Exchange and Visiting Student Programs

Our student exchange program and visiting student program offers you the opportunity to experience the University of Cincinnati for a semester or academic year.

The Student Exchange Program is for students from one of our approved exchange partners. The Visiting Student Program is for international students from all other institutions.

  • UC operates on a 15-week semester calendar. 
    • Fall semester begins in late August and ends in December
    • Spring semester begins in early January and ends in late April
  • Exchange and visiting students must enroll full time. 
    • 12 credit hours at the undergraduate level 
    • 10 credit hours at the graduate level

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester: April 1
  • Spring Semester: October 1

Student Exchange Program

Student Exchange Programs (SEP) are available to students coming from one of UC’s partner institutions abroad.

An official agreement must be in place with your university for you to participate. If you are not sure if an agreement exists, contact us at UCExchange@ucmail.uc.edu.

How to apply

Meet with your home university’s international office to explore the possibility of studying abroad. 

  • We require all students to be nominated by their home institution via email to UCExchange@ucmail.uc.edu at least one month prior to the application deadline.
  • Partners should only nominate students with a 3.0 GPA or higher (based on the U.S. grading scale) and who have met the English Proficiency requirement. Include the student’s legal name, birthdate, email address, home institution, country of citizenship, year of study (i.e. 2nd, 3rd, 4th), and subject of interest (i.e. Engineering, Business).
  • You will be sent a link to our online application once nominated. You are required to submit supporting documents electronically as part of the application.
  • Tuition: Home institution tuition, paid to home institution.
  • Living Expenses: $7,922
  • International Student Fee: $125
    • This fee covers costs associated with U.S. government compliance, orientation, and a mandatory health screening.
  • Health Insurance: $1,125
  • Total: $9,272

Courses with extra lab fees are not covered under the exchange agreement. You would have to pay any fees associated with those courses.

  • Completed application in iBearcatsGlobal (a link will be sent to you after nomination)
  • Financial documents (bank statement, loan letter, etc) demonstrating you have sufficient funds for your program
  • Completed Affidavit of Support from your sponsor (as needed – linked in the application)
  • Academic record or transcript
  • English proficiency test scores
  • Statement of purpose
  • Portfolio, in PDF format, if you are applying to Architecture, Fine Arts, or a Design program
  • A copy of the biographical page of your passport

Visiting Student Program

The Visiting Student Program is open to all interested international students during the Fall and Spring Semesters. VSP participants pay tuition and fees directly to the University of Cincinnati.

Students can apply for courses of study in most University of Cincinnati colleges. The decision to admit a student to the VSP will be made by the academic college.

How to apply

To access the Visiting Student Program application, send an email to UCExchange@ucmail.uc.edu before the application deadline. In your email, include the following information:

  • your desired field of study,
  • certification that you have the required English proficiency documents,
  • and evidence of a GPA of 3.0 or higher on the U.S. grading scale.

Then, complete the online application.

  • Tuition and fees: $14,425
  • Living Expenses: $7,922
  • Health Insurance: $1,225
  • Total: $23,572
  • Completed application in iBearcatsGlobal (a link will be sent to you)
  • Financial documents (bank statement, loan letter, etc) demonstrating you have sufficient funds for the program
  • Completed Affidavit of Support from your sponsor (as needed – linked in the application)
  • Academic record or transcript (with a GPA of 3.0 or above)
  • English proficiency test scores
  • Statement of purpose
  • A copy of the biographical page of your passport