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Office of International Services

International Orientation

Orientation is an important step towards successfully beginning your life and program of study at NC State University. New international student orientation is a program that is required for all incoming international students. We hope this information will be helpful and answer many of your questions, but we encourage you to contact our office, make an appointment or stop by during our virtual drop-in advising hours if you have any additional questions. The Office of International Services is delighted to welcome you to Raleigh and we wish you the best of luck during your time at NC State!

Spring 2025 Orientation

The Office of International Services (OIS) is so excited to welcome you to the Wolfpack! We have already started preparing for your arrival with Small Pack and International Orientation planning underway. International Orientation will take place in-person at the Talley Student Union on Thursday, January 2, 2025 from 9:00am to 3:15pm. Lunch will be provided. New international students on F and J visas should plan to arrive to Raleigh before that date.

International Orientation is designed to support all new and transfer international students as they transition to life at NC State University. Organized and run by OIS and student leaders (Small Pack Leaders), this program highlights information not covered by other orientation programs on campus. International Orientation focuses on topics unique to the international student experience, ranging from cultural adjustment and academic resources to local transit options and Raleigh highlights. Including both mandatory and optional sessions, International Orientation gives new international students the flexibility to engage with the information that feels most relevant to their individual circumstances.

International Orientation is also a unique opportunity to connect with fellow students from all over the world, as well as faculty and staff here at NC State who are here to support you! Should you have questions before then, please contact us at ois@ncsu.edu.

NC State is committed to providing an inclusive environment and, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, will honor requests for reasonable assistance made by individuals with disabilities. Requests can be served more effectively if notice is provided at least 3 days before the event. Direct accommodation requests to Lauren_Ball@ncsu.edu.

Note that both undergraduate and graduate students have additional days of orientation as described below:

All new undergraduate students (including transfer students and those matriculating from IEP) are required to attend orientation. This includes two components: the New Student Orientation through New Student Programs and the International Student Orientation through the Office of International Services.

  • International Orientation. Orientation will begin with a day designed specifically for international students in-person at the Talley Student Union on Thursday, January 2, 2025 from 9:00am to 3:15pm.
  • New Student Orientation. Orientation for new international undergraduate students will continue with combined sessions with all new undergraduate students on January 3, 2025.

For more information about Orientation for new undergraduate students, please review New Student Programs’ website. Additionally, we encourage you to use this New Student Checklist as a guide as you continue with your preparations for joining NC State in January.

All new graduate students (including those transferring from other US institutions) are required to participate in International Orientation.  International orientation will take place in-person on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at the Talley Student Union from 9:00am to 3:15pm.

Graduate students also have Graduate School orientation obligations and may have orientation sessions with their specific academic department.

Fall 2025 Orientation

Fall 2025 International Student Orientation will take place on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 for new international students admitted for the Fall 2025 semester. More updates will be made later after the Spring 2025 orientation process is complete.

International Orientation Fee

All new international students studying at NC State on a F-1 or J-1 visa will automatically be assessed an international orientation fee payable through your Student Account in MyPack Portal. This fee is mandatory and covers all orientation activities as well as events, programs, workshops, etc. organized by OIS during your time at NC State and the staff time it takes to plan them. Please note that this fee is separate from other orientation fees assessed by the Graduate School (for all new graduate students) or by New Student Programs (all new undergraduate students).

If you will not be physically attending NC State for the Spring 2025 semester (and thus not yet in F-1 or J-1 status) but you still see the international orientation fee on your account, the fee will be removed or refunded when we run an audit to confirm who is physically here after the start of the Spring 2025. The fee will be added to your account again prior to the semester you physically come to NC State.

Small Packs

OIS and new students alike rely heavily on Small Pack Leaders.  These leaders are current NC State students who volunteer their time to help welcome new international students to campus. All students will engage with a Small Pack of fellow new students, facilitated by Small Pack Leaders, at International Orientation in January.