Frequently Asked Questions
As students search for their “best fit” institution and plan for their trip abroad, questions frequently arise. Below are some questions that our students ask when they travel abroad to the University of Mississippi. If you have questions that are not answered here, please feel free to send them in an e-mail to exchange@olemiss.edu, and we’ll respond as quickly as possible.
When and how can I enroll in courses?
You will not be able to register for courses at the University of Mississippi until you are physically on campus. It is a state law that our exchange students must first participate in tuberculosis testing on campus before registering for classes.
Accordingly, you will arrive on campus several days prior to the start of the semester to begin the tuberculosis testing as early as possible. Although we cannot guarantee that the courses you requested will have remaining seats, we will try our best to get you into courses suitable for your major and academic progress. After you have completed tuberculosis testing, you will meet with an academic advisor in your field of study who will help you navigate the course registration process. Find more information on our Information About Academics page.
What is a Bed and Bath Pack? How much does it cost?
Before your arrival, you have the option to order something called a "Bed and Bath Pack." After you have been accepted, there will be post-decision questionnaire items in your Study Abroad Office application portal. One of these questions asks if you would like to purchase a Bed and Bath Pack.
If you select yes, the Bed and Bath Pack will be available to you when you arrive on campus on Arrival Day. The cost is $40, and it will be charged to your student Bursar account. The Bed and Bath Pack comes in Twin XL and Full sizes. You will need to indicate which size you need. Residence Hall 3 has Twin XL size beds, while Campus Walk, the Quarters, and most off-campus locations have Full sized beds.
The Bed and Bath Pack is $40 and includes one sheet set, one throw blanket, one towel, one washcloth, one pillow, one bar of soap, and one roll of toilet paper. See the example below.
Is there an airport shuttle service? When is Arrival Day?
The expected Fall 2024 Arrival Day is August 15, 2024. If you arrive on August 15th between 8:00am and 11:00pm at the Memphis, Tennessee airport, we will pick you up and transport you to Oxford, Mississippi with our free shuttle bus service. We will arrange our transportation shuttle times based on your flight times that you report in the “post decision” part of your Study Abroad Office application portal. Please enter your arrival information no later than June 15, 2024.
If you plan on arriving before August 15th, you will need to secure a hotel room near the airport until shuttles are available on January 15th or arrange your own transportation to Oxford. If you plan to live on campus, you will need to stay in a hotel until on-campus housing opens on August 15. If you are living off campus, check when your lease begins.
We have orientation sessions, tuberculosis testing, academic advising sessions, activities, and events planned for you during the first week prior to classes starting. We ask you to arrive early to give you extra time to adjust to Oxford and the Ole Miss campus and give you the best possible outcome for registering for courses.
* Our upcoming arrival days are subject to change. The Fall 2024 estimated arrival day is August 15, 2024.
Can you tell me more about student housing and off-campus housing?
It is important to note that you have the freedom to choose where you would like to live during your semester(s) here. We have an on-campus option, as well as several off campus apartment complexes.
Once you apply for our program, you will receive information about the Student Housing application deadlines and how to apply. If you choose the on-campus residence hall option, you are going to be assigned a roommate(s) who is also a visiting international student. Unless otherwise requested, we will pair you with a student from a different country and who speaks a different language.
If you choose to live in an off-campus apartment, you must make those arrangements on your own. Please see the Housing Options and Meal Plans webpage for a comparison of the most popular housing options.
Can I have more information about health insurance?
If you choose to live in an off-campus apartment, you must make those arrangements on your own. Please see the Housing Options and Meal Plans webpage for a comparison of the most popular housing options.
Can I have more information about health insurance?
The University of Mississippi health insurance is provided by a company called United Healthcare. Click here for a link to learn more about student insurance through the University of Mississippi. This page has additional links to United Healthcare's website that will give you more information about coverage.
We automatically enroll our international exchange students in the United Healthcare insurance program unless their university advisor has filled out an Insurance Exemption Request Form. Please note:
We automatically enroll our international exchange students in the United Healthcare insurance program unless their university advisor has filled out an Insurance Exemption Request Form. Please note:
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The insurance exemption request must be filled out by your home university.
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All students from the same university must have the same insurance for the waiver to be accepted.
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The health insurance must meet the federal requirements of the J-1 visa.
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The health insurance must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the semester for which the waiver is being requested.
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Please see the Information about Health Services and Insurance webpage for more information.
In order to register for courses, students must present proof of MMR vaccinations before arrival. The required forms are located in the Medical Documents section of your Study Abroad application.
Also, all international students are required to complete mandatory tuberculosis testing upon arrival in Mississippi. Your International Student Advisor will schedule your campus health center visit to complete tuberculosis testing. When you arrive, you will receive a folder and email(s) with important information including your health center appointment time.
Our students must first participate in tuberculosis testing before you are able to register for classes. We complete tuberculosis testing during Welcome Week so that we can have you registered for courses as early as possible. You can not complete course registration without first completing the tuberculosis screening. Again, this is all arranged for you before you arrive on campus.
Do I need to register for orientation? Do I need to pay an orientation fee?
As an international exchange student, you do not need to register for orientation. You also should not pay an orientation fee. We will plan a FREE orientation program for you as visiting international students.
I have questions. Who should I email?
Please email exchange@olemiss.edu for all of your questions. If I do not know the answer to something, I would be happy to find out the answer or put you in contact with the appropriate person.
