Students Studying in The United States International Student Orientation

As you are preparing to start your academic program at Northeastern, we hope that you will read through our Pre-Arrival Handbook.

Also be sure to watch the recording of our “Preparing to Travel to the U.S. for the first time on your F-1 Visa” webinar. You can watch the recording of the webinar here.

Orientation information for new international students on an F-1 visa beginning their Graduate (Masters, PhD, or Graduate Certificate) program in August and September 2024 for all colleges in the U.S.. 

Below you will find information about the International Student Orientation that is designed to ease your transition to a new city and to help you learn more your responsibilities as an international student at Northeastern. Your attendance in the OGS International Student Orientation is mandatory and will be recorded in your international student record.   

Asynchronous (Interactive Module) Orientation Course: 

• The asynchronous orientation is a course in which you will be automatically added. Through this course, you can go through each orientation module on your own time. You will be added to, and able to access, the orientation course in early September. You must complete the orientation before October 3rd.
  

Optional in-person sessions:

In addition to the mandatory online orientation, the OGS will offer a number of optional in-person and virtual sessions for students in Boston. More sessions will be added in the upcoming months.

Please note:  

• If you have deferred your program and will not begin your studies at Northeastern this semester, you should wait to attend orientation until you begin your program in the U.S.  
• This orientation is in addition to the orientation from your academic department 

Orientation for new degree-seeking students and non-degree exchange students on J-1 visas. This orientation will provide important information about maintaining your J-1 status during your program here at Northeastern, along with other important logistical information such as taxes, social security numbers, and employment.

Please note: this online orientation is optional for Global Experience Office (GEO) incoming exchange students, as it will contain the same OGS information as your in-person GEO orientation in late August.

Please register for one of the online orientation sessions below (using your Northeastern email address):

• Friday, September 6th from 3:00 – 4:00 PM Eastern Time
• Monday, September 9th from 1:00 – 2:00 PM Eastern Time

Incoming F-1 International Students in their first Semester in the U.S. on one of the following campuses: Arlington, Oakland, Portland (Roux Institute), Seattle, or Silicon Valley

Below you will find information about the International Student Orientation that is designed to ease your transition to a new city and to help you learn more your responsibilities as an international student at Northeastern. Your attendance in the OGS International Student Orientation is mandatory and will be recorded in your international student record.   

Asynchronous (Interactive Module) Orientation Canvas Course: 

• The asynchronous orientation is a course in which you will be automatically added to in the Canvas platform. Through this course, you can go through each orientation module on your own time. You will be added to, and able to access, the Canvas course on December 22nd. You must complete the orientation before January 22nd.  

• The Canvas course must be completed in the Firefox web browser.  
• Attendance criteria  
  • Complete all orientation segments; partial completion will not be counted.  
  • Pass polls and quizzes that are shared in the modules. 

Please note:  

• If you have deferred your program and will not begin your studies at Northeastern this semester, you should wait to attend orientation until you begin your program in the U.S.  
• This orientation is in addition to the orientation from your academic department