Before You Start

Now that you are starting your journey with UIC Global, you will receive emails from different members of the UIC Global team. If you receive an email from any of the emails below, please make sure you respond to the email. You can also reach out to a member of the UIC Global team using these email addresses also!

UIC Global New Student Advising – newstudentadvising@uicglobal.org

UIC Global Student Services team- studentservices@uicglobal.org

UIC Global Finance- finance@uicglobal.org

UIC Global Student Accommodations- studentaccommodations@uicglobal.org

Once you are admitted and confirm your acceptance, you will be assigned a UIC Global Student Success Advisor. Your Student Success Advisor will contact you regularly through the email on your application. To schedule an appointment email newstudentadvising@uicglobal.org

Your UIC Global Student Success Team can assist you with completing the following required steps before orientation:

  • Completing each of your required pre-arrival tasks. You are required to complete certain tests or actions before arrival.
  • Submitting your required flight information and housing/dining preference form.
  • General help completing each required step and answering any questions you have before you arrive.
Africa

Africa

China

China

Latin America

Latin America

Middle East

Middle East

North America

North America

North Asia

North Asia

Russia / Central Asia / Eastern Europe

Russia / Central Asia / Eastern Europe

South Asia

South Asia

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia

UK and Western Europe

UK and Western Europe

Abbie

Abbie (North Asia excluding Korea)

+852 8481 0532

Whatsapp: +852 8481 0532

Email Abbie
Ainara Gainedenova

Ainara Gainedenova

+7 (778) 887 17 53

Whatsapp: +7 (778) 887 17 53

Email Ainara Gainedenova
Alexis

Alexis (North America)

+1 239-744-9468

Whatsapp: +1 239-744-9468

Wechat: alexis0426

Email Alexis
Alice

Alice (Northwest)

+1-857-315-8730

Whatsapp: +1-857-315-8730

Wechat: aliceqinus

Email Alice
Alsu Samatova

Alsu Samatova

+7 939 346 09 59

Whatsapp: +7 939 346 09 59

Email Alsu Samatova
Amanpreet Singh

Amanpreet Singh (India)

+91-9311136326

Whatsapp: +91-9311136326

Email Amanpreet Singh
Amol Pote

Amol Pote (India)

+91-9326469936

Whatsapp: +91-9326469936

Email Amol Pote
Bibiane

Bibiane (Korea)

+82-10-7711-6538

Whatsapp: +82-10-7711-6538

Email Bibiane
Chau

Chau (Vietnam)

+84-908-792-892

Whatsapp: +84-908-792-892

Skype: diemchau.dt

Email Chau
Chau Luu

Chau Luu (Vietnam)

+84 962 442 193

Whatsapp: +84 962 442 193

Skype: live:chau.luuquynh

Email Chau Luu
Chris

Chris (Southwest)

+1-508-948-7542

Whatsapp: +1-508-948-7542

Wechat: chris040594

Email Chris
Damini Rajpoot

Damini Rajpoot (India)

+91-8800020429

Whatsapp: +91-8800020429

Email Damini Rajpoot
Daniyal

Daniyal (Pakistan)

+92 310 588 8648

Whatsapp: +92 310 588 8648

Email Daniyal
Diksha Roy

Diksha Roy (India)

+91-8882593634

Whatsapp: +91-8882593634

Email Diksha Roy
Doris

Doris (South China)

+86-150-1870-6751

QQ: 2282183545

Email Doris
Hitesh Arora

Hitesh Arora (India)

+91-8826911998

Whatsapp: +91-8826911998

Email Hitesh Arora
Isha

Isha (India)

+91 9953550789

Whatsapp: +91 9953550789

Email Isha
Jane

Jane (West China)

+86.159.2876.6884

QQ: 713070180

Email Jane
Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev (India)

+91-7982570704

Whatsapp: +91-7982570704

Email Kapil Dev
Laxmi Pawar

Laxmi Pawar (India)

+91 98183 96406

Whatsapp: +91 98183 96406

Email Laxmi Pawar
Lisha

Lisha (North China)

