Links

• International Students Orientation Information
  (Dates and times for Check-In, Orientation, Health Insurance, Arrival in Houston, Temporary Housing, and other arrival information for new and transferring international students)




• New International Student Handbook
  (Housing, Finance, Placement Examinations, Registration, Immigration and Visa Information, Arrival in Houston, Social Security or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, Life at UH)

To avoid unnecessary hardship or anxiety, we encourage you to carefully consider the financial implications of study at the University of Houston.

If possible, bring at least $5,000 in U.S. travelers checks to meet your immediate educational and living expenses. Cashiers checks may take several weeks to cash, and regular bank checks may take even longer to cash. When you arrive, you will need a minimum of U.S. $300 to pay for your transportation, meals, overnight accommodations (if necessary) and other miscellaneous items.

If your government requires you to pay your educational expenses with a check payable to the University of Houston, you must have a cashiers check made payable with the minimum amount of U.S. $3,500 for your first semester's tuition and fees. If you intend to live in a university dormitory for single students, you should include an additional U.S. $2,200

If your government requires you to use a check to pay for textbooks, you must add U.S. $500 to the above figures.

Any student planning to pay for educational expenses with a check written on a foreign bank must make certain that the check, made payable to the University of Houston, arrives at the university at least 45 days before the beginning of classes, in order for the check to clear the university's approval process.

To expedite the transfer of U.S. dollars for use when you arrive in Houston, you may wish to inquire of banks in your country with U.S. connections to find out how U.S. dollars could be transferred electronically to a connecting bank in Houston for deposit in an account with your name.

Mail a cashiers check along with your name, address and student number (if known) to:

Office of Cashier
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204-2160
USA

What is It?

          If you are willing to make the time once a month to meet with an American family, married couple, or single, the University of Houston's International Friendship Program offers an opportunity for you to become friends with an American family and to enrich your educational experience in the United States

Can I see some friendship program photographs?

                  Sure! Click here to go to the photographs showing matched up Houston area families  and international students.

Friendship volunteers are families and singles in the Houston area who are interested in meeting international students and scholars. By inviting you to their homes and sharing family activities with you, they help you get settled in Houston and learn your way around the city. New students are given priority because they need more assistance in learning about Houston and in making new friends. A special orientation is required for all participants (students and friendship volunteers).

Application forms are available at the International Friendship Program orientation which is held during the main orientation program for new international students and scholars at the beginning of each semester. You may also sign-up in the International Student and Scholars Services Office (Room 302,Student Service Center 1,ask for Dale).

You can also Click here to download the form. After filling out the form, save it and email it as an attachment to dhamilton@uh.edu with the subject line "Friendship Family Application Form ".

It is essential that we have your current email address, street address and phone number. Without these, we cannot assign you to a friendship family.

If you have questions about the program, you may call Dale Hamilton, the program coordinator, Monday through Friday at (713) 743-5077.

You will be given information about your friendship family by mail as soon as an assignment is made. Your family or single person will receive information about you at the same time and will call or write to arrange to meet with you.

• Take you sightseeing
• Have you over for a meal, family birthday celebration or special holidays
• Take you with them to a sports or cultural event
• Advise you how to take a driver's test, how to use the postal system or where to go to find items you need

Families are encouraged to give you assistance as needed when you first arrive, then see or call you at least once a month. As your involvement on campus increases, and you find a social life of your own, the frequency of meetings with your family may naturally decrease. But we hope you will stay in touch throughout your stay in America.

If you do not hear from your assigned family/friend, or if you have problems in establishing a relationship, contact Dale Hamilton.

Remember, the International Friendship Program offers a great opportunity for you to make new friends and to enrich your educational and cultural experience in the United States.

Note: The International Students & Scholars Services Office can not assist you with the admissions process! The function of our office is to assist you after you arrive in the United States and have already been admitted to the University of Houston.

International Admissions
University of Houston
125 E. Cullen Building
Houston, TX 77204
(713) 743-1010 (Select option 2 and then option 4 during the recorded message)
http://www.uh.edu/enroll/admis/OIA/
(Many of your general admissions questions and requests can be addresses by visiting the Office of International Admissions website.)

The Office of International Admissions (OIA) is separate from our office. Along with the general Office of Admissions, OIA provides assistance with understanding the admissions policies of the university, processing admissions applications to the academic programs offered at UH, notifying students of the required academic credentials needed to complete the application file, advising students on their academic options, and in granting permission for students to take the in-house Satellite TOEFL (STOEFL).

For graduate students, OIA works closely with graduate departments in assessing the coursework for an admission decision. For undergraduate students, OIA makes the admission decision for their admission, administers foreign transfer credit for undergraduate university coursework taken outside the U.S., assists students with an individual review (appeal) process, if they do not meet admissions requirements, and works with the Language and Culture Center in accepting successful graduation of Level 6 students' coursework in place of the TOEFL requirement.

OIA works with the International Student & Scholar Services Office in providing a handbook each semester for newly admitted international students. A copy of this New International Student Handbook is also on this web site.