New Student Resources

Important Resources for New Incoming Students

Connecting with OIS

• Facebook - posts regarding student events and immigration announcements
• Twitter and Instagram - information about Pittsburgh, Pitt, and other fun things OIS finds
• OIS Events Calendar

24/7 IT Help Desk

• OIS does not issue your My Pitt account - you should receive an email from the Help Desk with log-in information once your My Pitt account has been issued.
• If you are experiencing issues accessing your My Pitt account, contact the 24/7 IT Help Desk directly.

Health Insurance

• The University of Pittsburgh requires that all international students maintain medical health insurance coverage while they attend Pitt.
• Review OIS’ Health Insurance Requirements for F-1 and J-1 Students Fact Sheet to learn about:
  • Pitt-sponsored insurance through UPMC, and non-Pitt health insurance plans.
  • How students “attest” (or, verify) their insurance coverage to the University after they arrive in the United States.
• U.S. insurance plans may not cover the period of time when you are traveling to the United States, so OIS strongly recommends that you purchase travel insurance, or register for International SOS insurance, to defray the costs of unexpected medical emergencies before your long-term insurance coverage begins.

Housing

• Graduate Student Housing Resources:
  • The Residences on Bigelow (on-campus housing). Graduate students who are interested in applying for an apartment lease should complete Panther Central’s online form.
  • Off-Campus Living Office
  • OIS understands that finding housing is a big concern for most graduate level students. Therefore, we have created an Off Campus Housing Information sheet that we highly recommend that you review.
• Undergraduate Student Housing Resources:
  • Panther Central
  • Information about Living Learning Communities on campus.

Immunization/Medical Record Information

• Information on how to submit proof of immunization to Pitt’s Student Health Services.
• For the health and safety of our Pitt community, the Student Health Service strongly encourages all our students to get the COVID-19 vaccine. It is REQUIRED that you upload your COVID-19 vaccination record. You can find more information on this process here.
• Immunization/Vaccination questions should be directed to Student Health Services.

Learn About English Proficiency

• Information on the English Language Proficiency Test for incoming international students (graduate and undergraduate students), including:
  • Registration information
  • Information about exemptions
• For questions about the Proficiency Test or ESL courses at Pitt, please contact the testing supervisor at pitttest@pitt.edu.

Travel Arrangements to the U.S.

• Visit the OIS' Travel website for up-to-date information regarding travel to the U.S.
  • Useful information on arriving to the U.S. can be found at How to Navigate the US Immigration System under the 'Arriving' section.
• You have several options for getting from the Pittsburgh International Airport to campus:
  • Taxi and limousine services
  • Hotel courtesy shuttles (check with your hotel)
  • Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Bus Route 28X
  • Pittsburgh Airport SuperShuttle
  • Visit the Pittsburgh Airport website for more arrival information: https://flypittsburgh.com/
    • Here is a quick video on navigating the Pittsburgh International Airport. (Also available in Youku)
• Temporary Housing
  • Hotels Close to Campus:
    • Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center
    • Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place
    • Hampton Inn Pittsburgh University
  • Other Options:
    • Global Pittsburgh
    • Craig's List
    • Airbnb

Paying your Student Bill

• In order to best assist international Pitt students, the Student Payment Center has created a PittPay Checklist to guide you in the payment process. Please review these steps carefully.
• If you have any questions, please contact the Student Payment Center.

Cultural Adjustment

• ShareAmerica: Students Share What They Know About the U.S.
• International Student Guide to the USA: Cultural Adjustment
• Adapting to a Foreign Country
• Tips for Cultural Adjustment While Abroad (Northwestern University)

Drug and Alcohol Awareness

• One cultural adjustment that incoming students encounter is drug and alcohol use in the United States. Watch this 6 minute video for an introduction to US laws related to drugs and alcohol, how to act responsibly, potential consequences and how to get help if you or someone you know has an addiction.
• Pitt’s Student Health Services offers a variety of outreach programs to enhance personal and community health.

U.S. Banking

• Review PNC Bank’s “USA Banking 101” presentation, the PNC Bank website, or stop by the branch office on campus after you arrive in the U.S.

Title IX

• Title IX Information and Resources, also available on Youku.

Student Code of Conduct

• Student Code of Conduct, also available on Youku.