+86-183-1016-8200

QQ: 18310168200

Email Lisha
Maryna Kyselova

Maryna Kyselova

+31 6 48685505

Whatsapp: +31 6 48685505

Email Maryna Kyselova
Mohammad Shaban Khan

Mohammad Shaban Khan (India)

+91-8700757968

Whatsapp: +91-8700757968

Email Mohammad Shaban Khan
Ngoc Hoang

Ngoc Hoang (Vietnam)

+84 382 027 922

Whatsapp: +84 382 027 922

Skype: live:bichngoc.ufm

Email Ngoc Hoang
Nikita

Nikita (India)

+91 9310587075

Whatsapp: +91 9310587075

Email Nikita
Padmapriya Sampath

Padmapriya Sampath

+91-6381067726

Email Padmapriya Sampath
Prerna Dhir

Prerna Dhir (India)

+91-9872221636

Whatsapp: +91-9872221636

Email Prerna Dhir
Rakesh

Rakesh (India)

+91 9096507300

Whatsapp: +91 9096507300

Email Rakesh
Sahil Massey

Sahil Massey (India)

+91- 9811718710

Whatsapp: +91- 9811718710

Email Sahil Massey
Sakshi Bhatia

Sakshi Bhatia (India)

+91-995-351-0160

Whatsapp: +91-995-351-0160

Skype: arorasakshi187

Email Sakshi Bhatia
Sakshi Parashar

Sakshi Parashar (India)

+91- 880728950

Whatsapp: +91- 880728950

Email Sakshi Parashar
Samah

Samah (Middle East)

+971 58 831 8521

Whatsapp: +971 58 831 8521

Email Samah
Sanjukta Bhatgaonkar

Sanjukta Bhatgaonkar

+91-9820162776

Whatsapp: +91-9820162776

Email Sanjukta Bhatgaonkar
Saranya

Saranya

+66-96-982-0007

Whatsapp: +66-96-982-0007

Skype: awesome.saranya

Email Saranya
Sayli Vaydande

Sayli Vaydande (India)

+91-9653473094

Whatsapp: +91-9653473094

Email Sayli Vaydande
Sofya

Sofya (North America)

+1 347 399 35 72

Whatsapp: +1 347 399 35 72

Email Sofya
Solayide Adenuga

Solayide Adenuga (Africa)

+234.806.662.9088

Whatsapp: +234.806.662.9088

Email Solayide Adenuga
Taha

Taha (Pakistan)

+92-307-333-6878

Whatsapp: +92-307-333-6878

Skype: tshahid29

Email Taha
Tiffany Chan

Tiffany Chan (North Asia excluding Korea)

+886 903006063

Whatsapp: +852 9222 3579

Email Tiffany Chan
Valeria

Valeria (Latin America)

+57 310 7880364

Whatsapp: +57 310 7880364

Email Valeria
Vartika Kohli

Vartika Kohli

+91-8920463212

Email Vartika Kohli
Veena Iyer

Veena Iyer (India)

+91-8828317960

Whatsapp: +91-8828317960

Email Veena Iyer
Vicky

Vicky (North China)

+86-135-2182-7910

Wechat: vickychen7910

Email Vicky
Viraja

Viraja (India)

+91 7028090894

Whatsapp: +91 7028090894

Skype: +91 7028090894

Email Viraja

Review your conditional offer letter and make sure that you have submitted all documents listed as missing.

Once all your documents are submitted, please submit your I-20 Request Form along with your financial statements as outlined in the Certificate of Finances.

The university will process your I-20 and email it to you as soon as possible – please expect a minimum of 10 business days.

After receiving admissions to your UIC program, you will receive instructions on how to activate your UIC student portal. Instructions are emailed to the personal email address that was used on your admission application.

