We suggest you arrive to campus no later than Saturday, August 17. We highly recommend you arrive even earlier, so that you have time to recover from jet lag, set up your household, and to take care of University matters.

Note our mandatory MSPE orientation begins Monday morning, August 19. Transportation information can be found on our Traveling to Campus website.

Students are expected to complete their housing arrangements before orientation begins. Students have the option of living in university housing (dormitory or apartment) or private housing on or off campus.

Students should visit the University Housing web site for more information.

If students have questions or need assistance with housing, please contact the MSPE office. The staff will be happy to assist you.

Students will participate in enrichment activities throughout the year and are required to wear professional business attire (e.g. business suit). Alternatively, students may wear their native apparel and are highly encouraged to do so.

The Graduate College Quick Guide contains 12 tasks that ALL incoming MSPE students must complete. Many of these tasks can be completed BEFORE traveling to campus.

It is imperative you complete all 12 tasks to ease your transition to Illinois and to prevent any holds that may be placed on your student account, which would prevent your course registration.

By July 1st, all new students must complete and submit an Immunization History Form to the McKinley Health Center. International students are also required to complete and bring to campus a TB Screening Form. Both forms are available online at the McKinley Health Center website.

The EPT is mandatory for new international students whose TOEFL score is below 103 (TOEFL iBT) or IELTS score is below 7.5.

If you are required to take the EPT, registration for fall semester testing is now open.

• English Placement Test (EPT)--The EPT is administered online, and registration and/or testing is already taking place. Please register for your EPT now, as test dates quickly fill up.

• We HIGHLY recommend you register for one of the two MSPE private sessions, which are scheduled on August 5 or 12, or an earlier test if you prefer. You will not be permitted to register for your fall 2024 courses until we have received your test results.

• Email the MSPE office with your EPT test date.

All incoming international students must complete the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) check-in, which is done by completing an online eform.

Do not submit the ISSS eform until after you arrive to the U.S. Students with a Fall 2024 start date should submit the check-in eform after 9 AM CDT starting on Monday, August 12, 2024.

A Social Security number is a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents. International students, faculty, staff, and scholars may obtain a Social Security Numbers (SSN) if they hold employment. Please visit the ISSS web page for more detailed information.

A sponsored student is any student whose sponsoring organization (sponsor) requires the University of Illinois to bill them directly for some or all of the student’s tuition, fees, and other authorized charges. Examples of sponsors are U.S. government agencies, international embassies, and approved employers. In order to be considered to participate in sponsor billing, the student must provide the University Bursar's office with a completed Sponsor Payment Plan (SPP) application AND official notification (Authorization) from their sponsor.

Note that fall 2024 Authorizations and SPP applications are due by September 6, 2024.

Alternatively, students may authorize a parent, guardian, spouse, sponsor or other individual to view their student account and make online payments. Go to the USFSCO Authorized Payers website to set up your account.