Fall 2026 Exchange Students

Preparing for Your Pittsburgh Campus Experience

To prepare for your time at Heinz College, please complete these checklist items: 

The deadline to accept the offer of admission is found within your online admission letter. 

  • Login to your online portal account to view your decision letter. 
  • After viewing your online letter, complete your Admission Response Form located on your application status page (near the bottom). 
  • Please review your offer letter to identify the date when your pre-determined course schedule will be emailed to you. 
  • Exchange students will be registered for their courses by the Pittsburgh-based Office of Academic & Advising Services. 
  • Once your pre-determined course schedule is received, you will need to reply to your Exchange Advisor APPROVING the course load. (You should approve under the assumption that if the schedule does not change, you will be happy with the courses assigned). 

Changes to the schedule will not be considered until you arrive in Pittsburgh and have met with your Heinz College-Pittsburgh exchange academic advisor. Full-time Pittsburgh-based students will receive waitlist priority over Exchange Students

Carnegie Mellon University holds two (2) separate and required Orientation Sessions. Each session will cover different material, and all will be useful to you as you acclimate yourself to our campus and city. 

Orientation #1 - Office of International Education - International Student Welcome and Immigration Check-In

International Students are required to participate in the International Student Check-In presented by the Office of International Education. Failure to complete check-in will result in you falling out of your visa status. 

OIE will host a Welcome Session and Mandatory Immigration Check-In for students 2 weeks prior to classes starting. Full details (including dates) and instructions for these sessions will be communicated directly to you by OIE via email, within your Visa documents, and at https://www.cmu.edu/oie/community-connections/orientation/index.html

International students studying on CMU's Pittsburgh campus: Participation in the immigration check-in is mandatory.  

Orientation #2 - Mandatory Heinz College Orientation

Date: Monday, August 17, 2026 - August 21, 2026

A detailed schedule will be shared (via email) closer to the start of the semester.  

If you are an international exchange student required to attain a student visa, you will need to complete this step. Please refer to the Office of International Education's website if you are unsure if you are required to attain a student visa: https://www.cmu.edu/oie/pre-arrival-and-settling-in/index.html 

Laws regarding international student studying in the U.S. change frequently. It is important that you review the U.S. immigration laws that affect your country. 

Forms and information needed to process the DS-2019 or I-20 document: 

Send all required documents (listed below) to the designated representative in the Heinz College Admissions Office in order to begin the DS-2019 or I-20 document processing. Please ensure you include each of the following documents: 

  1. International Exchange Student Information Form (download below) 
  2. Copy of your passport identification page(s) 

Download Your Forms

Download the 2026-2027 International Exchange Student Information Form

It will take 4-6 weeks to process these materials once they are received. Keep this timing in mind as you begin to make your visa appointment and travel plans. 

For assistance in completing these forms, the Office of International Education's Frequently Asked Questions document is very helpful. 

Send Your Documents To: 

Email Willesha Miller from Heinz Admissions 

Important: We accept all Exchange Student Information Forms and passport identification page electronically. Please retain all original forms and documents for immigration purposes. 

Sending your International Exchange Student Information Form and Passport ID page is Part 1 of a multi-step process. Once received, you will have a student account created (this will also include the creation of your CMU email address - known as your "Andrew ID" or "Andrew Email"). This will engage Part 2, where OIE will request a signed affidavit of support and additional information necessary to issue the I-20/DS-2019.

I-20/DS-2019 documents are sent to students electronically 4-6 weeks after all necessary documents are received and processed. Delivery times to the student will vary. Visa processing times vary in each country. 

Actual student expenses vary. 

 

  • Classes begin - Monday, August 24, 2026
  • Labor Day (No Classes) - Monday, September 7, 2026
  • Fall Break (No Classes) - Monday, October 12, 2026 - Friday, October 16, 2026
  • Democracy Day (No Classes) - Tuesday, November 3, 2026
  • Thanksgiving Break (No Classes) - Wednesday, November 25, 2026 - Friday, November 27, 2026
  • Last day of standard classes before exams: Friday, December 4, 2026
  • Final Exam Week: December 7 - December 14, 2026

Heinz College Academic Calendar

You will receive an email entitled "Action Required: Your Andrew userID Has Been Created" from it-help@cmu.edu. The email will provide instructions on how to receive your Andrew userID, set a password, and enroll in two-factor authentication (2fa) with DUO, Carnegie Mellon's multi-factor authentication service provider. Please be sure to check your spam folder, in the event the email does not appear in your inbox. 

