Large metropolitan areas, with their variety of libraries, museums, theaters, and other educational institutions, are within an hour's driving distance-Boston to the north and Providence, Rhode Island, to the west. Recreational sites are close to the Dartmouth campus, including ocean beaches, hiking, and cultural and night-life opportunities, while the university offers good athletic facilities and many cultural events and other student activities. However, the university is not in an urban center. For students with a car, access is convenient. For others, buses and trains provide access to and from the nearby small cities of Fall River and New Bedford, although planning is necessary because the scheduled hours of public transportation are limited in evenings, at night, and on weekends.
Students can walk or bicycle to homes and shops in the immediate area of the campus.
Living accommodations are available on campus, and apartments can be rented locally. About 98 undergraduate and 185 graduate students at the university are citizens of countries other than the United States. The university is actively seeking international applicants from all areas, but especially from those regions which are presently under-represented. The International Student Office helps with eligibility and immigration requirements and provides many other kinds of assistance. The university has organizations specifically for international students, and a number of other student organizations have an international, multicultural component.