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 studying abroad to the University of Mississippi. If you have questions that are not answered here, please feel free to email exchange@olemiss.edu, and we’ll respond as quickly as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

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. In Mississippi, we have a state law that requires all new international students to be tested for tuberculosis on-site (on campus) before registering for classes. Please note that you should not complete your tuberculosis test at home, as the results will not be accepted.

We ask that you arrive on campus several days before the start of the semester to complete the mandatory tuberculosis testing as early as possible. Although we cannot guarantee that the courses you requested will have remaining seats, we will help you register for courses that are 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, and how much does it cost? What is included?

International office staff will prepare a "bed and bath pack" for all students who request one. After you have been accepted and admitted into the program, there will be post-decision questionnaire items in your Study Abroad Portal where you can request a bed and bath pack.

The cost of a bed and bath pack is $40.00, and it will be charged to your student Bursar account. The bed and bath pack is available in two sizes: Twin XL and Full. In your Study Abroad Portal under the post-decision questionnaire items, you can tell us what size you need. Residence Hall 3 has Twin XL-sized beds, while Campus Walk, the Quarters, and most off-campus locations have Full-sized beds. 

The bed and bath pack includes one sheet set, one throw blanket, one towel, one washcloth, one pillow, one bar of soap, and two rolls of toilet paper. See the example image below. 

                    
                    
  

Is there an airport shuttle service? When is Arrival Day? 

Fall 2026 Arrival Day is August 13, 2026. If you arrive on August 13 between 8:00 am and 10:00 PM at the Memphis, Tennessee airport (MEM), we will pick you up and transport you to Oxford, Mississippi with our free shuttle bus service. We will arrange bus shuttle times based on the flight times that you report in the post-decision questionnaire item titled "Arrival Information" in your Study Abroad Portal. Please enter your arrival information no later than July 15, 2026.

If you plan to arrive before August 13, you need to reserve a hotel room near the airport until shuttles are available on August 13 or arrange your own transportation to Oxford. If you plan to live on campus, you must stay in a hotel until on-campus housing opens on August 13. If you will live off campus, check when your lease begins to see your move-in date.

We have orientation sessions, tuberculosis testing, course registration sessions, and fun activities planned for you during the first week before classes start, which we call Welcome Week. We ask that you 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.

Can you tell me more about student housing and off-campus housing?

It is important to know that you are free to choose where you would like to live during your semester(s) here. We have an on-campus option through our Student Housing Office, as well as several off-campus apartment complexes available in Oxford.

Can I have more information about health insurance?

The University of Mississippi health insurance is provided by the company UnitedHealthcare. See the Student Health Insurance webpage to learn more about student health insurance through the University of Mississippi. This page contains additional links to UnitedHealthcare's website that provide more information about the University of Mississippi's policy coverage. 

All international exchange students are automatically enrolled in the UnitedHealthcare insurance program. The cost of the insurance is billed to your student bursar account. If you do not wish to use the University of Mississippi's UnitedHealthcare insurance plan, you may ask your home university advisor to complete an Insurance Exemption Request Form on your behalf. Instructions on completing this form will be shared after your acceptance and admission into the program. When completing the Insurance Exemption Request Form, please note:
 

• Please see the Information about Health Services and Insurance webpage for more information. 
   

What health examinations are required? What is the mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test?

To register for courses, students must present proof of MMR vaccinations (measles, mumps, and rubella) before arrival. The required forms are located in the Medical Documents section of your Study Abroad Portal application. Students who do not have proof of MMR vaccinations may submit an antibody test with results shown in English instead

All international students are required to complete mandatory tuberculosis (TB) testing upon arrival in Mississippi. Your International 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. As a reminder, you may not submit tuberculosis test results from your home country – all tuberculosis testing must be done after you arrive.

New international students must first complete tuberculosis testing before they can register for classes. Exchange students complete tuberculosis testing during Welcome Week so students can register for classes as soon as possible. It is important to know that you can not complete course registration without first completing the tuberculosis screening on campus. Your International Advisor will arrange appointment times for you and notify you before arrival of your appointment time(s).

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 with all of your questions. If your International Advisor does not know the answer to something, we can always help you to find the answer or to put you in contact with other offices on campus.

How can I buy student athletics tickets or seasonal football tickets?

