.

When you are admitted, you will receive an email with a list of emails for college contacts. These advisors are your main point-of-contact for that college. When you write to the advisors, please inform them that you are an exchange student.

• ISSS advisors do not advise on course enrollment. We are here to assist you with questions about your immigration status.

As a J-1 student, you must be enrolled full-time. The definition of full-time is the following:

• Undergraduate Students: 12 credit hours, at least 9 credits must be in-person credits.
• Graduate Students: 5 credit hours, at least 2 credits must be in-person credits.
  • Or, 8 credit hours of combined graduate and undergraduate credits. At least 5 credits must be in-person credits.

If a situation arises that may lead you to dropping a course mid-semester, please speak with an ISSS advisor first. There are very limited options to allow J-1 exchange students from enrolling less than full-time.

Continuing Enrollment Credits Not Allowed

The agreements with home universities does not permit enrollment in Continuing Education courses (CE). Continuing Education is a separate division at ̽»¨ÊÓƵ. When enrolling in courses, you must enroll in classes labeled Main Campus, and you cannot enroll in Continuing Education (CE).

Please review the international student pre-arrival information on our website.

All students are required to meet ̽»¨ÊÓƵ vaccination requirements.

• University of Colorado Boulder Immunization Requirements

Requirements must be completed by Jan. 12, 2026.

Students have access to an online Health and Wellness Patient Portal

If you have specific questions about immunization requirements, you contact Immunization Support at whc-immunizations@colorado.edu

All students attending ̽»¨ÊÓƵ areÌýrequired to have health insuranceÌýevery semester of their program as a condition of their J-1 Exchange Visitor status.

Students may elect coverage through an individual health insurance plan, through a family member or employer, or the university’s Student Gold Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).

Enrolling in SHIP

• If you opt to purchase CU's Student Gold Health Insurance Plan, visit the Student Health Insurance Requirements webpage, scroll down to Next Steps, and select your plan (Enroll/Waive).

DO NOT WAIVE with ̽»¨ÊÓƵ:ÌýExchange studentsÌýareÌýexemptÌýfrom the requirement to submit proof of insurance and/or waiving insurance with Health Services to ̽»¨ÊÓƵ. Please disregard requests to WAIVE your insurance.

If you wish to use the Wardenburg Medical Services, but you did not purchase the Student Gold Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), you must purchase theÌýBuffCare Supplemental Coverage Program.

Reporting Insurance to ISSS

You areÌýrequired to submit proof of insurance coverage to ISSSÌýalong with the other required information and documents after arriving in the U.S. You may provide proof of personal insurance if it meets the following requirements:

• Minimum J-1 Visa Insurance Requirements

ISSS advisors do not review individual health insurance plans to determine eligibility. You must review the requirements to make sure your plan meets the minimum requirements and prepare to submit documentation to prove that you purchased the insurance.

Your Buff OneCard serves as your campus identification.ÌýPleaseÌýsubmit your Buff OneCard photo.ÌýDepending on your student status and choices, it may also:

• Have your meal plan loaded on it
• Allow you to pay for laundry and printing
• Give you access to your residence hall and room
• Allow you to gain entry to the Rec Center and sporting events

Upload Your Buff OneCard PhotoÌý

New international students at ̽»¨ÊÓƵ must complete the Immigration Check-In form, which is available through yourÌýÌýand is toÌýbe completedÌýonly afterÌýarriving in the U.S.

• Please review ourÌýImmigration Check-In webpageÌýfor additional information regarding this process.
• You must also complete the Insurance Compliance section of the check-in form.

TheÌýExchange Student Meeting & Immigration EssentialsÌýsession will be held onÌýWednesday, January 6, 2026.

• Plan on arriving in Boulder no later thanÌýTuesday, January 5, 2026Ìýto ensure you can attend this required session.ÌýCheck ourÌýnew students pageÌýfor more information on arrival and our orientation.

Join ISSS for our first .

Explore ̽»¨ÊÓƵ Student Organizations.

Participate in Events at ̽»¨ÊÓƵ.

Attend ̽»¨ÊÓƵ sports events by either purchasing .

Spend time in Colorado’s beautiful outdoors by enrolling in activities with Outdoor Pursuits.