  1. Look for an email from the UIC Global Team to your personal email account with instructions on activating your student account. Helpful tip: The subject of the email is “Welcome to UIC Global!”
  2. Follow the instructions on how to activate your Net ID and token. Read the instructions carefully. Activating your Net ID is the first step to accessing your UIC Student Portal.
  3. To activate your account, you will need to have your UIN and Token. You will also need to set up Duo 2-Factor Authentication on your device.
  4. Three business days after you activate your Net ID and token, you will be enrolled in your UIC Global Orientation Blackboard course. This is an online orientation course to guide you on the information and questions you have before starting your program.
Helpful Terms:

UIC Global Flames First Week: FFW to Success Blackboard Course: This is located on Blackboard, a virtual resource for new students. The goal of this course is to give you the information you need before arriving to campus and to help prepare you to complete your pre-arrival steps.

UIC Global Flames First Week: This is run by your UIC Global Staff and is a required part of beginning your program. For Spring 2025 , UIC Global Flames First Week will run January 6th through January 12th, 2025 to prepare you for everything you need to know about UIC and your program after arrival. This is also a great opportunity to interact with staff, have questions answered, and make new friends! You can access this schedule by visiting the tab “UIC Global Flames First Week Schedule” on our UIC Global Flames First Week: FFW to Success Blackboard course or under the Student Resources page.

OIS Orientation or “New International Student Summit”: This is run by the Office of International Services to prepare you for all things immigration related while you are at UIC. We have a dedicated day for this orientation on your UIC Global Orientation Schedule.

What is a Student Portal?
At UIC, your Student Portal is the main site you will use to help navigate services at UIC. Before you arrive at UIC, you can use your student portal to access your student email, placement tests, iAdvise, and your UIC Global Flames First Week: FFW to Success Blackboard Page.

During your UIC Global Orientation Week, you will learn how to use other tools that are available on your student portal like viewing your registration information, connecting with resources on campus, and viewing your final grades.

What is a UIN?
UIN stands for “University Identification Number” and is unique to you and your account. You will use this number frequently throughout your time at UIC. A good practice is to include your UIN in your UIC email signature as you will be asked for this regularly.

What is a Token?
The Token Number is a number you will only use one time to create your account. You do not have to remember this number.

When you receive your UIN and Token through your personal email address, there will be a link to activate your NetID and create your password. Make sure you remember your NetID and password!

What is Duo Two Factor Authentication?
2FA helps secure your account, and the University’s sensitive data, by adding an extra layer of security. When logging in to university systems using your NetID and password, 2FA requires you to verify your identity using a second factor such as a mobile device and prevents anyone but you from logging in. UIC uses 2FA service provided by Duo Security, an industry leader in cybersecurity services.

Instructions for setting up Duo 2FA, can be found at this link.

What if I didn’t receive a UIN and Token?
You will only receive a UIN and Token after completing all the admissions steps and are accepted to the university. If you cannot access your account, please click “Forgot NetID” or “Forgot Password” on this page.

After you receive the electronic copy of your I-20, complete the following steps before booking your visa appointment:
  1. Schedule a free visa information and preparation session with your personal Enrollment Advisor.
  2. Check that the details on your I-20 are correct (including your date of birth) and make sure your name is the same as it appears on your passport.
  3. Prepare the documents you will need to take to the embassy when attending your visa interview.
After you complete the above steps, you should apply for your visa as soon as possible. It requires an interview with the U.S. Embassy and can sometimes take several weeks to schedule.
    1. Complete your Visa Application.
    2. Pay your I-901 (SEVIS) fee.
    3. Visit usembassy.gov to learn more about scheduling your visa appointment, what to expect when you arrive and the documentation you need to take with you.
    4. Notify your enrollment advisor of the date and embassy location of your visa appointment.
    5. Watch these videos to help you apply for your visa and prepare for your interview:

How to Apply for Your F-1 Student Visa

Other links that international students find useful:

We are so excited for you to join us on campus! To ensure a smooth transition to your new home, plan to arrive on or before the UIC Global scheduled move-in day. Airport pickup is available at O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to campus on our scheduled arrival day only.

Once you book your flights, you must fill out the student arrival form. The deadline to submit your arrival information is December 13th, 2024.

​​For program dates, click here.
​​For discounted international travel, click here.

