Academic Program
Reciprocal exchange students register at UT as non-degree seeking students for one or two semesters according to the terms of exchange agreements. Academic work completed at UT is credited towards the degrees at students’ home universities.
Most exchange students are pre–advised by their home university academic advisors before they come to UT and are aware of the appropriate academic program to follow. Study abroad students and their faculty advisors should keep in mind that an important benefit of studying abroad is to experience a new educational system and to have the opportunity to take courses different from those taught at home.
Departments make every effort to accommodate exchange students in their classes, but due to overcrowding and equipment constraints in some majors, they cannot always give students the courses they want. We ask that you and your academic advisor be flexible. If you need advance approval for UT course work, ask your advisor to approve some alternate courses in case your first choices are not available.
Be aware of prerequisites listed for courses you want to take at UT. Departments and the McCombs School of Business expect students to have completed these required (or similar) courses before allowing exchange students to register for the more advanced course.
During registration week, after you arrive in Austin, you will meet with UT academic advisors who will help with course selection and registration. You cannot register for courses before the official registration times, nor are we able to reserve seats in specific classes.
Immigration Requirements
Important Information about your Immigration Status
Students participating in reciprocal exchange programs are issued the form DS-2019 by the International Office to enter the U.S. on a J-1 visa for the duration of their academic study period, usually one or two semesters. Reciprocal exchange students enroll in a non-degree academic program, according to the terms of exchange agreements between UT and their universities.
* The J-1 visa stamped in the passport is for permission to enter the U.S. Once a student enters the U.S., the DS-2019 and I-94 are the active documents that give permission to remain in the US.
* Your DS-2019 is valid until the date in section 3. You may remain in the U.S. up to 30 days after this date. However, you cannot work or re-enter the U. S. as a student using your DS-2019 after the date in section 3.
* If you plan to leave the U.S. and re-enter during your program, be sure your DS-2019 has been signed by an International Office immigration advisor before you leave the U.S. Check to see that your passport, visa and DS-2019 are valid for re-entry. Students traveling to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Canada should pick up the handout "Visas, Visas, Visas," available in the International Students and Services (ISSS) unit on the International Office for information about re-entering the U.S. with an expired visa.
* Consult an immigration advisor in the International Office for questions concerning all immigration matters.
Full-time Course Load Requirement
United States immigration regulations stipulate that students must be registered for a "full-time course load" unless their academic programs state otherwise. A full-time course load at UT is 12 credit hours of undergraduate courses or 9 credit hours of graduate level courses per semester. (A mixture or graduate and undergraduate level courses adding up to less than 12 hours will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.) Some students in reciprocal exchanges have different academic objectives than regular degree seeking students and, if appropriate, can be approved to register for less than a full- course load. Approval must be granted by your international exchange coordinator in order for the proper notation to be made to satisfy immigration regulations.
Medical (Health) Insurance Coverage
All reciprocal exchange students and J-1 visa holders are required to have health insurance that meets both the J-1 and University of Texas guidelines. The insurance must be valid during the period that students are in the U.S. studying at UT or on academic training. Dependents on J-2 visas must also meet the medical insurance requirement. The cost of UT student insurance will be on each semester's fee bill for which the student is registered. Students on academic training or staying in the U.S. after the semester ends are responsible for purchasing additional insurance coverage.