• Departments & Offices
• Reves Center
• Global Education Office
• Exchange Students

William & Mary has exchange agreements with 15 international partners.  These collaborations give students the opportunity to learn and expand their personal and professional networks.  We value our collaborations and understand the rich contributions that exchange students bring to our academic environment.  The Global Education Office seeks to support exchange students during their time in the US.  Below, we have provided details on the application, acceptance, and arrival process.  Students are encouraged to carefully review the details and let us know if they have questions. 

Application 

• Nomination: Students must meet the academic criteria and be nominated by their home university, one of William & Mary’s partnership universities, to participate in the exchange program. Students must be nominated by February 15 for the fall or academic year and September 15 for the spring or calendar year. 

• Online Application: Once the nominations are received, an account will be created in the Global Education Office’s online application system. Nominees will receive an automated email from the system asking them to log in and complete the application for exchange. Applications must be completed by March 1 for the fall or academic year and October 1 for the spring or calendar year. 

• Application Documents: In addition to the online application, students will need to digitally submit a copy of the identification page of their passport, an official university transcript, two recommendation letters, and TOEFL or IELTS scores (if required).

• W&M Exchange Information Sheet

Acceptance

• Course Selection: To ensure you are properly registered for classes, complete the online course preference form by the designated due date.  The link to the online course preference form will be emailed to newly admitted exchange students. Exchange students are not allowed to enroll in graduate or professional courses.  Review course offerings on the Dynamic Schedule website.

• Immigration: Exchange students will apply for a J-1 visa.  In order to receive the necessary paperwork to apply for the J-1 visa, you will need to complete the iStart application. Accepted students will receive an email from iStart instructing them to complete the application.  Immigration paperwork should be completed as soon as possible to avoid visa issuance delays.  Please visit the W&M International Student & Scholar Programs' website to learn more about applying for a J-1 visa and the documents you will need to apply.

• W&M Account Activation: Exchange students will need to activate their W&M accounts. In your admissions offer, you should receive information on activating your W&M Username account. It is very important that you activate this account as soon as you receive instructions, as you will not be able to log in and register for classes without it. You will need to create a secure, personalized password to activate your W&M Username.  Additionally, you will need to enroll a secondary device (like a cell phone) in Duo Two-Factor Authentication to access most W&M systems. 

• Course Registration: In order to register for classes, you must activate your W&M Username. The Global Education Office will request registration permissions from professors so that exchange students can register for classes themselves. You will need your W&M Username to log in and register for classes during your registration period. Students are encouraged to carefully review the “How To Register” section on the University Registrar’s website.

• On-Campus Housing: Exchange students are required to live on campus.  Complete the online housing application as soon as possible. You will automatically be assigned on-campus housing typically in a shared room. Visit Residential Life’s website to view the various housing options.
• Postal Service: Once you complete the W&M Housing application, you will be assigned a College Station Unit (CSU) or Mailbox Number. Visit W&M postal services website to read more about the process of receiving mail on campus. 

• Meal Plan: William & Mary requires all students who live on campus-owned and managed properties to purchase a meal plan. Options vary depending on a student’s social class and living location. To learn more about the meal plans offered at William & Mary, visit the dining website. You must select a meal plan by the first day of classes or one will be automatically chosen for you.

• Health Form: The Online Health Form provides the Student Health Center with a medical history and official immunization record for each student. The form must be completed in full and returned to the Student Health Center by the due date for your entering semester to avoid incurring a late fee.

• Money Matters
  • Tuition and Fees| As a visiting exchange student, you will not be billed for W&M’s standard tuition; rather, you will continue to pay your home university’s tuition. Please refer to your acceptance letter for a summary of other fees you may be responsible for during your semester(s) at William & Mary.
  • Student Accounts and Bills| Your exchange student fee, health insurance, housing, room deposit, and meal plan will appear on your student account. You can pay these before you arrive. The meal plan will be charged once you have selected the option that best fits your needs. You must select a meal plan by the first day of classes or one will be automatically chosen for you. You can view your student account by visiting wm.edu and clicking on the Banner icon. 
  • Payment Options| There are several ways you can pay your fees, including W&M Flywire, which typically allows you to pay in your home currency. During Orientation, you will be given information about opening a bank account with a local bank. If you choose to do so, you will have checks to pay your student account bills and a debit card for other purchases.

Arrival

• Transportation to Campus: Visit the website of the International Students, Scholars, and Programs Office for more detailed information. 

• Orientations: As a new student joining our undergraduate student body, you will participate in both International Student Orientation as well as New Student Orientation. Important information will also be provided through your W&M email address and myW&M, which will serve as a primary means of communication between you and William & Mary.
• Student ID Cards: Exchange students must pay for their student ID card and should obtain it upon arrival. Students will need a student ID card to access their dorm room, the dining hall, the gym, and most offices on campus. The Tribe Card Services' website provides instructions on how to retrieve your card. Students should carefully read their website and follow the instructions. The Tribe Card Services office is located in the Campus Center. Students can contact them via email at tribecard@wm.edu or phone at 757-221-2105.

• Technology: All students at William & Mary, including visiting exchange students, are required to have a personal laptop computer. If you do not plan to bring your own, you may purchase one through William & Mary. It will take up to 3 weeks to produce your computer if you choose to select this option.

• Planning Your Stay: As you plan your time in the U.S., we have information on academic breaks, travel, internships, and other topics that will help you.

Additional

• W&M Transcripts: Exchange students must complete the Official Transcript Request Form and email it to nlewis@wm.edu prior to their departure from campus.  You only need to fill out your name, student ID number, signature, and date of signature. The form will be submitted to the University Registrar on your behalf.  The Global Education Office will send your official transcript to your home university in early February for fall and calendar year students or early July for spring and academic year students.  In order for transcripts to be printed, students must ensure there are no holds on their student accounts. 

• Departure: Exchange students should contact their resident assistant (RA) or Residential Life to properly check out of their dorm rooms.  Typically, students are expected to leave their dorm room by the end of final examinations.  Visit the International Students, Scholars, and Programs website to learn more about short-term housing options. 
• Immigration: Once your program has ended, exchange students have a 30-day grace period from the date listed in section 3 of the DS-2019. If a student leaves the U.S., the grace period ends. The staff in the International Students, Scholars, and Programs office can answer any questions you have related to visa extensions and departures. 

W&M Office/Staff Contact Information