Transfer Students


Please read and apply this information carefully as you go through the Transfer One Book steps, and also as it will answer many of your questions!

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    Arrival & Reservation Form:     |  Back to top   |

    Plan your trip wisely and accordingly:

  • On Sunday August 18, in order to ensure that you can move-in early on campus (for students who will be living on-campus) and that we can assist students to provide transportation assistance from the Dulles International Airport (IAD) to JMU, please complete the Arrival/ Reservation Form.

    • Class Selection & Registration:     |  Back to top   |
    • Official copy of courses taken at previous institution:

    In order to assist you with selecting appropriate classes to take in your first semester at JMU, the university must have an official copy of all college or university level work completed outside JMU as soon as possible . 

    Any work completed at a college or university inside the US can be submitted directly to the office of the Registrar at:

    Office of the Registrar 
    James Madison University 
    800 S Main Street - MSC 3528
    Harrisonburg, VA 22807
    USA
    • Transfer Website

    If you have completed college or university level work outside the United States, visit JMU’s Transfer Advising website for Information for Students Transferring Credit from Outside of the United States.  You must submit both an international credential evaluation report as well as official copies of your transcripts before we will award transfer credit.  The academic departments at JMU will need you to provide a course description and/or syllabus for each of the classes you took outside the US before you can have the possibility of receiving JMU equivalent credit. 

    Please keep in mind the process of requesting an international credential evaluation can take a long time to complete.  Also, gathering course descriptions and syllabi may be easier for you to do before you depart to begin studying at JMU.  It is important to begin making these preparations as soon as possible to allow enough time to navigate the international credential evaluation process. 

    • August 1st:

    August 1 is the deadline for giving JMU a copy of your international credential evaluation report and official copies of your transcripts for coursework completed outside the US.  If we receive your documents by this date, you will know which transfer credits you have been awarded by the time fall classes begin.   If we receive your documents after this date, you may need to wait until several weeks into the semester to find out about your transfer credits.

    • If you plan to attend Transfer Summer Springboard, you will have the opportunity to meet with an advisor in your academic department to help you choose and enroll in your fall classes. 
    • If you are unable to attend Transfer Summer Springboard, the International Transfer Advising Coordinator with work with an advisor in your academic department to build a basic schedule for your first semester. 

    You will be able to view a copy of your fall schedule in your student account on MyMadison by August 1.  Transfer students are allowed to make changes to their schedules without needing permission up until the course adjustment deadline.  Check the Office of the Registrar’s website for more information on important registration dates and deadlines. 

     

    • For questions related to transfer of credits from outside the US, contact the International Transfer Advising Coordinator, JoAnn Benjamin.
    Housing :     |  Back to top   |

  • The Off Campus Life office has an online housing and roommate database: which makes it very convenient for anyone to look for available apartments, roommates and/or sublets. Finding a single apartment is very rare. What you also need to take into consideration is also the fact that some apartments may not be furnished. You will need to find out where the apartments are located, in relations to the bus route. Furthermore some students may like to party more than you or may not like to clean up after themselves… so once you find a place that would work, you will need to make sure to get in touch with all of your roommates (most likely three – most of the apartments are set up as follows: 4 bedroom apt. with 2 bathrooms, a shared kitchen and living area) to figure out if you are compatible and if you think it will work. Please note: if you do not have a social security number you may be expected to pay a deposit equivalent to 3 times your monthly lease. Feel free to contact Thomas Lavenir for further assistance and especially as you may need a special letter from me to allow you to move-in earlier than the official contract date (to ensure that you can get settled-in before Transitions begins)!

  • Contact Thomas Lavenir for general inquiries and potential suggestions.

    • Health Insurance:     |  Back to top   |

  • All international students will be enrolled in mandatory health insurance with Cultural Insurance Services International, CISI. Your insurance card, policy information and claim form can be obtained from the International Student & Scholar Services Office

  • If you currently have an insurance policy that will cover you for your duration of your academic career and meets certain requirements, you may be exempt from the insurance fee placed on your account. If you wish to apply for a waiver for this coverage with CISI, you must complete an Insurance Waiver Form and return it in person to ISSS along with a copy of your policy in English. Please note that you must submit your waiver request no later than the first Friday of the semester, and that the waiver must be approved by ISSS.

    • Tuition & Payment:     |  Back to top   |

  • To obtain an estimated breakdown of the expenses that you can expect as a JMU student, go to t the University Business Office’s website. Please note that the cost of textbooks (approximately $300/semester), for example, is not included!

  • To view your bill, you need to login to QuickBill by accessing it on e-campus (for students). QuikBill provides you and your family with instant access to your student account charges. QuikBill is currently configured so that the student is the only who can view and pay his or her bill online through this system. If a family member or sponsor of that student needs access to QuikBill, the student will need to enable this individual to view and/or pay the bill by creating an account for this individual. Also through QuickBill, an installment payment plan can be set-up. To make payments towards your tuition and bills, you can:

    • wire funds to JMU. All funds need to be in U.S. dollars and sent to:

      • wire funds to JMU:  Contact Electronic Funds Coordinator: Tammy L Kiser- (540) 568-7909

    • pay online by credit card. [Please note that JMU handles MasterCard, American Express or the Discovery card only].

    • Set-up a bank account in the U.S. This will facilitate the transfer of funds from your home country to the U.S. You will then be able to write checks and/or transfer money directly from your bank account to your JMU student account online. A trip to the downtown Bank of America will be scheduled during the first or second week of classes .


    Don't Forget!     |  Back to top   |

  • In the winter we have snow and ice. You will want a warm coat to wear as you walk between classes on campus. The normal winter temperature is in the range of 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit (around 0 degrees Celsius) although, it can get as cold as 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit (around -15 degrees Celsius).

  • Organize your passport and all of your visa documents and supporting documents in one place on your person, not in your checked luggage so that they are easy to find and manage. Make sure that you have your:

      (a) valid passport with proper, currently valid stamp;
      (b) form I-20 or DS-2019;
      (c) evidence of funding as appropriate to the visa classification and your intended activities in the U.S.;
      (d) contact information for the International Student and Scholar Services;
      (e) your SEVIS receipt.

    • Whom should I contact?     |  Back to top   |

  • Thomas Lavenir for information related to Transitions and to the different steps that you need to fulfill.

  • Gina Kudrav for information related to immigration and visas.

  • JoAnn Benjamin regarding academic transfer related questions, comments and/or concerns.