WELCOME

Congratulations on your acceptance into the Master of International Service (MIS) Program: International Studies Track! We look forward to having you join us. Before you begin your studies, there are a few items that need to be taken care of. Please read all the information below to ensure you are ready to hit the ground running when you arrive in Washington, DC!

Important Deadlines

Financial Documents for Visa Application: ASAP

Immunization Form: July 15

Health Insurance Waiver (if needed): September 14

Checklist

Set Up Your MYAU Portal

The My AU Portal is the student gateway to a number of essential resources at AU including the e-mail system, AU library, Student Accounts, and Course Registration.

You will need three pieces of information to activate your my.american.edu account:

  • your date of birth
  • the last four digits of your home telephone number as specified on your application form
  • your seven-digit AU identification number (AUID), which was included in your welcome e-mail message

Please set up your account as follows:

  • Go to myAU
  • At the front page, scroll to the bottom and select ‘CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT’, Select ‘I am a Student’,
  • Follow the instructions on the screen

If you have any difficulties setting up your my.american.edu account, please contact the Office of Information Technology Help Desk (OIT help).  You can e-mail the Help Desk or telephone +1 (202) 885-2550.

Apply for Your Student Visa

If you will need an F1 or J1 to study at AU, you are required to submit additional documentation to your academic advisor to request an I-20.

CFIS Form and Financial Documents: All admitted students are required to demonstrate financial ability to pay at least one year of academic and living expenses before AU can issue an I-20. Please visit the link below, follow the steps 1 through 3, and download the required formsPlease either email or mail the required information to Amy Newell as soon as possible.

Amy Newell

School of International Service

4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20016-8041, USA

Phone: (202) 885-6522

Email

All international dual degree students studying at American University will be on the F-1 Visa.  You will be sent a form called an I-20, which is what you will use to obtain your visa. This form will be sent to your home institution’s international relations office to be received by the administrators responsible for your exchange program.

The difference between F-1 and J-1 Visas

Once your I-20 is received, you will then make an appointment with the U.S. Embassy or consulate in your area.  You will need to bring to your appointment:

  • your I-20 form
  • a valid passport
  • financial documents
  • an application (provided by the Embassy)
  • the application fee

Each Embassy/Consulate is different so be sure to confirm in advance what other documents will be required for submission.

ISSS Guide to Immigration Documents & Process

Prepare Your Finances

See: Finances

Ensure You Receive Important Emails

All program emails, including important academic advising information, will be sent only to your american.edu email account . Please be sure to check that email regularly, or set up email forwarding to ensure you receive all future messages.

Having trouble sifting through your AU email to find important information and relevant events? Check out this section of the SIS Graduate Advising website for some tips on how to set up Gmail filters to minimize your inbox while preventing important emails from incorrectly getting marked as spam.

Register for Courses
Fulfill Health Insurance Requirements

Health insurance is mandatory for all full-time degree, resident, and international students unless the student has comparable coverage under another health insurance plan.

Requirements for comparable alternate insurance

You will automatically be billed for university health insurance unless a waiver is submitted.  Students who have comparable coverage under another insurance plan must waive the AU plan through their myAU portal by the deadline.

Directions for completing the waiver process

Be aware that with most overseas medical insurance, you will need to pay the hospital bill at the time of the visit and then submit your claim to your medical insurance for a refund.  Please be sure that you understand how your insurance works before arriving in the U.S.

All international students (similar to US students) must have health insurance plans with a US carrier who meets minimum coverage requirements to ensure compliance and avoid students facing major financial and health hardships because of inadequate coverage.

If you choose to purchase the American University student health insurance plan, please contact the Student Health Center with any questions. 

Fulfill Immunization Requirements

The District of Columbia (D.C.) Immunization Law requires that all students under the age of 26 at the time of enrollment provide proof of certain immunizations.

You must provide the completed Immunization Information form to the AU Student Health Center by July 15.  Please follow all directions on this form.

Contact immunizations@american.edu with any questions.