You will not be able to purchase student athletics tickets or seasonal football tickets until you have registered for classes. Course registration will happen during Welcome Week, after Arrival Day. Tickets will be sold once again after your arrival. Tickets may sell out, but it depends on the year and the season. In Fall 2025, some students were able to purchase seasonal football tickets, but it is very competitive.

If you don't get a season ticket, don't worry! If the tickets do sell out, there are always students who sell their individual tickets because they cannot make it to the game. You can also purchase individual game tickets through third-party websites like SeatGeek or Ticketmaster. It is easy to have a ticket transferred to you. There are a few different ways to buy tickets, and this is a great question to ask your Global Ambassador or International Advisor if you need help. 

When should I pay my fees? What is a bursar account?

Your student bursar account is where your university charges are uploaded, such as tuition, housing, meal plans, and more. To pay your fees, you will make payments to your bursar account. 

The University of Mississippi has a Bursar Office on campus in Martindale-Cole 202 for students with account questions or who wish to get a printed copy of their account statement. You do not need to understand your bursar account before you arrive. We will help you understand it when you arrive during Welcome Week and during orientation.

You will not pay your bursar account until after you arrive on campus. During orientation, we will explain your bursar account and scholarships to you in detail.

After you arrive, you can pay your account in three ways:

• Online through your Experience student 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.

Note that scholarships are not posted until after the 10th day of classes and the completion of the course add/drop period. This is because our university staff must verify that all students are enrolled in the minimum number of credit hours before we can issue student scholarships. 

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 a single transaction. Please plan ahead to schedule your payments or unlock your bank account payment features in advance.

How can I access my Ole Miss email? What is my web ID and password?

Your UM web ID and email address information will be shared with you after your admission. 

You have to set up your own password for your web ID and email. Your password will be the same for your email, student portal, 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. Your web ID can be used to access your student email by combining the web ID and @go.olemiss.edu. For example, mywebid@go.olemiss.edu.

• You can access your student portal via Experience (where final grades are posted, scholarships and billing are posted, classes are registered for, and more!) by going to www.experience.olemiss.edu and using your web ID and password to log in. For your student portal, you do not need to enter the “@go.olemiss.edu” to log in.

Do I need to upload my medical documents?

If you have not already, please upload your medical documents to the Study Abroad Portal or email them to exchange@olemiss.edu before July 15, 2026.

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. We provide information about campus resources, paying bursar accounts, registering for courses, visa regulations, and more.

When you arrive on campus for the first time, you will receive a folder containing important scheduling information, including your tuberculosis (TB) appointment time, course registration appointment times, a Welcome Week calendar, and so much more! Leading up to Arrival Day, your International Advisor will also share important pre-arrival information with you by email, so please check your email regularly. We will even have pre-arrival webinars on Zoom over the summer.

There will also be plenty of fun events happening around campus for all new students, so you will have a lot of opportunities to connect to campus and make friends.

Can I take Intensive English classes as an exchange student?

Yes! Intensive English language courses are offered to all students who are non-native English speakers.

Students who do not have a sufficiently high level of English proficiency may enroll part-time or full-time in the Intensive English Program. Courses are offered to exchange students at the Advanced and Advanced Plus levels, and the course schedule matches 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 credit hours. For more information on language courses, check out the Intensive English Program website. Registration for Intensive English courses will occur in person during Welcome Week, 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 could 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 "Estimated Costs" is included in your Digital Acceptance Packet. This document explains what fees you should be prepared to pay while at Ole Miss. This document is not a bill, but it provides an idea of the costs you will need to pay according to your status. Depending on personal spending habits and lifestyle, 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 may have its own policy regarding the required credit numbers for coursework completed on your exchange program, you must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester as an undergraduate student (6 credit hours each summer term) or 9 credit hours as a graduate student, according to J-1 visa regulations.

You are responsible for knowing your home institution’s policies and procedures regarding course requirements. At the University of Mississippi, students receive a syllabus at the beginning of each course that contains all important 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 your final grade will depend on your professor. All classes are required to hold a final exam, whether it be an in-class test, a final presentation, or a paper due during exam week. 

How do I get my final transcript?

Students studying in the fall semester should expect their University of Mississippi transcript to arrive at their home university in February. Spring semester and full-year students should expect their University of Mississippi transcript to arrive at their home university in June. The Study Abroad Office will provide one free transcript copy which will be delivered directly to your home university. Students may also order their own transcript copies through Parchment.

Official transcripts will be sent to your home institution only if all holds on the student account have been removed and your bursar account shows a zero balance (fully paid).