Spring 2025 Arrival/ Transport Service Information

Transport Policies for arrival before January 6th, 2025:
Transportation prior to January 6th will be the responsibility of the student

Transport Policy on Check-In/Arrival Day:
Campus team will be at Chicago O’Hare to help guide students to campus via our transportation services beginning at 8:AM CST until 8 PM CST. Arrival at the airport after 8:00PM CST on the scheduled Arrival Day will be coordinated through Lyft. If the Lyft does not work, the student must book their own transportation.

Transport Policy after Check-In/Arrival Day:
The Transport Support Line is not available after the arrival date. Students must book their own transportation.

Housing Check-In Policies prior to Check-In/Arrival Date:
No early move-ins are allowed. Students should be prepared to book a hotel of their choosing or request a hotel room from our partner hotels (at the student’s expense).

Housing Check-In Policies on Check-In/Arrival Date:
On-Campus and Campus Adjacent Housing Check-In begins at 9:00AM CST.

Make your payment in full two weeks before the scheduled arrival date to avoid enrollment delays and ensure an on-time start.

Follow the instructions below to submit payment for tuition and fees:

Flywire for International Wire Transfer: To submit international and domestic ACH payments via UIC’s Flywire portal:

  • Flywire payment options include international wires, international credit cards, and other country specific payment options.
  • Flywire guarantees the best exchange rates, offers 24/7 multilingual customer service, and provides payment tracking and an instant payment receipt.
  • Flywire will be accepting U.S. bank accounts.

If you are interested in learning about student loan information, contact:

All first-year undergraduate students are guaranteed apartment-style accommodations as part of the program. Living in UIC Global Program-Managed housing is required for the length of your UIC Global program. The UIC Global housing preference form must be completed before December 13th, 2024 in order for your preferences to be taken into consideration

Student assignments are based on availability and therefore, students may be assigned a housing option that was ranked lower in their preference form or assigned housing that was not ranked at all. A student’s housing assignment can change as late as the arrival date. Please note that your preference is taken into account, but preferred pick is not guaranteed. Final Housing Assignments may vary from the first Statement of Fees a student receives. If final housing assignment costs less than what was charged, affected students are eligible to request a refund of the difference after program completion. The program will adjust the student’s account during the student’s first term so that the correct housing is reflected. If the final housing assignment costs more than what was charged, the student is responsible for paying the difference.

Your selections are preferences only, we cannot guarantee you will receive your preference(s), We do our best to try to assign rooms based on preferences and other important factors.

-Refer to the Housing Costs page for the most current housing costs: https://shorelight.com/universities/undergraduate/university-of-illinois-at-chicago/#costs

-Please note that while housing is guaranteed, we cannot promise we will be able to match each student with their preferred housing option.

-All Program-Managed – housing options are fully furnished with a kitchen and include cable/Wi-Fi access and in-building laundry.

-Housing Waiver requests are subject to review 30 days prior to the published arrival date. Housing waivers can be rejected and will not be reviewed after a final decision has been made. No waivers will be issued after arrival.

– Students who complete the university campus housing forms will be subject to the $500 cancellation fee assessed. The cancellation fee will not be waived for any circumstances.

All UIC Global undergraduate students are required to complete placement exams before arriving on campus. The placement test due date is December 13th, 2024. Do not wait until you have a visa to complete your placement tests. These must be completed before you arrive. Test results are valid for one year, if you do not receive a visa, your tests results will still apply for future.

Failure to complete these tests by the due date will delay course registration and final program placement (confirmation).

Depending on your UIC Global Program and major, you may have several tests to complete to determine the correct course placement at UIC.

Please follow the steps below to access and complete all necessary placement exams prior to arrival:

  • Step 1: Verify which placement tests are required for you using the chart below.
  • Step 2: Access placement exams in your UIC Student Portal.
  • Step 3: Complete all placement exams in your UIC Student Portal. Please use your UIC Orientation Blackboard course to find answers to FAQs.
  • Please visit our Testing FAQs page for additional information on completing your placement exams.
Academic English/Pre-Sessional
No Tests prior to arrival
Extended Accelerator Program (EAP)
iTEP
Academic Accelerator Program (AAP)
ALEKS Math Writing Exam
Academic Writing Exam
iTEP
Chemistry *
International Direct Program (ID)
ALEKS Math Writing Exam
Academic Writing Exam
Chemistry *
Physics *
*Note: Academic Accelerator and International Direct students will only be required to take Chemistry and Physics tests if their major requires these courses for their degree.

