International Students in Fall/Spring

1. Review visa requirements

Most international students in on-campus courses will need an F-1 student visa to study at Cornell. You cannot study at the university on a tourist visa.

• If you do not need an F-1 visa or will be taking online classes, please follow the registration steps for Visiting Students/General Registrants
• If you need an F-1 visa and will be coming to the Cornell campus, please proceed with the steps below.

The F-1 student visa requires that students studying in the United States be fluent in written and spoken English. This proficiency is also critical to your success at Cornell. (See language requirements.)

In addition, you must be enrolled for the duration of your Fall/Spring studies in at least 12 credits for a 15-week semester.

Obtaining the F-1 visa may take a number of weeks. Therefore, we ask you to submit your I-20 Request Form at least six weeks before the start of your session. See Submit International Student Required Documents.

2. Review deadlines

See the Fall/Spring Study academic calendar for term dates and enrollment and registration deadlines.

3. Select your course(s)

If you haven't done so already, find your course(s) and note your course number and title, which you will need to complete the steps below.

Also, review prerequisites, credit limits, and instructions for selecting courses.

Choose from

• Fall 2023 courses
• Spring 2024 courses

When selecting Fall/Spring courses, please note:

• Courses marked with a red square are full and not available for enrollment.
• Some courses may include additional required components such as labs and discussions. You will need to indicate your choice of required additional components when you submit your request.

4. Submit International Student Required Documents

To enroll for on-campus study, you must

A. Create an online enrollment account

The system will open several weeks before the fall/spring semester start. See the academic calendar.

B. Use that account to submit the following required documents:

• A clear copy of the biographical data page of your passport.
• Documentation showing that you've met the TOEFL or IELTS test score requirements (See language requirements.).
• Financial verification:
  • Personal funds: You must provide a current statement from a bank guaranteeing that you have sufficient funding to cover your tuition and living expenses while studying at Cornell.
  • Sponsorship: If receiving funding from a sponsorship or scholarship, you must provide a letter certifying your funding and the total amount given.
  • The total in U.S. dollars for sufficient funding must equal the tuition of $1,750 per credit, plus $550 per week estimated living expenses, plus funds to cover either the Cornell student health fee or heath plan (between approximately $210 and $3,500, depending on coverage).
• A statement outlining your specific reasons for wanting to study at Cornell for a semester, including how this study will help you achieve your academic goals.
• A list of the courses you wish to take, including course title, number, and section.
• All of your college and university transcripts.
• Two letters of recommendation from professors who know you well.

The Dean will review your materials and our office will send you an email notifying you of whether or not you have permission to proceed with registration.

You might also be required to meet with a dean.

Notes:

• A $75 non-refundable I-20 processing fee will be collected when you submit the request form and corresponding documents.
• If you have received your I-20 form and have questions regarding your F-1 student visa application or other immigration matters, contact the Office of Global Learning International Services.
• If you have not received your I-20 form as expected, contact our office.
• If you're already attending a school in the U.S. or will be in the next term, a new I-20 may not be required. To check, please contact our office at cusce@cornell.edu and include information about your current status.

5. Complete enrollment requirements

A. Request course approval

You must obtain permission from your instructor, department, or college registrar to join a Fall/Spring course. Note: This approval does not guarantee a spot in the class if it fills.

To determine from whom you need permission, see the list of required approvals by college.

Use the sample email on that page to request approvals.

B. Activate your Cornell NetID and sign into Student Center

You'll receive email instructions from IT@Cornell for activating your Cornell NetID and setting up your Cornell NetID email.

To finalize the activation, you must sign into Student Center.

C. Complete the Term Checklist

The Checklist will appear in your "To-Do List" in Student Center the day after you've fully activated your netID by logging in the first time.

Detailed instructions will be sent after your registration form has been processed.

You will not be enrolled in classes until all requirements are met.

6. Review your enrollment confirmation

If you've completed the required steps and there is space in your class(es), you'll be officially enrolled, and the SCE Registrar will send you an email from cusce@cornell.edu confirming enrollment.

You'll also receive an email if your approved course or courses are full. Please have one or two back-up courses in mind so that we can help you enroll in your second choice(s). As a reminder, all students on an F1 visa must maintain full-time student status, which means you must be enrolled for the duration of your Fall/Spring studies in at least 12 credits for a 15-week semester.

Upon receiving an enrollment confirmation, please visit the Student Center to verify that you are enrolled in the correct class(es) and that the correct grading basis is reflected.

7. Pay your tuition and fees

Tuition and fees are due within four business days of your enrollment confirmation. (Your payment deadline will be included in your confirmation email.)

See tuition, how to pay. and payment deadlines.

In addition to the payment methods listed on the how to pay page, international students who are visiting Cornell may also pay by credit card (this exception does not apply to full-time Cornell students).

You're responsible for the tuition associated with all classes in which you’re enrolled, whether or not you participate in those classes.

If you no longer wish to take a class, follow the steps on the Course Changes page to drop it immediately. If you drop after the refund period has passed (see Dates and Deadlines), you'll be responsible for the total cost of your tuition.

International students attending on-campus classes are required to pay either the Student Health Fee or enroll in Cornell's Student Health Plan. See the health services page.

8. Complete your onboarding requirements

Before beginning your term, you must complete the steps on the SCE onboarding page.

These requirements include familiarizing yourself with important policies and determining if you need to enroll in Cornell's student health plan.

Note:

By submitting an online registration, you are recognizing your responsibility to read, understand, and abide by the rules and procedures outlined on this website, including the image release statement, and the policies under the "Students" heading on the Cornell Policy Office site. You further recognize that you will not be exempted from the requirements of those rules and procedures because of ignorance, negligence, illness, other personal factors, or contradictory advice from any source.

When you arrive on campus

All students

• Once you arrive at Cornell and are within five days of your Cornell start date, you must complete the Office of Global Learning International Services (IS) online status activation procedure.
• IS provides many useful services and programs to international students, including a quick guide to life at Cornell.