How can I buy student athletics tickets?
You will not be able to purchase student athletics tickets until you have registered for classes. Course registration will happen during Welcome Week, after Arrival Day. Season tickets may be sold out, but it depends on the year and the season. In Fall 2023, many students were able to purchase season tickets for football!
If you don't get a season ticket, don't worry! If the tickets do sell out, for each sporting event game, there are always students who wish to sell their individual ticket because they cannot make it to the game. It is easy to have a ticket transferred to you. There are a few different ways to buy tickets from students or online, and this is a great question to ask your Global Ambassador if you need help.
When should I pay my Bursar account?
Your Bursar Account is where your specific charges and fees are uploaded, where you accept your scholarship(s), and where you pay your account. Bursar accounts are one online place for all of your account payments.
There is also the "Bursar Office" on campus in Martindale-Cole 202 if you prefer to talk to someone or see a hard copy of your account. You do not need to understand your Bursar Account before you arrive. We will help you understand it when you arrive during Welcome Week.
You will not pay your Bursar account until after you arrive on campus. During orientation, we will go over the scholarships and billing information. You can pay your account in three ways:
- Online through your MyOleMiss portal by using an American Visa or Mastercard (Convenience Fee of 2.75%)
- Online through FlyWire with your home bank routing number and account number
- Cash payments at the Bursar’s Office (2nd Floor Martindale Student Services Center) using cash, check, or money order.
You should familiarize yourself with your personal bank's policies in preparation for your semester(s) abroad. Some students are not able to make large payments in one transaction. Plan ahead and schedule your payments if needed. But, again, please do not make a payment until after orientation.
How can I access my Ole Miss email? What is my web ID and password?
Your Ole Miss email address is listed on your Expected Cost Sheet and Acceptance Letter that is sent with your Acceptance Packet. It is called your WebID and when used as your email, it ends with @go.olemiss.edu.
You have to set up your own password on myOleMiss. Your password will be the same for your email, MyOleMiss, and Blackboard (a program used during classes — we will talk about this during orientation). Every few months, you will need to reset your password for security purposes.
- Your Ole Miss email can be accessed at www.gmail.com. Enter your full email address and password.
- You can access your myOleMiss account (where final grades are posted, scholarships and billing are posted, classes are registered for, and more!) by going to www.my.olemiss.edu and using your WebID and password to log in. You wouldn’t enter the “@go.olemiss.edu” for this username.
Do I need to upload my medical documents?
If you have not already, please upload your medical documents to the Study Abroad Office application portal or email them to exchange@olemiss.edu before June 15, 2023.
What will we do during Welcome Week?
During Welcome Week, we will explain all of the important information about your time at the University of Mississippi. When you arrive, you will receive important information including your health center appointment time, a semester schedule, a campus map, you academic advising appointment, and so much more! In addition, we will have orientation sessions, tuberculosis testing, and academic advising sessions planned for you prior to classes starting.
There will also be plenty of fun events happening around campus so you can get connected with other students!
Can I take Intensive English classes as an exchange student?
Yes! Intensive English language courses are offered to all non-native English students. Students who do not have a sufficiently high level of English proficiency may enroll full time in the Intensive English Program. Courses are offered to Study Abroad Office students at the Advanced and Advanced Plus level, and the schedule corresponds with the university’s academic calendar. Students may enroll concurrently in Intensive English and academic courses. Intensive English Program courses are credit bearing and will count towards your total credits hours. For more information on language courses, check out the Intensive English Program. Registration of these courses will occur during Welcome Week in person, not online.
How much money should I budget for my exchange program?
Depending on the agreement between your university and the University of Mississippi, you may be responsible for all of your personal expenses including: housing, meals, books, local transportation, special class fees, and personal entertainment or spending money. A document titled "Expected Costs" is included in your Acceptance Packet and explains what fees you should be prepared to pay while at Ole Miss. This document is not a bill, but gives you an idea of the costs you will need to pay. Depending on personal spending habits, your monetary needs will vary.
How many credit hours do I need to take, and how are the University of Mississippi classes set up?
While your home institution sets the policy regarding the award of credit for coursework completed on an exchange, you will need to enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester as undergraduate students (6 credit hours each summer term) or 9 credit hours as graduate students.
You are responsible for knowing your home institution’s policies and procedures regarding course requirements. At the University of Mississippi, students are given a syllabus at the beginning of each course with all information about the course's schedule, materials, and grading policy.
The final grade for the course is based on class participation and attendance, daily assignments, tests, papers, class presentations, and examinations. The weight of each task and how it is incorporated into the final overall grade is at the discretion of the professor. All classes are required to hold a final exam, whether it be an in-class test or a paper due during exam week.
How do I get my final transcript?
Students studying in the fall semester should expect their UM transcript to arrive at their home university in February. Spring semester and full-year students should expect their UM transcript to arrive at their home university in June.
Official transcripts will be sent to your home institution only if all holds on the student account have been removed and your UM Bursar Account shows a zero balance. Students who would like an additional transcript for personal use may purchase one through their myOleMiss account.
Where can I find more information about Ole Miss's COVID-19 policies?
The University of Mississippi has a dedicated Coronavirus Disease 2019 page where you can find more information about the university's response to the global pandemic. Official University Messages are posted and statistics related to confirmed cases within our campus community can be found on the COVID-19 Dashboard.