Before You Start

Welcome to the University of Utah!

Soon you will be on the vibrant University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City, Utah. Before you arrive, complete the steps below to avoid common issues or delays for international students.

Our dedicated personal advisors make sure all your questions are answered and ensure you have a smooth transition to the university.

Before you start on any of the steps below, 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!

Review your conditional offer letter and make sure that you have submitted all documents listed as missing.

Once all your documents are submitted, please submit your I-20 Request Form along with your financial statements as outlined in the Certificate of Finances.

• Undergraduate Certificate of Finances

The university will process your I-20 and email it to you as soon as possible – please expect a minimum of 10 business days.

As soon as you have your I-20, please Apply for Your Visa.

After you receive the electronic copy of your I-20, complete the following steps before booking your visa appointment:

1. Schedule a free visa information and preparation session with your personal Enrollment Advisor.
2. Check that the details on your I-20 are correct (including your date of birth) and make sure your name is the same as it appears on your passport.
3. Prepare the documents 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 can sometimes take several weeks to schedule.

Can’t see the video? Look on Youku.

• Visa appointment and processing wait time
• Visa photo requirements
• Studying in the U.S.

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. Airport pickup is available at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

Once you book your flights, you must fill out the student arrival form. If your family is joining you, you must also complete the family arrival form.

• Student Arrival Form
• Family Arrival Form

​​Discounted Flights

​​Book your flights through StudentUniverse and benefit from exclusive discounts for students! Get the best deals when you need them and benefit from 24-hour risk-free cancellation.
​​StudentUniverse has exclusive deals to get you the lowest possible airfare. ​​Book discounted flights here.
​​We are looking forward to meeting you in person!

For all application and payment deadlines as well as move-in and program start dates, please click here.

For discounted international travel, click here

Accessing your CIS account will allow you to complete the remaining steps on this list, including submitting a photo for your Student I.D., Accessing your Umail, submitting your Immunization documents, and so forth.

Log in to cis.utah.edu using the university ID (UNID) included in your admissions letter and your default password (which is your birthdate in MMDDYY format).

If you are experiencing any issues while trying to login please contact the University Information Technology (UIT).

University Information Technology (UIT)

For Quickest Response:
Talk to a Help Desk Agent: 801-581-4000
Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (MST) & Saturday – Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MST)

For Less-Urgent Issues:
email: helpdesk@utah.edu
Email inbox is monitored: Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (MST) & Saturday – Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MST)

Official University email accounts, which are called Umail Accounts, are available to Utah Global students. Official University communications will be sent to students’ official University Umail address. Students are expected to check their UMail account on a frequent and consistent basis in order to stay current with University-related communication.

Go to www.umail.utah.edu and log in with your University I.D Number (uNID) and password.

If you are experiencing any issues while trying to login please contact the University Information Technology (UIT).

University Information Technology (UIT)

For Quickest Response:
Talk to a Help Desk Agent: 801-581-4000
Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (MST) & Saturday – Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MST)

For Less-Urgent Issues:
email: helpdesk@utah.edu
Email inbox is monitored: Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (MST) & Saturday – Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MST)

All Utah Global students are required to submit an ID photo before your move-in date. Any student who does not submit their ID photo before arrival will not be able to have their ID pre-printed and will likely not be able to utilize free public transportation, and much more.

UCARD PHOTO UPLOADER

Avoid waiting in lines and submit your photo for your UCard online. It’s fast and easy! Once submitted Utah Global will pick up your UCard and distribute them to you during orientation. Do not forget to complete this as soon as you get access to CIS. Go to UCARD PHOTO UPLOADER to start! For more instructions please see the button below.

If you have any questions please email Ucard Services at: ucard@utah.edu or call them during the adjusted office hours, Union Office (801-581-2273).

School Transcripts

All incoming undergraduate Utah Global students are required to submit official copies of the documents submitted with the initial application. There are two important documents to be submitted in-person, electronically, or by physical mail:

Contact your school to send your transcript(s) and diploma to the University of Utah’s Office of International Admissions or submit your documents in-person to international admissions during orientation. Utah Global will NOT accept or handle any transcripts.

*Keep in Mind – If you submit your transcripts and/or graduation certificate in-person it must be in an untampered envelope that has been sealed with adhesive by the school. If at any time the original envelope has been opened, whether by you or by anyone else, they will be considered unofficial.

• If you submitted your application with an incomplete transcript while you finished 12th grade or if you had in-progress classes at a post-secondary institution, you need to submit final official transcripts with grades posted.
• If you have any university-level education/transfer work, you will also need to submit an official transcript from this university with official English translation (if it was not originally written in English).

Transcripts

In order to be considered official, transcripts must:

• Be sealed with adhesive inside the school’s letterhead envelope.
• Be sent by the school.
• Be in English when possible.
• Include all Final Grades including the date of graduation.

*Please do not send official international transcripts via email or fax as they will not be accepted as official.
If your international school uses the following electronic transcript services they will be considered official:

• Credentials Solutions
• National Student Clearing House
• eScrip-Safe
• Scoir

*When requesting your transcripts using any of these services please use this email: admisstranscripts@utah.edu
Hard copy transcripts can be sent directly to the university by mail in a sealed envelope with adhesive to:

The University of Utah
Office of Admissions
201 South 1460 East, Room 250s
Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA

High School Diploma (Graduation Certificate)

If you graduated from high school, you will also need to submit your high school diploma unless the graduation date is already listed in your high school transcript. Your paperwork must include:

An official copy of your diploma (graduate certificate) from your school.

