Orientation

Spring Orientation | Fall Orientation | Prepare for Arrival | Campus Resources

2025 Orientation Dates

At orientation, you will have the opportunity to participate in activities that will prepare you to become a member of the Hofstra community and meet other incoming new students. Please plan your arrival to the U.S. so that you can participate in all days of the compulsory orientation program.

All new international students must participate in each day of the mandatory orientation to receive important information about the Hofstra campus, immigration regulations, academic support, and the many services available to help you succeed and have a great experience at Hofstra. Detailed information about orientation and arrival will be sent to the email addresses of accepted students whose I-20 or DS-2019 have been issued.

Spring 2025 International Orientation

New international students beginning their program in Spring 2025 must attend International Student Orientation from Tuesday, January 21 - Thursday, January 23, 2025. Attendance at all three days of the mandatory orientation program is required for all international J-1 visa-holding exchange visitors and F-1 visa-holding students in INTO Pathway or degree programs. International students will receive an email with a link to register for International Student Orientation in December or January after your I-20 or DS-2019 is issued.

International Undergraduate Students
For undergraduates, your orientation experience will continue with Winter Orientation, together with all incoming undergraduate students on Friday, January 24, 2025. The International Student Orientation form will also register you for Winter Orientation at the same time. International undergraduate students do not need to register for Winter Orientation via their Hofstra portal.

Fall 2025 International Orientation

New international students beginning their program in Fall 2025 must attend International Student Orientation from Monday, August 25 – Wednesday, August 27, 2025. International students will receive an email with a link to register for International Student Orientation during the summer after your I-20 or DS-2019 is issued.

International Undergraduate Students
Your orientation experience will continue with Welcome Week from Thursday, August 28 – Monday, September 1, 2025, together with all incoming undergraduates. Undergraduate students include international F-1 visa-holding students in INTO Undergraduate Pathway and Bachelor’s degree programs.

International Graduate Students
Graduate students may also have separate, program-specific activities in addition to the orientation mentioned above. Graduate students will receive information about any program-specific activities directly from their department or school. Please note that these events may have their own separate sign-up processes. Graduate students include F-1 students in INTO Graduate Pathway, Advanced Certificate, Master’s or doctoral programs.

J-1 Exchange Students 
J-1 exchange students are only required to join International Student Orientation. You do not need to attend the undergraduate New Student Orientation, even though you may be studying at the undergraduate level at Hofstra, as that program is intended for first-year degree-seeking students.

Transportation, Move-In, and Housing

We encourage you to review our information on how to prepare for your arrival in the U.S. at www.hofstra.edu/prearrival. Please note that new international students are allowed to enter the U.S. no more than 30 days before the program start date listed on their I-20 or DS-2019. Please remember to make appropriate arrangements for transportation from the airport after you arrive in the U.S. You may view this page of our website for directions to Hofstra and information about how to get to Hofstra using various modes of public transportation.

Please note that Hofstra does not automatically assign housing to new students, so we encourage you to consider where you would like to reside and make plans accordingly before your arrival in the U.S.

Living On Campus

To reside on campus, students must first pay the required $300 housing deposit and submit a housing application online via the Hofstra portal (my.hofstra.edu). See instructions on how to apply for housing.The Office of Residence Life will provide students with information regarding their on-campus housing assignment and move-in date via their Hofstra email account. Students with confirmed on-campus housing should check their Hofstra email regularly regarding the times, requirements, and procedures for moving in. Questions regarding on-campus housing should be directed to the Office of Residence Life.

Living Off Campus

New international students living off campus or arriving earlier than the official move-in date are responsible for finding their own accommodations. The Office of Commuting Student Services can provide advice and resources to help you find a place to live off campus. You can contact them at +1-516-463-3469 or commuters@hofstra.edu. Information on local hotels near the Hofstra campus can be found on this page.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact ISA at international@hofstra.edu!

Virtual Orientation Folder

During orientation, new students receive a lot of information about on-campus resources. Sometimes, the volume of information can be overwhelming. We have compiled information about these resources in our virtual folder. With the virtual orientation folder, you will be able to peruse the available resources on your computer and at your leisure. Additionally, the virtual folder is part of Hofstra’s Yellow and Blue Make Green environmental initiative, as it reduces the amount of paper products distributed during programs.