GTDI will assist with the following services for visiting research students:

• On-campus housing
• On-campus dining
• Bed linens
• Health insurance
• Admission letter
• Course enrollment, NetID and UConn Email
• Non-degree orientation session (for semester-based students).

The hosting academic department is responsible for:

• Supervising the student and their research/training activities. Research/training activities should be at least 32 hours per week.
• Identifying appropriate academic credit (e.g. independent study) for the research experience and providing a course grade.
• Coordinating with Global Affairs to handle the J-1 visa sponsorship through International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
• Reporting any concerns related to the student’s performance or well-being to ISSS.

Step 1: Request Form

The UConn hosting academic department completes the International Visiting Research Student Services request form to confirm information about the student visit, an appropriate course number and a description of the intended research activity. You will need to:

• Upload an Excel file into the request form that includes for each student: Student First Name and Last Name, Name of University in Home Country, Degree Level at Home University (UGrad, Grad), UConn Program Start Date, UConn Program End Date. 

The deadline for faculty to request support from GTDI depends on the anticipated timing of the visit.

1. 1. Summer: April 1.
   2. Fall term: March 1.
   3. Spring term: November 1.

For students visiting during the academic term, program dates must align with the academic calendar dates. For students visiting during the summer, program dates can be set by the hosting faculty, but must begin on a Sunday and the visit should last four, eight or 12 weeks.

GTDI will confirm with the hosting department whether they anticipate being able to accommodate the students soon after the request is received.

Step 2: Additional Information and Visa Sponsorship

• GTDI will reach out to the visiting research students to request they submit additional information needed to process their enrollment.
• Concurrently, the hosting academic department can initiate visa sponsorship for their international visiting research students through the ISSS Scholar Portal.
• If housing is unavailable for the visiting research student, GTDI will notify the host department and visiting research student as soon as possible so alternate plans can be made by the department and visiting student.

Note: Costs are subject to change, and may vary for visits during the academic semester, depending on the student's ultimate housing assignment.

Step 3: Deposit Payment

• Students will pay a deposit to GTDI through the UConn Marketplace store. This deposit covers the cost of insurance and bedding.
• Remaining costs will be charged to students through a UConn fee bill, and must be paid by the student according to the University's deadlines.

Step 4: Admission Letter and Orientation

• GTDI will issue a non-degree "admission" letter that they can use at their visa appointment, along with DS-2019 documentation provided by ISSS. This document will be available for the student to download through their ISSS Portal account.
• GTDI and International Student and Scholars Services (ISSS) will provide:
  • An online pre-arrival orientation to all incoming students who access the service
  • An in-person orientation upon arrival.

• The UConn hosting department will be the primary contact for the visiting students while they are here, but students will also have staff from GTDI and ISSS available for support during their visit.

Step 5: Course Credit and Transcript

• Upon successfully completing research visit, the hosting department will submit a grade for the non-degree credit(s).
• GTDI will assist students on how to request their transcript from UConn, in case they wish to apply the credits earned toward their home university degree.