Many of you, as incoming international students or US citizens living abroad, have questions. This page will be updated over the coming weeks so be on the lookout for updated information.

This information is current as of May 10, 2023 at 2:20 CST.
Enrollment Forms and Payment
Visas and I-20s
Arrival Information
housing
Class Schedules and Textbooks
Health and Safety
ENROLLING AS A MINOR

 

Enrollment Forms

Where can I start my enrollment forms?

Shortly after admitted students pay their enrollment deposit on their Applicant Status Page, they will get an email that their enrollment forms are live. It’s important that you continue to check and keep up with those forms throughout the next few months.

I’ve already paid my enrollment deposit, but the forms are not live.

It can take up to 5 business days to process the payment and create your new Sewanee email address. Once we have that information from Information Technology (IT), we will make your enrollment forms live.

CAN I SUBMIT AN UNOFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT IF MY SCHOOL IS CLOSED?

Yes. Students should request a letter from their high school and have it emailed to Chrishna Srey stating that their school is closed and including when we might expect an official final high school transcript. The University will continue to be flexible on accepting final high school transcripts.

MY A-LEVEL AND/OR IB EXAMINATIONS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. CAN I STILL GET CREDIT?

Sewanee currently awards academic credit for some A-Level and IB exam scores. Although your exams have been cancelled, Sewanee will award A-level and IB credit as indicated in the University of the South Catalog according to the documentation issued by Cambridge International (A-Level) and International Baccalaureate (IB) that reflects your standard of work in the course.

WHAT IF I CAN'T COMPLETE MY HEALTH FORMS AND RECEIVE MY VACCINATIONS BEFORE ARRIVING?

If you cannot complete the health form from your home, this is ok. However, do reach out to healthservice@sewanee.edu and begin making a plan for completing your immunizations and physical once you do arrive. The key thing they want to capture before you arrive on campus is your immunization record. Try your best to complete page 2, 3 and 6 of the health form and submit any vaccination record you have to your Applicant Status Page. You can leave the insurance piece blank on the form.

We encourage you to get all required vaccines before you arrive on campus, as it is generally easier and cheaper to do in your home country. If you are unable to get all your vaccines before arriving at Sewanee, the Sewanee Wellness Center offers most of the required vaccines for a small cost, and if they do not, we help students find these vaccines elsewhere.

HOW DO I MAKE A PAYMENT TO SEWANEE THROUGH WIRE?

Wiring instructions may be found here. 

Visas and I-20s

Is Sewanee issuing I-20 documents to admitted international students?

Yes. Once you pay your enrollment deposit and submit the International Document Request, we will issue you an initial status I-20 and send it to you via email. On March 26, 2020, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) updated the process for sending I-20's, allowing universities to email I-20's rather than send documents through the postal service. You will use the emailed I-20 and additional necessary documents to apply for your visa.

How do I apply for my visa?

After you receive your I-20, you can then begin the visa application process. First, you complete an online application, called a DS-160, and pay the associate fee. After you complete the online application, you can arrange a visa appointment. We encourage you to look at the visa wait times for the consulates near you so that you know the timeline for when you may receive your visa interview after completing the DS-160. We also have provided detailed instructions about applying for your visa on the International F-1 Visa form on your Applicant Status Page.

Can i apply for a visa In a Third Country?

International students may have an option to apply for their F-1 visa as a third country national. This depends on your home country of citizenship, as well as the policies and procedures in other countries. Applying as a third country national simply means that you apply for your F-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate in a country that is not your country of citizenship. In order to research this option, here is the process:

  1. Find out if you need a visa to enter the country you want to travel to as a third country national. Whether or not you need a visa to enter a specific country depends on your country of citizenship. Check with the Embassy or Consulate of each country to find out whether or not you need a visa to enter the country. If your flight will take you through another country on the way to the country where you want to apply as a third country national, you may need a visa for that "through-country" as well, even if you do not leave the plane. 
  2. Read about the COVID entry restrictions for the country you want to travel to. For links to country-specific COVID information, visit the U.S. Department of State COVID-19 Country Specific Information website. 
  3. Contact the U.S. Consulate in the "Third" Country to Investigate Procedures. Each consulate/embassy has different procedures and timelines for visa applications. Before you finalize your travel plans, consult the U.S. Department of State Website to make sure the consulate accepts third country visa applications. You will also want to check the wait times on how long it would take to obtain a visa. 

HOW DO I REQUEST AN EMERGENCY INTERVIEW FROM THE U.S. CONSULATE in my home country? 

You are eligible to request an expedited/emergency visa interview, as long as:

  1. Your program start date is within 60 days (this applies to each of you, since your start date is August 8, 2021).
  2. There are currently no available visa appointments prior to your program start date.
  3. You have paid the SEVIS payment fee (which is valid for 12 months)

Please note that meeting the above criteria does not guarantee that your request for an expedited interview will be granted.

Normally you must schedule an appointment before you can request an expedited date, but the process may differ in your home country. You can find information specific to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in your home country on its website, and on the website of Global Support Services (which contracts with the U.S. government to provide visa documents processing services).

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY VISA AFTER I HAVE MY INTERVIEW?

After you have your visa interview, you can expect to receive your visa within a couple of days, and then you can immediately purchase a plane ticket.

arrival Information

When does the Fall 2023 semester begin at Sewanee?

Students should arrive on campus the first week of August 2023. Here is a tentative timeline:

August 6, 2023 Students arrive on campus
August 7-9, 2023 International student orientation (required)
August 9-18, 2023 Finding Your Place (FYP)
August 19-22, 2023 New student orientation
August 23, 2023 Classes begin
I AM ALREADY STUDYING AT A U.S. HIGH SCHOOL ON AN F-1 STUDENT VISA. DO I NEED TO GO HOME PRIOR TO ARRIVING IN SEWANEE?