Book Your Flight

With an F-1 visa, you can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before August 29 (the start date on your immigration documents).

AREA AIRPORTS

There are three airports located in the Metro D.C. area.  Please be aware that upon arrival in the United States you will go through U.S. Customs and Immigration.  The Customs and Immigration Official will check your travel documents as well as take your fingerprints and photo.

Washington Dulles International (IAD) located 20 miles from Washington, D.C. Dulles offers:

  • Traveler’s Aid Society – (703) 572-8296, located on the lower level at the west end of the main terminal
  • Foreign Visitors Greeting Service – (703) 572-2536, located on the east end of the terminal opposite claim area #2. Multilingual volunteers assist with hotel accommodations, connecting flights and other types of travelers’ needs
  • Foreign Currency Exchange, located at the east end of the terminal.

Baltimore-Washington International/Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) located in Maryland, 33 miles from Washington, D.C. BWI offers:

  • Two Information Desks, both are on the upper level. One is at the entrance of Pier C and the other is located near the entrance to Pier D;
  • Foreign Currency Exchange Offices, located on the upper and lower level – open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Travelers Aid (PATH) – 410-859-7207.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) handles only domestic flights, but it is the closest and most convenient airport to AU. It is the only airport on a Metro subway line. DCA offers:

  • Customer Services Centers – (703) 417-3200/ (703) 417-3201, located in Terminals A, B, and C
  • Foreign Currency Exchange, located at all Customer Services Centers. Open between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily.

For information about how to travel around DC, including how to get to American University from the Airport, see: Transportation

Secure Housing
AU does not offer graduate student housing. Therefore, all graduate students must secure their own accommodation. For assistance locating housing, please refer to the AU Off-Campus Housing Guide for information regarding D.C. neighborhoods, types of off-campus housing available and budgeting.
Complete Pre-Program Coursework & Tech Training

All MIS students will gain access to the 2IR Learning Management System (LMS) shortly after enrolling in the program.  This is the home for the Graduate Education Preparation/Resource Course and any other online course taken through our technology partner, 2U (Usually from Course Code: SISG).

To get set up, you will receive a message from Student Support (noreply@ironline.american.edu) regarding your login credentials and platform requirements (Email Subject Title: Login Information for SIS Online Course Platform (2IR)). Check your SPAM folders to make sure you have received this information. To complete the onboarding process, students are required to attend a technology training session. These sessions are 30-45 minutes and typically take place weekday evenings, beginning 8 weeks prior to the semester start date. Invitations to join technology training sessions are sent every Friday with the dates for the subsequent week. For questions about upcoming training sessions, or login issues, please contact Student Support or call 1-855-307-2847.

The Graduate Education Preparation/Resource Course is due no later than the end of the student’s first semester.

Furthermore, Canvas is the primary platform for all other course materials. Professors may or may not post their syllabus, required readings, and any expected pre-coursework on this platform as early as two weeks prior to the start of classes. Use your AU ID and password to log in. For training on how to use Canvas, please see the Library website.

Mark Your Calendars

Note important dates on the Academic Calendar

Register for New Student Orientations 

Pack Your Bags!

When considering what to pack in your suitcase, keep in mind that Washington, D.C. has relatively mild temperatures in the spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). In the summer it can be very hot and humid, especially in July and August.  The winter is cold and wet and usually brings a couple of heavy snow storms to the area.  Please be sure to bring clothes suitable for a wide range of climatic conditions.

Attend New Student Orientations

International Student Orientation

The AU International Student Orientation will help international students understand valuable information about their immigration responsibilities, academic program, and general adjustment to life at AU. You must register to attend the Orientation. To register, and for more information regarding the Orientation program visit this link.

SIS Graduate Orientation

SIS hosts a required Orientation for newly admitted on-campus graduate students in the Fall and Spring semesters. Information on registration for the Fall semester will be sent to students in early summer, so keep an eye on your american.edu email. Any questions regarding orientation should be sent to SIS Grad Orientation. For more information, please visit the SIS Graduate Advising site for New Students.