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Information for International Students

As an international student, it is important to keep a few things in mind when you study off-campus especially as it relates to your visa status both in the U.S. and abroad.

Northern lights above a snowscape
Photo by Daniel Kotorri '25 (Sweden)

Similar to any degree-seeking student at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾, international students may study off-campus. If you choose to study outside of the U.S., please note that many of the student visa instructions provided by programs and institutions are geared to U.S. citizens. You should seek information for how to apply for a student visa in your planned destination as a passport holder of your home country as there may be additional steps in the process of obtaining a student visa.

International students with F-1 visas need to have their I-20 signed before they leave the U.S. for off-campus study. The signature by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s designated official (Dean Khoa Khuong) is valid for one year. Please email Dean Khuong (kkhuong@bowdoin.edu) and let him know the date you plan to leave the U.S. and the date you expect to return to the U.S.

Finally, please keep in mind that if you choose to study off-campus at another college or university in the U.S., you may not work on that institution’s campus without Department of Homeland Security employment authorization. If you are applying for summer off-campus work in the U.S., you must be in the U.S. during February or March, and may not apply for employment authorization from overseas. Employment authorization is not needed for work at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ during the summer following off-campus study.