When you arrive on campus
All University offices are open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. If you did not present official final transcripts and degree certification when you applied for admission, please bring your official final transcripts and degree certificate with you to Wichita. These need to be provided to the Graduate School so your admission can be finalized. This should be done by the end of the first week of classes. What you uploaded in your application portal is not considered official.
Check-in
You will receive further email communication from the Office of International Education on how to schedule your check-in time approximately one month before the start of classes. You will not be allowed to enroll without completing the check-in process.
Accommodations
Graduate students may choose to live on campus in one of our apartment style residence halls: The Flats and The Suites. Information on these on-campus housing opportunities can be found at wichita.edu/housing. Most graduate students prefer to live off campus. While the University cannot assist in finding these locations, International Education does provide information that can assist in locating housing within walking distance to the WSU campus. In addition to paying rent, students living off campus should also expect to pay for utilities (electric, water, gas), as well as internet and cable television, if desired). Expenses are estimated on the I-20 cost of attendance and may vary significantly, depending on where you chose to live. Remember that housing costs on the I-20 are only estimated for 9 months. Students staying in the U.S. all year should expect to contribute more to their cost of living expenses.
New students should not expect the University to have housing available upon arrival to Wichita. Many incoming students find the need to reserve a hotel room for a few days while coordinating housing upon arrival. Additionally, students may connect with international student organizations through social media to find accommodations.
Apartment hunting?
The Wichita Apartment Guide is available online at apartmentguide.com.
The university is happy to provide a centralized place to start your search for an off-campus apartment or house. Please visit https://offcampushousing.wichita.edu/listing.
Health matters
Insurance
Wichita State University requires that all international students have medical insurance. The cost of medical care in the U.S. is very expensive so we want to make sure that you are covered by insurance in the event of illness, pregnancy, or serious injury. You will be automatically charged for medical insurance unless you can provide proof of medical insurance coverage from another provider that meets U.S. Affordable Care Act benefit requirements. For more details, please visit wichita.edu/MedicalInsurance
Vaccination records
Please bring your vaccination records with you to the U.S. If you need any vaccinations when you arrive, your student health insurance will cover them and you can get them at Student Health. We recommend that you take care of any existing medical or dental problems at home since student medical insurance does not cover routine dental work or eye examinations.
TB Testing
All new students are required to complete state-mandated TB testing prior to enrollment. All appointments are scheduled online by following the instructions on the provided link. University health insurance begins on August 1. Any services you receive prior to this date are not covered by insurance. If you plan on scheduling your tuberculosis test prior to this date you will need to pay the $80 fee at the time of the appointment.
Scheduling Instructions: https://www.wichita.edu/admissions/international/documents/Tuberculosis_Screening_Appointment.pdf
Location (Google Maps): https://g.page/SteveClarkYMCA?share
Opening a bank account
After arriving in Wichita, you may open a bank account. We have popular banks nearby - Meritrust Credit Union at Braeburn Square on campus, and Bank of America has a branch next to our campus. All these banks have an ATM located in the Rhatigan Student Center.
In order to open an account, you will need to show the bank your passport, your I-20, and proof of your address in Wichita (such as your housing contract or apartment rental contract). You will receive an ATM card after opening an account so you can get cash quickly and easily.
Orientation
We are excited you have chosen to attend WSU and we are here to support you. There's a lot to love about being a part of Shocker Nation and it's our mission to guide you in transitioning to life as a WSU student. New graduate student orientation is being held virtually. As a new graduate student, you will need to complete the online orientation. You will receive emails with directions prior to the start of the semester.
The cost of your education
You do not need to pay your tuition and fees before coming to Wichita. Estimated expenses for the term are listed on your I-20. Tuition and fees may vary depending upon the number of hours in which you enroll (minimum 9 credit hours) and the types of courses. Cost per credit hour does change periodically and the most current amount will be posted on the website (wichita.edu/tuition). Upon arrival in Wichita, you will be expected to pay your tuition and fees, housing, books, and medical insurance. You will not be allowed to attend classes or live in a University residence hall without making arrangements to pay all of the above items. An exact amount of tuition and/or expenses cannot be quoted to the student prior to arrival.
Graduate assistantship opportunities
More than 700 graduate assistantships are awarded annually. These assistantships provide opportunities for teaching or research, a stipend, and benefits that may include tuition reduction and discounted health insurance. The actual dollar amount varies according to the employment length, number of hours worked per week, and the money available within the program area. Hiring for assistantships is handled by the individual departments.
You should contact your academic advisor (listed on your admission letter) or the graduate coordinator of your area or program of interest.
You are not restricted to working in the program to which you have been admitted. Please note: Assistantship offers for master's students prior to arrival on campus are rare. Most departments prefer the student complete at least one semester of study at WSU before being considered for a position.
Payment options
Tuition and fees payments are charged on a semester-by-semester basis. Deadline for payment is usually two weeks after school starts. There are several options to make payment to the university:
Direct Deposit from U.S. Bank Account:
After you open a bank account in the U.S., you can setup direct deposit from your U.S. bank account to your student account at WSU.
Electronic Bank Transfer:
Wichita State University has partnered with Flywire to streamline the process of international wire transfers. Please visit our website for more information: wichita.edu/pay
Cash, Check, Bank Draft, Money Order, or Traveler's Checks:
If you bring a check or bank draft with you to Wichita, it is very important that the check be made payable to "Wichita State University" (and not to you). Your check should include the address of the bank in the U.S. for collections. If the check is made payable to you, you may not be able to use the money for 1-2 weeks after the check is deposited to your bank in the U.S. If your check is for an amount that exceeds what you owe, any extra amount will be applied to your next semester's tuition and will not be refunded to you.
Credit Card:
If you use a credit card to pay for your tuition, fees, medical insurance, or housing, a nonrefundable 2.85% service fee will be added.
Debit Card - VISA, MasterCard:
Payment is made online only by going to the Student Account Suite. To avoid the 2.85% fee (min $3) associated with credit card payments, we encourage you to pay using electronic check process by entering the bank routing and account number attached to the debit card. Debit card payments cannot be made to a cashier in the Accounts Receivable office.
Installment Payment Plan:
This allows you to pay for your tuition and fees in smaller installments each semester. With this plan, you can make a nonrefundable payment of US$130 (which includes a US$30 administrative fee) before the payment deadline in each semester. After the initial payment of US$130, the balance will be split into three equal installments due on the 15th of each month. You can arrange the Payment Plan by logging into your WSU student account.