Welcome to UMass Boston!

Soon you’ll be on the exciting UMass Boston campus in Boston, Massachusetts. Before you arrive, complete the steps below to avoid common issues or delays for international students.

Contact Your Advisor

We have a team of dedicated personal advisors whose job it is to make sure that all your questions are answered and to ensure that you have a smooth transition to the university.

Before you start on any of the steps below and contact your local personal advisor. Simply select your region of the world below, and send your advisor an email, Skype, WhatsApp, or WeChat message. We look forward to meeting you very soon!

Africa

China

Latin America

Middle East/<br/>North Africa

Middle East/
North Africa

North America

North Asia

Russia/Central Asia/Eastern Europe

South Asia

Southeast Asia

UK and Western Europe

Ngoc Hoang (Vietnam)

Phone number: +84 382 027 922Whatsapp:+84 382 027 922Skype: live:bichngoc.ufmEmail Ngoc

Tiffany Chan (North Asia excluding Korea)

Phone number: +886 903006063WhatsApp: +852 9222 3579 LINE: tiffany-ccc Email Tiffany

Chau Luu (Vietnam)

Phone number: +84 962 442 193 Whatsapp:+84 962 442 193Skype: live:chau.luuquynhEmail Chau

Nikita (India)

Tel: +91 9310587075WhatsApp: +91 9310587075Email Nikita

Isha (India)

Tel: +91 9953550789WhatsApp: +919953550789Email Isha

Rakesh (India)

Tel: +91 9096507300 WhatsApp: +91 9096507300 Email Rakesh

Sahil (India)

Tel: +91- 9811718710WhatsApp: +91- 9811718710Email Sahil

Laxmi (India)

Tel: +91 98183 96406WhatsApp: +91 98183 96406Email Laxmi

Daniyal (Pakistan)

Tel: +92 310 588 8648WhatsApp: +92 310 588 8648Email Daniyal

Valeria (Latin America)

Tel: +57 310 7880364WhatsApp: +57 310 7880364Email Valeria

Sanjukta (North America)

Tel: +91-9820162776 WhatsApp: +91-9820162776 Email Sanjukta

Alexis (North America)

Tel: +1 239-744-9468WhatsApp: +1 239-744-9468WeChat: alexis0426Email Alexis

Sofya (North America)

Tel: +1 347 399 35 72 WhatsApp: +1 347 399 35 72Email Sofya

Maya (Middle East)

Tel: +971 58 156 0328WhatsApp: +971 58 156 0328Email Maya

Alsu (Middle East)

Tel: +7 939 346 09 59WhatsApp: +7 939 346 09 59Email Alsu

Evie (China)

Tel: +86 182 1096 7343WeChat: eseviewuQQ: 1034905349Email Evie

Kelly (China)

Tel: +86 15901806534WeChat: 447619658QQ: 447619658Email Kelly

Abbie (North Asia excluding Korea)

Tel:+852 8481 0532 Whatsapp:+852 8481 0532Email Abbie

Chris (Southwest)

Tel:+1-508-948-7542WhatsApp+1-508-948-7542WeChat:chris040594Email Chris

Alice (Northwest)

Tel:+1-857-315-8730WhatsApp:+1-857-315-8730WeChataliceqinusEmail Alice

Taha (Pakistan)

Tel:+92-307-333-6878WhatsApp:+92-307-333-6878Skype:tshahid29Email Taha

Ajith (India)

Tel:+91-971-722-2408WhatsApp:+91-971-722-2408Skype:ajitks10Email Ajith

Ekta (India)

Tel:+91-965-001-0409WhatsApp+91-965-001-0409Skypeekta.aneja05Email Ekta

Bibiane (Korea)

Tel:+82-10-7711-6538WhatsApp:+82-10-7711-6538Email Bibiane

Doris (South China)

Tel+86-150-1870-6751QQ2282183545Email Doris

Marianna

Tel:+34-692-46-41-16WhatsApp:+34-692-46-41-16Skype:marianna.zubenkoEmail Marianna