Important Disclaimers:

All communication regarding your testing will be sent to the email address we have on file from your application. If you do not have access to that email, please notify your UIC Global Student Success Advisor.

Your final program placement will be determined upon arrival to campus. The results of the placement tests are used to place you on the program track that is appropriate for your skill level, and which may be different from what was indicated in your conditional offer letter. If your assessment test score does not meet the criteria for your assigned program track, you will not be able to enroll on that track. As a result, the length of study may be longer than originally anticipated and involve additional costs.

International Direct Students: The results of the Academic English writing exam will determine your placement in English composition classes.

Accelerator Students (AAP and EAP):

  • You are required to take an iTEP for program placement. If you have already taken iTEP for admissions, you do still need to complete the one through UIC Global. Instructions will be sent to the email used on your application for this test.
  • Upon arrival at UIC, you will take an English language proficiency test. Your placement in English composition or English language classes will depend upon your proficiency test results. You may also be required to take additional English language courses as part of a UIC Global Accelerator program or enroll in full-time English language study at UIC.

Contact newstudentadvising@uicglobal.org with questions or concerns.
*Applies to undergraduate students only

All incoming UIC Global students are required to submit their immigration documents prior to enrolling in classes.

You must complete the following items before being permitted to begin your classes at UIC:

  • Attend mandatory orientation with UIC Global (date and time are listed in your UIC Global acceptance letter)
  • Submit completed Immunization Form to UIC Global (Instructions can be found on your UIC Global Orientation Blackboard course)
  • Complete your tuition and fees payment Complete required placement tests

Bring the following documents to the UIC Global orientation:

  • Original valid passport
  • Original I-20 Form(s)
  • F-1 visa (stamped on your passport)/F-2 visa (for dependents)
  • Copy of your Form I-94 (to print your Form I-94, please visit i94.cbp.dhs.gov)

Note: If you have not submitted original financial documents (no photocopies) before your I-20 was issued, you will be required to bring them with you when you attend the UIC Global orientation.

All new students are required to attend the UIC Global Flames First Week. UIC Global Flames First Week is not offered virtually. Some departments and programs may require additional programming attendance. To learn more, you must visit your UIC Global Flames First Week: FFW to Success Blackboard course.

Spring 2025 UIC Global Flames First Week includes all dates below:

January 6th: All students are expected to arrive by this date. This is the official move in date. On the move-in date, all students are expected to check in with the UIC Global team at the designated check-in location. Students will receive this information during the Before You Start Webinars and can find more information on their UIC Global Flames First Week course in Blackboard. Please note that students will complete additional check-ins with the university throughout the UIC Global First Week as well.

If you arrive early, please consult your UIC Global Flames First Week course in Blackboard for hotel and transportation recommendations.

  • January 7th: Flames First Week Session Day 1 (9AM CST to 7PM CST)
  • January 8th: Flames First Week Session Day 2 (9AM CST to 7PM CST)
  • January 9th: Flames First Week Session Day 3 (9AM CST to 7PM CST)
  • January 10th: Flames First Week Session Day 4 (9AM CST to 7PM CST)
  • January 11th & 12th: Flames First Weekend Activities
  • January 13th: Classes begin

For all new students, Flames First Week will take place from January 6th through January 12th, 2025. Flames First Week is an important and mandatory program that will introduce you to the academic, social, and cultural life at the University of Illinois, Chicago. The First Week programming will be in-person so please plan your travel to arrive on or before January 6th, 2025. We look forward to seeing you soon!

All students are required to arrive by the program start date of January 6th. If you have an emergency that prevents you from arriving and starting your program on time, you must schedule an appointment with your Student Success Advisor for approval before travelling. Arriving after the start date without approval may result in not being able to start your program.

