International Students: Frequently Asked Questions

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Q. How many students from outside the United States attend UAlbany?

Q. What does it cost to attend the University at Albany?

Q. Are teaching and research assistantships available for international students?

Q. Do I have to take the GRE, GMAT, or LSAT exam?

Q. Is the TOEFL or IELTS exam required for all international students?

Q. If I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS, what score is required?

Q. Can I bring family members (dependents) with me to Albany?

Q. Does the University at Albany offer health insurance for international students?

Q. What housing options are available?

Q. Is there an orientation program for new international students?

Q. What do I do upon arrival in Albany?

Q. How do I get to Albany once I arrive in the U.S.?

Q. If I do not have a car, how can I get around the Albany area?

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Q. How many students from outside the United States attend UAlbany?
A. Approximately 1000 students representing 80 different countries are enrolled at UAlbany. The countries with the most students include China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.

Q. What does it cost to attend the University at Albany?
A. The current costs and fees can be found at http://www.albany.edu/studentaccounts/charges.htm. For a full-time student taking 12 credits per semester, along with required fees and living expenses, the estimated overall cost for two semesters will be $24,500.

Q. Are teaching and research assistantships available for international students?
A. The University offers a limited number of graduate fellowships and assistantships on a merit basis to qualified matriculated graduate students. These awards and positions are awarded and administered by the academic departments. Inquiries regarding the availability and qualification for such awards should be directed to your academic department of interest. To apply for an assistantship or fellowship, please complete the Graduate Assistantship / Fellowship Form and submit it with your graduate degree application.

Q. Do I have to take the GRE, GMAT, or LSAT exam?
A. It depends upon your desired program. Some departments require submission of a particular exam, while others do not. For some programs, the GRE and the appropriate subject exam will be required (example – Chemistry PhD). For a complete list of required exams by program area, please refer to the Graduate Degree Look-up.

Q. Is the TOEFL or IELTS exam required for all international students?
A. No. For students whose native language is English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is not required. Students previously enrolled as full-time students for a minimum of two semesters in U.S. colleges (or in other English speaking nations) do not have to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores either unless they are applying to the TESOL program. The TOEFL requirement for international applicants to the TESOL masters program is waived if the student has successfully completed 3 years of study in a degree program at a college or university in the U.S. and maintained a B or better average. For all students to whom these situations do not apply, the TOEFL or IELTS exam is required. The University code for the TOEFL is 2532.

Q. If I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS, what score is required?
A. The University recommended minimum TOEFL score required by most programs is 213 (computer based), 79 (Internet based), or 550 (paper based). The recommended minimum IELTS bandscore is 6.5 for most graduate programs. A number of academic departments require higher results.

Q. Can I bring family members (dependents) with me to Albany?
A. If you plan to bring dependent family members with you to the United States, you must document $4,000 per dependent to cover living expenses on your Financial Affidavit form. In addition, each dependent will need to apply for an F2 Visa. Please fill out the Dependent form and submit it with your application for admission. If you are accepted, we will send an I-20 for each dependent you indicate on the form.

Q. Does the University at Albany offer health insurance for international students?
A. Yes, in fact health insurance for international students is mandatory. The fee for insurance coverage is approximately $300 per semester. This insurance does not cover physical examinations, immunizations, or routine eye and dental care. You can avoid additional health expenses by completing these items before traveling to the U.S. If you wear glasses, you might want to consider bringing a second pair and a copy of your prescription.

Q. What kind of housing options are available?
A. For information on housing options, please refer to the Department of Residential Life’s website. The office also maintains a registry of off-campus living opportunities.

Q. Is there an orientation program for new international students?
A. Yes. All international students are required to attend an orientation program at the beginning of their first semester at UAlbany. Information on attending orientation will be sent to each accepted student in advance from the Office of International Student Services.

Q. What do I do upon arrival in Albany?
A. After you arrive in Albany, your first stop should be at the Office of International Student Services. The staff has a number of steps for you to go through upon your arrival. The office is located near the center of campus, in the Library complex (LI 66).

Q. How do I get to Albany once I arrive in the U.S.?
A. Please refer to the webpage for the Office of International Student Services for travel directions to Albany. Albany is located about 3 hours by car from New York City and Boston. Albany International Airport provides air access to Albany and the surrounding communities.

Q. If I do not have a car, how can I get around the Albany area?
A. The University at Albany has a public transportation (bus) service which covers all university properties. UNIVERSITY MASS TRANSIT SERVICES provides transportation around the Uptown Campus via Routes 1 and 2, and between the Uptown, Downtown (Alumni and Draper), and East Campuses, with several stops in Downtown Albany, via Route 3. Route 4 provides service to Stuyvesant Plaza and Town Center Shopping Plaza. For further information, go to http://www.albany.edu/pmts/. The city of Albany also provides a bus system covering the entire metro area.