Before you Arrive

Congratulations and welcome to USC IAP! Soon you’ll be on the exciting University of South Carolina campus. Before you arrive, complete the steps below to avoid common issues and delays for international students. If you have any questions, contact us and we’ll be happy to help!

THINGS TO DO

All new IAP students must complete on-campus check-in and attend orientation before moving into their dormitory and registering for classes.

Check-In Location

Close-Hipp Building (William Close Building), Lobby

1705 College Street

Columbia, SC 29208

Check-In Dates & Times

Fall 2025:

August 12, 2025, between 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Students must arrive at the check-in location during check-in hours to complete the process.

Get ready for USC! We have online webinars are for new undergraduate and graduate students. They will help you learn important steps and tips before you arrive at USC.

Join us and get ready for a great start at USC!

1. Follow the instructions to sign up for multi-factor authentication (MFA) and access your USC email.

If you got a new phone or need to reactivate your MFA, use these instructions.

2. Complete the FERPA Form.

1. Submit your Housing Form as soon as possible. Please choose the correct link below:

Please be aware that housing allocation within the USC International Accelerator Program (IAP) operates on a first-pay, first-served basis. To secure your preferred housing type, we recommend submitting your payment promptly. Delayed payments may limit housing options or result in alternative arrangements.

2. If you are staying in IAP housing, please complete the IAP Roommate Matching Form to help us identify your potential roommate!

3. You will receive a housing confirmation email (with your detailed address and unit number) 1-2 business days before orientation.

If you are a new student in the Extended Academic Program, Academic Accelerator Program, Master’s Accelerator Program, or Advanced Master’s Accelerator, you must take the iTEP English Test before you arrive on campus. This test is required. If you do not complete it on time, you will not be able to register for classes during orientation.

Test instructions will be sent to your USC email on July 21, 2025. You must finish the official test by August 11, 2025.

After the test:

Your results will be sent to the IAP office.
You may stay in your current program or be moved to a different program, based on your test result.
If a program change is required, you will meet with your IAP Academic Director during orientation to review the new program details.

Practice now

Use this practice test to get familiar with the format.

Need help?

Email studentservices@uofsc.org.

Note: AE and AE-MAP students will take their English test during orientation on campus.

All new undergraduate IAP students (except Academic English students) must complete the Math Assessment of Prerequisites (MAP). This test ensures you are placed in the correct math level to stay on track for graduation. Failure to complete the test on time may delay your graduation.

The MAP test will be available on Blackboard starting July 21, 2025.

Before taking the test:

You must complete four preparation tasks. Follow the instructions to complete these steps before taking the test.

Taking the test:

Once you finish the preparation tasks, you can access the test under "Step 3: Take the MAP." You must complete the test before August 11, 2025.

Need help?

Contact Dr. Sherry Warren at WARRENS5@mailbox.sc.edu.

Once you purchase your plane tickets, please submit your flight information so we know when to pick you up from the airport. You need to submit your flight information even if you do not need a pickup service from USC, so we know when to expect you on campus.

All pick-up requests need to be submitted at least one week before the pickup date.
If you arrive earlier than your move-in date, you will be responsible for booking your own hotel until you can move in to your dormitory. The airport pickup service will be able to take you to the hotel you book.
Airport pickup service is a one-time service, so if you are taken to a hotel you booked, you will need to find transportation to come to campus for dormitory check-in. We recommend asking the hotel staff to help you book an Uber.
Students will receive a confirmation email with a link to request a ride within 24 hours of their arrival date.
If there is any issue, students can reach out to the IAP emergency number 803-881-9362.

Required Immunizations for USC Registration

The University of South Carolina requires the following immunizations for all new students:

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Two Doses

The first dose must be administered on or after your first birthday, and the second dose at least 28 days after the initial dose.

Please note: A positive titer for MMR is acceptable, however, if negative for any of the three you will be required to have two doses of MMR separated by 28 days.

Meningococcal Vaccine

Students under age 21 years of age will need the Meningococcal ACYW (Meningitis) vaccine (Menactra or Menveo). Students receiving the vaccine prior to age 16 will need a Meningococcal ACYW (Meningitis) booster (Menactra or Menveo).

Note: Meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero or Trumenba) is recommended, however; **Meningococcal B does NOT fulfill the meningococcal requirement.

Immunization Upload Process

Please note the following steps:

All students must submit their immunization records to register for classes at USC.
Follow the Immunization Upload Process to upload your immunization records.

Undergraduate:

Current passport, Visa, I-20
Letter of Acceptance from USC
Academic transcripts, sealed in an envelope
Original diploma (certificate showing proof of degree)
Health and Immunization Form

Graduate:

Current passport, Visa, I-20
Letter of Acceptance from USC
Academic transcripts, sealed in an envelope
Original diploma (certificate showing proof of degree)

You can bring the original document with you, or have your institution sent directly to USC Grad School at gradapp@mailbox.sc.edu.