This program helps international students apply for remote internships and gain real-life work experience to boost their resumes.

  • Certificates and training: Attend online professional bootcamps before your virtual internship starts. Gain hands-on experience once you officially begin by contributing to projects alongside industry experts. If you are interested in certifications, Career Premium now offers unlimited access to training courses that lead to certification in Amazon Web Services, Java, Microsoft Azure, and Python, among many other in-demand skills.
  • Coaching and mentorship: Receive direct guidance from career coaches and industry experts on career exploration, skill training, and professional development.
  • Applying: Work on real-life projects for leading employers and build your portfolio. We work with more than 12,000 multinational companies that have unique projects for you to leverage your new skills, experience, and professional network to land your dream job.

“The tutors are resourceful, and they really helped me while I was applying for internships. I certainly believe I will find a job after graduation.”—Shelley, hired at Tesla

There are many things to consider when preparing for university, let alone moving to a new country! To make your transition to the US easier, we’ve put together a list of everyday necessities.

We’ve partnered with campusSIMS to help connect you with mobile phone service. Get your US phone number in your home country and have service that’s ready to use as soon as you land. Click here lto get your free SIM card.

campusSIMS helps international students get connected with mobile phone service in the US. Through campusSIMS’ exclusive partner Mint Mobile, students can sign up and get their US phone number while in their home country, and have mobile phone service ready to use as soon as they land.

Students can get low-cost, reliable mobile phone service starting at as low as $15 per month that includes:

  • A free SIM card
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • High speed data
  • Nationwide coverage on the fastest, most advanced network

For more information, visit campussims.com.

Center for Academic Success

A website with access to virtual tutors, career advisors, and online resources to help you throughout your university studies

Getting ready to study abroad can be challenging! Would you like some help with that? Shorelight’s Center for Academic Success (CAS) has many free resources for you! For example, you can watch a quick webinar on Culture Shock and Mental Health, or take a short eLearning course on Obtaining Your Visa, Understanding Health Insurance, Major & Career Exploration, and so much more.

If you wish you could just ask a real person a question, you can also use the Live Chat button to reach one of our highly-trained support staff, or you can schedule a Zoom session with one of our friendly Student Success Coaches, Professional Tutors, or Career Services staff—all of whom are experts at helping international students with anything from pre-arrival support and campus life to academic subject areas and career guidance.

Don’t wait to activate your free account at CAS—you are eligible as soon as you pay your university deposit.

How to register:

  1. Click here or scan the QR code to find our Home page.
  2. Click the orange “Sign up now” button to request access.
  3. On the signup form, type your given name and family name as you are registered at your university.
  4. Type any email address that your university has on file for you (it can be a personal or university email).
  5. Create a password with at least one special character and 6-50 characters total.
  6. Type your password again. Write it down or save it in your browser.
  7. Type the full name of your university, not the abbreviation. Your status must be checked.
  8. Check the first box to accept the Terms & Conditions (feel free to read those first).
  9. Check the last box if you wish to receive emails from us.
  10. Click the large orange button that says, “Start your learning journey.

After you register:

  • After self-registering, you’ll receive an email within two business days to let you know that your account is approved (or if not, how to fix the problem). Just follow the link to log in!
  • Check your spam folder if you don’t see our email within two days—or just return to the Home page linked above to try logging in with your email and password. If you encounter any trouble, just use the Live Chat button at the bottom of our Home page.

 

If you were pre-registered:

  • Some students may be admin-registered at the request of their university to save you the trouble of signing up.
  • If you get an email from Shorelight’s Center for Academic Success saying that your account has been created, just follow the link to complete your registration. You only need to create your password and check the boxes (Steps 5-10 above).
  • If you are told that you were admin-registered, but you can’t find our welcome email, just go to our Home page, click “Sign up now” and complete Steps 3-10. If you can’t guess the right email or how your name was entered, use our LiveChat to get help.

Important Dates

For important dates, including payment and move-in dates, please visit our Shorelight profile page.