Make your payment in full two weeks before you arrive to avoid enrollment delays and ensure an on-time start.

Submit payment for your tuition and fees via Flywire: 

Follow the instructions below to submit payment for tuition and fees:

1. Flywire by Peer Transfer: To submit international and domestic ACH payments via The University of Utah’s Flywire portal:

• Flywire payment options include international wires, international credit cards, and other country specific payment options.
• Flywire guarantees the best exchange rates, offers 24/7 multilingual customer service, and provides payment tracking and an instant payment receipt.
• Flywire will be accepting U.S. bank accounts.

You will need to complete and submit the following forms before your arrival:

1. Immunization Requirement: Immunization Requirements: Students who attend the University of Utah are required to be fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). With the full FDA approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the university is also requiring COVID-19 vaccination. You will need to provide the Student Health Center with the dates of when you received (2) MMR vaccines or the dates of when you received (2) Measles, (2) Mumps and (1) Rubella Vaccine and one of the approved COVID-19 Vaccines. For further information, view the Immunization Requirements Policy
2. FERPA Disclosure Form: Complete this form prior to your arrival.
3. UTA Liability Waiver.

Before you arrive, please be sure to take the ALEKS placement exam, which indicates which math course you are ready to begin.

The deadline is Aug 12, 2024. There are learning modules incorporated in the site if you wish to practice (after you have taken your first assessment), and you may take the test up to 3 times. If you have an SAT or ACT score you wish to use in place of the test, please be sure to send a copy of the results to this address (utgacademics@utah.edu). If you’ve already sent them to the University of Utah, you need to send another copy of the results to Utah Global since we don’t have the same operating system as the university.

Here is some very important information for you as you prepare to start your Utah Global program at the University of Utah for the Spring 2025 semester. The Math placement test (ALEKS) is required for ALL STUDENTS for your Spring 2025 enrollment and must be completed as soon as possible as it impacts your class schedule. The deadline is Dec. 30, 2024:

Math Placement Test

All students must complete the math placement test in order to register for classes. Please be sure to follow the instructions below:

We recommend doing this test now. ALEKS PPL can be completed in 90 minutes, but you have up to 3 hours if needed. You can take the proctored test up to three times using the Respondus LockDown Monitor. ALEKS PPL requires the use of LockDown Browser and proctor called Respondus Monitor. The proctor requires a webcam which can be part of your computer or an external plug-in.

To ensure LockDown Browser and the webcam proctor are set up properly, complete the following steps:

1. Go to www.aleks.com and select SIGN UP NOW. Create a login and a password.
2. Enter this Course Code: PNACT-HCMHG. Check that you are in the correct cohort (group), which is called Math Assessment, Spring, 2025. Click “Confirm.”
3. Start the test and select Download LockDown Browser.
4. Open the installation file and follow the instructions in the wizard to install the browser.
5. Return to ALEKS and click “Launch LockDown Browser + Webcam” to start the assessment.
6. The first time LockDown Browser + Webcam is launched, you will be prompted to complete a Webcam Check.

This will ensure your webcam is working properly, as well as checking for system requirements.

Once those steps are complete, you can either continue into the assessment or exit and return later when you are ready.

Keep in mind: you will be required to a) show identification, b) have good lighting & c) exit all other programs on your computer for it to work properly.

There’s also this link that provides some free practice
tests: https://www.test-guide.com/aleks-practice-test.html

If you have any technical problems, please contact ALEKS:
https://www.aleks.com/support/troubleshooting

English Placement test
All PSE, EAP and AAP students MUST take the English placement test upon arrival. This will be administered by the English Language Institute (ELI) on a selected day during orientation and is MANDATORY. Even though students have submitted a score when they were given their offers, they MUST take another placement test once they arrive on campus.

This test will confirm their program placement, so students need to be sure to take the test seriously and do their best. The results of their placement test will either allow them to stay in the program they were offered or change their program.

Upon receiving the results of the placement test, students will be notified of either program confirmation or program change. If a program change is required, students will be invited to make an appointment with the academic coordinator to review the requirements of the new program and sign the paperwork.
Please note that ID students DO NOT take the English placement test. This is only for PSE, EAP and AAP students.

Have you taken university-level courses at another institution? Please send official transcripts for all classes from which you hope to transfer credits, and academic advisors will review. Pending review, you may receive credit toward “general education” or “major coursework” requirements. Transcripts need to be officially translated into English (if they were not originally written in English).

Follow the same instructions provided in “Admissions Documents and Transcripts“

For your information, the university does not accept transfer credits for the following:

• remedial courses (non-credit courses)
• preparatory classes (such as test preparation courses)
• vocational classes (career preparation courses such as cosmetology, hospitality, carpentry, etc.)
  graduate level courses
• courses with vague titles (i.e. general math)
• courses from international colleges that do not have equivalent University of Utah courses
• English/Writing courses taught in an international college
• native language courses taught in their home country
• courses with fewer than 2.5 credits
• courses with grades lower than D-

There are many things to consider when preparing for university, let alone moving to a new country! To make your transition to the US easier, we’ve put together a list of everyday necessities.

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.

International Student Loans

Embarking on your educational journey in the United States shouldn’t come with the roadblock of finding a co-signer for financial aid. Shorelight recognizes this hurdle and has proactively partnered with premier financing organizations such as Fly Finance, MPower Financing, and Prodigy Finance. This strategic collaboration eliminates the traditional barriers international students face, such as the need for a co-signer, collateral, or an established US credit history, streamlining your path to securing educational funding.

Find the right loan organization for you on Shorelight.com.