The University of Virginia (UVA) was designed and conceived by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of theUnited States and author of the Declaration of Independence. The University continues to reflect Jefferson’s
intent to prepare and produce leaders—independent and intelligent citizens ready to make their mark on thefuture. Founded in 1819, the University has a total enrollment of approximately 25,000 students. UVA is theonly U.S. university listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and has twelve schools which offer a wide variety of academic disciplines and courses. UVA is home to the nation's oldest student-run honor system, which
requires that students pledge not to lie, cheat, or steal. In the 2024 U.S. News & World Report's rankings ofbest colleges, the University of Virginia was ranked the No. 5 best public university in the United States. UVA
also ranks in the Top 25 among the best of all national universities, public and private, at No. 24.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES OFFICE
208 Minor Hall
P.O. Box 400165
Charlo esville, VA 22904-4165

Contact Informa on:
USA +1 434-982-3010
exchange@virginia.edu
www.issp.virginia.edu

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
Just 120 miles from Washington, D.C., and 30 minutes from the Shenandoah National Park, Charlottesville combines small-town charmwith a wide array of cultural opportunities, outdoor activities, and historic surroundings. The city's population is near 46,000 with a metropolitan population nearing 115,000. The student-friendly neighborhood called The Corner is located next to campus and is home to
many shops and restaurants. Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall is a pedestrian-only street lined with restaurants, shops, theatres, and musicvenues. Charlottesville is home to many festivals throughout the year,
including the Virginia Film Festival, Virginia Festival of the Book andthe Festival of the Photograph. Some of the many outdoor activitiesstudents can enjoy while living in Charlottesville include hiking, biking, and kayaking. Charlottesville is also located near the homes ofthree former U.S. presidents, including Thomas Jefferson’s famed estate, Monticello.
Read more about life in Charlottesville: https://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville

ACADEMICS AT UVAUVA offers a broad curriculum and a variety of academic disciplines. Many of the UVA schools and academicdepartments are among the highest-ranking and most well-regarded in the country.
UVA Facts & Figures: https://www.virginia.edu/facts

CREDIT AND GRADING SYSTEM
4.0 GPA (Grade Point Average) scale, A – F letter grading system

2024/25 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Fall 2024

Late August — mid December

Spring 2025

Mid January — mid May

Orientation

August 26

Orientation

January 12

Courses Begin

August 27

Courses Begin

January 13

Thanksgiving Recess

November 27 — December 1

Spring Recess

March 8 — March 16

Courses End

December 6

Courses End

April 29

Final Exams

December 9 — December 17

Final Exams

May 1 — May 9

COURSESCOURSES
Exchange students are eligible to enroll in any courses offered atthe University (with the exception of the professional schools including Law, Business, and Medicine) as long as any pre-requisites
required for the course are met and/or receive instructor permission. Enrollment in the McIntire School of Commerce is limited tostudents from institutions that have an exchange agreement specifically with the Commerce School. Exchange students enrolled in theLaw School, School of Nursing, Darden School of Business, andthe McIntire School of Commerce will receive separate instructions
directly from those schools on course selection and enrollment procedures.
The Graduate or Undergraduate Record (http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/) includes the complete list and description of all courses offered at UVA.
The Course Catalog is the list of courses that are offered for a specific semester or term. It becomes available
midway through the previous semester (about 3 months before spring semester classes begin and about 6
months before fall semester classes begin). Please note that UVA cannot guarantee that an exchange student will be able to enroll in any specific course offered, so students are encouraged to be flexible withalternative courses.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Exchange students must be approved and nominated for participation in an exchange program by their homeinstitution. Your exchange coordinator will forward your nomination to UVA and you will be sent instructions
for completing the application process.
Your school of enrollment is dependent on the exchange agreement between UVA and your home institution.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
Students whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL or IELTS test scores (no more than twoyears old). Students must score at least 90 on the iBT TOEFL or 7.0 on the IELTS.

EXCHANGE APPLICATION DATESTermFall 2024/Year

Spring 2025

(August start)(January start)

Nomination deadline

March 1

October 1

Application deadline

March 15

October 15

Notification

End of March

End of OctoberACCOMMODATION INFORMATION
Undergraduate exchange students are eligible to apply for residential (on-campus) housing at UVA. Housing
offers are made on a space available basis and are not guaranteed. Students can find information about applying for on-campus housing online at http://housing.virginia.edu/.
Housing options available to exchange students are listed under the “transfer student” link on the housing
webpage.
If you prefer NOT to live in residential housing there are many options available off-campus near the University. Once admitted, students have access to a secure website that offers a listing of a wide variety of off-campus
accommodations.
Students planning to apply for on-campus housing should note the date that housing will be available for move-in. Students who plan to arrive in Charlottesville before your residential housing becomes available will needto contact Housing directly to arrange for an early move-in or make arrangements to stay at a local hotel.

ARRIVALTRAVEL TO CHARLOTTESVILLE
The nearest airport is Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO), located approximately 12 km from UVA. Thenearest international airport is Washington Dulles (IAD). We recommend flying into CHO as the cost of transportation from Dulles may exceed the difference in airfare. Taxi service and Uber/Lyft are available at CHO.
UVA’s Student Council organizes bus trips to and from Dulles at semester start and end, as well as over long
breaks: www.uvastudco.com/airbus. The Virginia Breeze bus runs between Washington, D.C. and Charlottesville once daily: virginiabreeze.drpt.virginia.gov. UVA does not offer pick up service.

ORIENTATIONAll exchange students are required to attend a mandatory orientation session held by the International Studies
Office.
Additionally, the International Studies Office works with Global Greeters, a student group associated with thedepartment, for fall orientation. Global Greeters host various events, such as meetup dinners, community receptions, and Insider’s Tour, to assist and welcome incoming international students.

ESTIMATED LIVING EXPENSES
Under the terms of UVA’s exchange agreements, UVA tuition and student fees are waived for exchange students. Student fees do not include health insurance (see information below).
Additionally, the ISO requires that all students provide documentation of the availability of at least $12,178
per semester of attendance at UVA. A bank statement and, if financial support is coming from someone otherthan the student, a letter of support from the sponsor (such as parents) is sufficient documentation of thesefunds. $12,178 is the minimum estimated cost of living based on shared accommodation and including meals,
housing, personal expenses, and books and supplies, health insurance. This does not include the cost of transportation to and from Charlottesville, entertainment, or any travel that you may plan to do while in the U.S.
Please take this into consideration when planning for your exchange program.

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATIONHEALTH INSURANCE
Exchange students must have insurance coverage that meets the University's requirements, or will be required
to purchase the health insurance plan for UVA students, through Aetna.
For additional information about the University’s health insurance requirement please refer to the Student
Health and Wellness website, https://www.studenthealth.virginia.edu/insurance.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATIONUVA has a free transit system that runs through campus and adjacent neighborhoods, and Charlottesville has
an extensive bus system that is free to UVA students. There is also a city-wide scooter and e-bike share withmany access points on the UVA grounds.
In addition, many students bike or walk to navigate the beautiful University grounds and to access nearby
shops and restaurants.

QUESTIONS?
Contact us at
exchange@virginia.edu
or +1 434-924-3010
More information on
studying at UVA atissp.virginia.edu