Chau (Vietnam)

Tel:+84-908-792-892WhatsApp:+84-908-792-892Skype:diemchau.dtEmail Chau

Solayide Adenuga (Africa)

Tel:+234.806.662.9088WhatsApp:+234.806.662.9088Email Solayide
Viraja

Viraja (South & West India)

WhatsApp:+91 7028090894Skype:+91 7028090894Tel:+91 7028090894Email Viraja

Vicky (North China)

WeChatvickychen7910Tel:+86-135-2182-7910Email Vicky

Saranya (Excluding Vietnam)

WhatsApp:+66-96-982-0007Skype:awesome.saranyaTel:+66-96-982-0007Email Saranya

Sonam

WhatsApp:+91-999-647-1494Skype:sonam.parashar3Tel:+91-999-647-1494Email Sonam

Sakshi (India)

WhatsApp:+91-995-351-0160Skype:arorasakshi187Tel:+91-995-351-0160Email Sakshi

Mark (Central China)

QQ:15800624575Tel:+86-158-0062-4575Email Mark

Lisha (North China)

QQ:18310168200Tel:+86-183-1016-8200Email Lisha

Jane (West China)

QQ:713070180Tel:+86.159.2876.6884Email Jane

Complete Your Pre-Arrival Checklist

AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE ELECTRONIC COPY OF YOUR I-20, COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING STEPS BEFORE BOOKING YOUR VISA APPOINTMENT:

  • Schedule a free visa information and preparation session with your personal Enrollment Advisor.
  • Check that the details on your I-20 are correct (including your date of birth), and make sure that your name is the same as it appears on your passport.
  • Prepare the documents that you will need to take to the embassy when attending your visa interview.

AFTER YOU COMPLETE THE ABOVE STEPS, YOU SHOULD APPLY FOR YOUR VISA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT REQUIRES AN INTERVIEW WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY AND SOMETIMES CAN TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO SCHEDULE.

  • Complete your visa application.
  • Pay your I-901 (SEVIS) fee.
  • Visit usembassy.gov to learn more about scheduling your visa appointment, what to expect when you arrive and the documentation that you need to take with you.
  • Notify your personal Enrollment Advisor of the date and Embassy where you have scheduled your visa appointment.
  • Watch these videos to help you apply for your visa and prepare for your interview:

Other links that international students find useful:

Making your payment in full two weeks before you arrive will help avoid delays with enrollment.

  • Flywire by Peer Transfer: Please visit UMB International Direct flywire portal to complete the transfer process. Please note that you cannot use a U.S. credit card or U.S. bank account.
  • Please be aware that if you do not pay your balance as indicated on your statement of fees by the payment deadline, the following may occur:
    • Late payment fees may be charged.
    • You may have your scholarship and/or waivers rescinded. In such cases, you will be responsible for the full cost of your program.
    • You may encounter delays or other issues enrolling and registering for classes.

Access your UMB Student Portal

Access UMB Student Portal

Undergraduate International Direct students ONLY: You will need to access your Student Portal in order to complete your required pre-arrival assessments. You should receive an email titled “Welcome to UMass Boston”.

NOTE: Undergraduate International Direct students should gain access to their portal 2-5 days after I-20 has been issued.

Please email us at undergrad.admissions@umb.edu if you do not receive your student portal email within the time lines listed above

Please see Student Portal access guide “here

PLEASE FILL OUT AND SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING FORMS:

Please access your Student Portal to upload your immunization forms and records.

Under the “Admission Status” tab, please follow the link for “Health Services”

UNDERGRADUATE ONLY

DEADLINE TO COMPLETE: TWO WEEKS BEFORE PROGRAM START DATE

All first-year students are required to complete a pre-arrival math assessment and a writing assessment pre-arrival. These are very important to ensure that students are placed in the appropriate-level class.