You do not need to go home. You may remain in the U.S.; however, you will not be able to arrive in Sewanee until August 2023. As part of the enrollment process, you will receive guidance about transferring your student status from your high school to Sewanee by transferring your I-20. 

Housing

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY HOUSING ASSIGNMENT?

You will receive your housing assignment after you receive your visa and confirm your arrival details on the “International Arrival Plan” on your Applicant Status Page. You should expect to receive your housing assignment two weeks prior to your arrival in the U.S.

Will my roommate be an international or U.S. student?

Either! Your roommate may be a U.S. student or an international student. 

What can I bring for my room?

Please visit the Office of Residential Life's website; they provide a packing list for incoming students, as well as general information about living on campus. 

CAN I HAVE THINGS MAILED TO CAMPUS BEFORE I ARRIVE? (LINENS, CLASS SUPPLIES, ETC.)

Yes. We encourage students to order their linens (sheets, towels)  ahead of time so that they are on campus when students arrive. For the shipping address, please put the following:

Your name, SPO
Attn: Travis Parker
735 University Avenue
Sewanee, TN 37375

If you plan to mail packages to campus prior to arrival, email Travis and let him know.

Can I stay on campus over school breaks? (winter, spring, summer)

Yes, international students can stay on campus over school breaks. During winter break and summer break, students must pay a small fee to remain in on-campus housing. 

Class schedules and Textbooks

WHEN WILL I GET MY CLASS SCHEDULE?

Class schedules will be available for freshman students the first week of August. 

CAN I CHANGE MY CLASS SCHEDULE?

You will have the opportunity to discuss and adjust your schedules when you meet with your advisor during first-year-student student orientation. There is not a mechanism for you to change your schedule before that meeting.

How do I get textbooks on campus or overseas?

If students are on campus, they can check out textbooks from the library for 2-3 hours at a time. The library has textbooks for every course at Sewanee. There are also some ebooks that are available – these are all in our online catalog. 

Students can check the online catalog to see if we have physical or electronic copies of the course books at this link. Students should search the required and suggested readings of each of their courses to see whether ebooks are provided. If they still need textbooks that are not there, they should individually email reserves@sewanee.edu.

I need access to a computer. Does Sewanee provide laptops to students? 

Yes. Once you arrive on campus, you will need to email the Help Desk (helpdesk@sewanee.edu) to request a laptop and arrange an appointment for pickup. You will need to copy (CC) Travis Parker and Marcus Murphy on that email.

Health and Safety

WHAT ARE THE STEPS SEWANEE IS TAKING TO PROTECT ITS STUDENTS AGAINST COVID-19?

Sewanee’s FAQs on Health and Safety offer a comprehensive overview of current protocol. 

WILL INSURANCE COVER COVID TESTING AND TREATMENT?

Your international health insurance will cover COVID treatment just like any other illness, and COVID testing is considered part of the $250 Wellness Benefit. Please note that health insurance covers some, but not all, of your medical expenses in the U.S. As a result, when you go to the doctor, you will still pay a small fee, even after paying for health insurance.

Where can I find more information about the health insurance plan?

This video offers a good overview of health insurance and medical care in the U.S. It also has a closed caption option in multiple languages (see button at bottom right of video that says "CC"). You may review the insurance policy here. 

How do I enroll/pay for insurance?

The Office of Global Citizenship will automatically enroll you in insurance from August 1st - July 31st. The cost for insurance for the 2022-23 academic year was $1,500 for 12 months and students can set up a payment plan with Student Accounts. We are still finalizing the cost of insurance for the 2023-24 academic year. If you arrive in the middle of the semester or at the start of the spring semester, your insurance will be prorated.

Sewanee pays for your insurance in one large sum, and you reimburse the university by setting up a payment plan with Student Accounts.

WILL I STILL BE ENROLLED IN INSURANCE IF I ARRIVE LATE OR DON’T ARRIVE AT ALL?

Those of you who are unable to arrive in August will be enrolled from the time you arrive through July 31.

Can I choose a different insurance plan than Sewanee's international student insurance plan? 

Exemptions from participation in the Sewanee International Health Insurance Plan may be granted at the discretion of the Office of Global Citizenship for students who are already covered under certain governmental or embassy-sponsored plans or as dependents of employees who have coverage through a U.S. employer. Alternate policies must be pre-approved, be equal to or better than the coverage provided by the Sewanee policy, and must be maintained throughout the student’s enrollment at the University. Students who want to apply for an exemption from Sewanee's insurance plan must complete the Insurance Waiver Form‌ by July 15th each year they are enrolled so that the Office may review their waiver prior to insurance enrollment on August 1st.   

Enrolling as a minor

If you are an international student under the age of 18 and you have received an offer of admission from Sewanee: University of the South you can commence studies in the same manner as an 18-year-old, however, it is important to note the following: 

Who signs my I-20?

The original Form I-20 is the document containing both the DSO and student’s actual signatures. If the student is a minor, then the parent or legal guardian’s signature must be used in place of the student’s signature. More information found on DHS.gov here.

Can I open a bank Account?

Most banks will not allow minors to open a bank account without a co-signer. 

Can I fly alone as a minor? 

You can fly alone on all major US airlines at the age of 17, however, there may be some carriers that require extra paperwork or for you to follow some unaccompanied minor procedures. Domestic flights in the US allow 17-year-olds to fly alone but may require extra paperwork. If you have any questions contact the airline you are planning to travel with as there is a lot of variability in regulations between carriers.