Expect this email 1-2 weeks after you accept the offer of admission. (You must accept the offer through your online admission letter. See checklist item #1, Accept Your Offer of Admission, above). 

If you misplace or do not receive this email, please email it-help@andrew.cmu.edu

Your "Andrew ID" is REQUIRED in order to login to university services such as SIO, Canvas, and HealthConnect.

All students are required to obtain U.S.-based health insurance coverage that meets Carnegie Mellon University's minimum requirements. We recommend that students wait until they have arrived in Pittsburgh to purchase the required health insurance. Students have the option to purchase the Carnegie Mellon University health insurance or purchase a different U.S.-based health insurance plan that meets the University's minimum requirements. 

Have Questions? Staff members from the University Student Health Insurance office can answer your questions at shinsure@andrew.cmu.edu  

All students are required to have record of university requested immunizations are part of their enrollment in the exchange program. 

Students must complete the online immunization and tuberculosis (TB) screening forms, as well as upload immunization records with dates from their healthcare providers. If immunization records are in a language other than English, please translate the date of each vaccine does into English before uploading. 

It is strongly recommended that you take care of all required immunizations prior to your arrival on campus. You may access HealthConnect on the University Health Services website to submit your immunization records. Failure to comply with immunizations and health requirements can have serious consequences; such as the inability to continue registering for classes. 

For more information, visit the University Health Services website, or email Health Services directly: health@andrew.cmu.edu 

 

Complete the online Health History Form. Access the form by logging in to the HealthConnect Portal. 

*You will log in to this system using your Andrew ID and password. 

Please submit your preferred photo through the Photo ID submission page no later than July 1, 2026. This is the photo that will be printed on your University Identification Card (CMU ID+Card) and posted on the photo directory of students. Submit your photo. 

*You will log in to this system using your Andrew ID and password (see previous checklist item). 

ID's will be available for pickup in early January (1101 Hamburg Hall - Office of Admissions Suite) and at the In-Person Heinz Orientation (August 17, 2026).

Please begin checking your CMU University email account daily, or, setup email forwarding to an email account you do check daily. You can log in to your CMU University email account here. 

*You will log in to this system using your Andrew ID and password (see previous checklist item). 

Questions? Email Carnegie Mellon Computing Services at it-help@cmu.edu 

The following steps should have been followed to determine your plan of study (schedule of classes) while at the Heinz College: 

  1. Complete your proposed plan of study: Most applicants complete their "Plan of Study" and include it with their application to the program. This includes the classes the student is interested in taking during their semester at Heinz College. You must include at least 36 units of coursework in your plan of study. It is strongly urged that you do not propose taking classes that are required for graduation during your exchange semester. Please expect to take classes that will be considered elective only within your home program of study. This is important because your coursework and course schedule is not final until the first week of classes.  
  • The Heinz College Class Schedule for classes is available at this link: Go to schedule. 
  • Please do not choose classes noted as Section K, L, W, Z because they are NOT available at the Pittsburgh Campus. Also, if the section letter is followed by a number, the class meets for only half of the semester. Sections followed by the number 1 or 3 meet during the first 8 weeks of the semester. Sections followed by the number 2 or 4 meet in the second 8 weeks of the semester. 

2. The Heinz Exchange Program Advisor will determine your course schedule prior to the start of the semester. Courses will be determined based on your course interest form, seats remaining within a particular course, priority waitlist, and if the course is an elective or a requirement course for our graduating students.  

  • Once your schedule has been determined, you will be enrolled in the classes by the Heinz College. You are not responsible for registering for your courses. No changes to your schedule will be made until your arrival to Pittsburgh, after meeting with your exchange academic advisor. 