To access both assessments:

  1. Log into your Student Portal
  2. Click the “Admission Status” tab
  3. Find the following links:
    1. Writing Assessment
    2. ALEKS Math Placement test

UNDERGRADUATE ONLY - DEADLINE TO COMPLETE: TWO WEEKS BEFORE PROGRAM START DATE

Please sign up for orientation by accessing your Student Portal.

Under the “Admission Status” tab please find the “Register for New Student Orientation” Option.

Register for new student oriantion

Graduate and ESL students – be on the lookout for an email from your department with orientation information.

On-campus housing is available for International Direct and ESL students. Students need to access the Student Portal to submit their housing confirmation. Graduate students can utilize the resources below to secure off-campus housing.

Off-Campus Housing

Shared off-campus housing is available to both undergraduate and graduate students. Students looking for a safe community, just 35 minutes to the UMass Boston campus, have the option to live at the International Guest House (IGH).

Founded in 1985 amongst historic brownstones, International Guest House sits in Back Bay, one of Boston Proper’s most esteemed areas. IGH employs a full-time staff member who is available 24-hours per day as well as a night watchman. Common areas including a study room, TV room, laundry room and social room are provided for our visitors to enjoy and mingle.

To reserve your room email mail@intlguesthouse.com with code “Shorelight”
– For any questions about rooms, pricing, or details, please email mail@intlguesthouse.com

Amenities:

  • Breakfast and dinner
  • Fully furnished room
  • Wifi
  • TV and study rooms
  • Shared bathroom
  • Linens and towels
  • Daily bathroom cleaning service
  • Weekly linen/towel cleaning service
  • Telephones with free local calling
  • 24/7 security
  • On site laundry (coin operated)

Other off-Campus Housing resources

Please be sure to book short-term housing for when you first arrive if you are not able to move into your apartment/home immediately. Boston hotels are very strict about ages.

Most hotels in Boston will not permit a student under the age of 21 to check into a room without a parent/guardian (even if the student is over 18 and someone over 21 made the reservation) and virtually no hotel will allow someone under the age of 18 to check into a hotel alone (even if the parent made the reservation, or if a member of our staff is with them when they check in).

If you are 16-17  years old: Contact the International Guest House to see if they have vacancies and are able to accommodate you based on your age.

If you are 18-21 years old: Contact HI Boston Hotel to see if they have vacancies and are able to accommodate you based on your age. Information about their age restrictions.

More off-campus housing resources can be found here. Email offcampus@umb.edu with any questions!

When purchasing your travel ticket to your new city, plan to arrive on or before your scheduled move-in day.

We are so excited for you to join us on campus! To ensure a smooth transition to your new home, plan to arrive on or before your official move-in day.

Once you book your flights, you must fill out the student arrival form, this helps us to plan for your arrival and know when to expect you to arrive.

Important Dates

For all application and payment deadlines as well as move-in and program start dates, please visit the Important Dates page.

We are looking forward to meeting you in person!

We’ve partnered with campusSIMS to help connect you with mobile phone service. Get your US phone number in your home country and have service that’s ready to use as soon as you land. Click here to get your free SIM card.

campusSIMS helps international students get connected with mobile phone service in the US. Through campusSIMS’ exclusive partner Mint Mobile, students can sign up and get their US phone number while in their home country, and have mobile phone service ready to use as soon as they land.

Students can get low-cost, reliable mobile phone service starting at as low as $15 per month that includes:

  • A free SIM card
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • High speed data
  • Nationwide coverage on the fastest, most advanced network

For more information, visit campussims.com.

Helpful Resources

guide

Immigration Guide

This guide will help you learn more about the process for getting your F-1 visa and arriving in Boston.

checklist

Pre-Arrival Checklist

Check off everything on this list to ensure that you have completed all the steps before you arrive and bring everything you need to the UMass Boston campus.

schedule

Orientation Information

Here’s where you can find all orientation information. During orientation, you will receive a full campus tour, see the sights around Boston, and get to know your fellow international students!

schedule

Academic Calendar

Plan ahead! This calendar tells you when classes start and end, and when holidays and exams are happening.