Score reports below must be sent directly from testing company to USC Grad School:

TOEFL/IELTS/proof of English proficiency
GRE (if required by program)
ETS institution code 5818 (GRE & TOEFL)

Health and Immunization Form

Preparing to study abroad can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Shorelight’s Center for Academic Success (CAS) offers free online resources to support you throughout your university journey. You can:

Watch short webinars on topics like Culture Shock and Mental Health
Take eLearning courses on Visa Applications, Health Insurance, Career Exploration, and more
Access virtual tutors, career advisors, and academic support

Need to speak with someone?

Use the Live Chat button to connect with trained support staff or schedule a Zoom session with a Student Success Coach, Professional Tutor, or Career Services expert. They can help with pre-arrival questions, campus life, academic subjects, and career guidance.

Activate your free CAS account today! You are eligible as soon as you pay your university deposit.

How to Register:

Click here or scan the QR code to visit the CAS homepage.
Click the orange "Sign Up Now" button.
Enter your first and last name as registered with your university.
Use any email address your university has on file (personal or university email).
Create a password (must include at least one special character and be 6-50 characters long).
Retype your password and save it somewhere safe.
Enter the full name of your university (no abbreviations).
Check the box to accept the Terms & Conditions (feel free to read them first).
Check the last box if you want to receive CAS emails.
Click “Start your learning journey” to complete your registration.

After You Register:

You’ll receive an approval email within two business days. Follow the link to log in.
If you don’t see the email, check your spam folder or try logging in directly from the CAS homepage.
If you have any issues, use the Live Chat button for help.

Pre-Registered Students:

Some students are pre-registered by their university to make sign-up easier.
If you receive an email from CAS saying your account is ready, just follow the link, create a password, and accept the Terms & Conditions (Steps 5-10 above).
If you were told you are pre-registered but can’t find the email, go to the CAS homepage, click “Sign Up Now,” and follow Steps 3-10.
Need help? Use Live Chat to check which email was used for your registration.

Get started today and make the most of your university experience with CAS!

THINGS TO KNOW

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.

Please visit usembassy.gov to learn more about scheduling your visa appointment. The website also has information on what to expect and the documentation you will need to take with you for your interview. Here are other links that might be helpful to you: visa photo requirements, visa application and I-901 Fee and study in the states.

Check out two videos below that will help you on how to apply and prepare for your visa interview.

Download this useful Immigration Guide to help you learn more about the process for getting your F-1 visa.

To help avoid delays with enrollment, make your tuition and fees payment in full two weeks before you arrive.

When you begin, have your acceptance letter in front of you, as you will need to refer to the information in the letter.

Submit payment for your tuition and fees via Flywire:

Flywire by Peer Transfer: To submit international and domestic ACH payments via USC’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.

Make Payment through Flywire

This program helps international students apply for remote internships and gain real-life work experience to boost their resumes.

Certificates and training: Attend online professional bootcamps before your virtual internship starts. Gain hands-on experience once you officially begin by contributing to projects alongside industry experts. If you are interested in certifications, Career Premium now offers unlimited access to training courses that lead to certification in Amazon Web Services, Java, Microsoft Azure, and Python, among many other in-demand skills.
Coaching and mentorship: Receive direct guidance from career coaches and industry experts on career exploration, skill training, and professional development.
Applying: Work on real-life projects for leading employers and build your portfolio. We work with more than 12,000 multinational companies that have unique projects for you to leverage your new skills, experience, and professional network to land your dream job.

“The tutors are resourceful, and they really helped me while I was applying for internships. I certainly believe I will find a job after graduation.”—Shelley, hired at Tesla

Sign up

Please reach out to angi.wang@uofsc.org if you have any questions about the above Pre-Arrival steps.

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Immigration Guide

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

Pre-Arrival Checklist - Undergraduate

Check off everything on this list to ensure you have completed all the steps before you arrive and bring everything you need to the University of South Carolina campus.

Chinese translation of the Pre-Arrival Checklist - Undergraduate

This is the Chinese translation of the undergraduate pre-arrival checklist.

Pre-Arrival Checklist - Graduate

Check off everything on this list to ensure you have completed all the steps before you arrive and bring everything you need to the University of South Carolina campus.

Orientation Schedule

Here’s an example of what your orientation schedule might look like. During orientation, you will receive a full campus tour, see the sights around Columbia, South Carolina and get to know your fellow international students!

Academic Calendar

Plan ahead! This calendar tells you when class starts and ends, and when holidays and exams are happening.

International Accelerator Program