3. Heinz Exchange Advisors

Your courses (your agreed-to Plan of Study) will be added to your online student account (SIO) by the Heinz College administrators by mid-July. You may find that you have been enrolled in many or all of the courses from your plan of study, but more likely you will find that you are on the Waitlist for all courses. Please expect to be on the waitlist for all or some courses as late as the first week of class. 

You will discuss your course schedule with your Heinz Advisor after arriving in Pittsburgh. 

Log in to SIO here. 

*You will log in to this system using your Andrew ID and password (see previous checklist item). 

Exchange students are NOT eligible to apply for the USA post study work visa (F1/OPT) after attending an exchange semester in Pittsburgh. 

  • Employment off campus during or after your term on exchange as an F-1/J-1 visa student is not possible.

F-1/J-1 students are permitted to work on-campus for Carnegie Mellon up to 20 hours/week while enrolled as a full-time, degree seeking student.  

Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College will not support nor sponsor Academic Training for exchange students who do not have an internship requirement as part of their home university's degree program. 

Most Heinz students rent an apartment near campus. Finding housing for a six-month period can take time as many properties in the Pittsburgh area require a standard one-year lease, and locating affordable furnished housing will also take time. 

We surveyed recent students and they offer their suggestions to you: 

  • Be sure to start your housing search early! If you wait until arriving to Pittsburgh, you will have less time to enjoy your new environment before starting classes, and will often times feel stressed.
  • Contact your home institution to connect with students that have already completed an exchange program at the Heinz College. They are more than happy to share their experiences, helpful hints and contacts. Previous exchange students are a wonderful, and often your best resource for housing information. 
  • Explore the full Heinz College Housing Survey. 
  • Remain diligent and hopeful during your search for housing. We are certain that you will find housing that suits you during your time in Pittsburgh.
  • For information on housing prices, neighborhoods to live, etc., please visit CMU's Graduate Student Association (GSA) Housing Handbook page. 
  • One of our local university partners, the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary does have housing available from time to time for our exchange students. We encourage you to view their housing website and complete a housing application if you would like to live in one of their housing options.  

Carnegie Mellon University does not offer on-campus housing options for master's level students, and there are fewer options for those who stay for only one semester. You may want to consider subletting an apartment as a short-term leasing opportunity. There are great opportunities for you to sublet an apartment from a current Heinz student who will be graduating in December and moving to another city. Current students post sublet opportunities on the Heinz College Housing Facebook page. 

Global Pittsburgh, a regional collaborative initiative, hosts a website intended to introduce you to the international character of the Pittsburgh region. 

The Office of International Education has extensive information on their website to help you complete the enrollment process at Carnegie Mellon, such as: 

  • How to receive the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) document. 
  • Health Insurance
  • International Student Orientation
  • Getting to Carnegie Mellon
  • Tax Obligations for International Students
  • Housing Resources

The OIE's Settling in Guide contains information about: 

  • International Communities in Pittsburgh
  • Events Calendar
  • New of interest to people moving to Pittsburgh
  • Where to send packages (if shipping before you arrive)

Carnegie Mellon University is committed to helping students maximize their learning in all of their courses during their degree program.

Students with physical, sensory, cognitive, or emotional disabilities are encouraged to self-identify with the Office of Disability Resources and request needed accommodations.

Students may submit an application for accommodations as soon as they receive their Andrew ID and password (see below). For your convenience, the Office of Disability Resources' staff are happy to meet with students by phone to discuss setting up accommodations prior to your arrival on campus.

Obtain accommodations prior to the start of the program by following the steps outlined under How to Apply for Accommodations on CMU's Disability Resources website.

For more information and to begin the application process, please visit the Disability Resources website.

Please email Salima Clark with questions or concerns.

If you feel your disability will inhibit your ability to participate in any Heinz College Orientation activities, please contact the Heinz Admissions Office at 412-268-2164 or hnzadmit@andrew.cmu.edu.

Please review the Heinz computing documentation and required videos. Many software downloads are also available through the jumpstart guide.

Write down any questions and bring them with you to the Heinz Computing Orientation session.