Graduate Orientation

International Graduate Student Orientation Schedule

ALL New/Incoming International Graduate Students (e.g. new to the U.S., return from leave of absence (RLOA), and transfer-in students) are required to attend a mandatory ISO Immigration Orientation Session before the first day of classes. Orientation sessions for new graduate students will be held in August through Registration Day. 

Students can register for an ISO Immigration Orientation Session through their iMIT Portal account, under “Events” on their iMIT homepage. Students may also check with their academic department to verify if there is an ISO Immigration Orientation Session scheduled as part of a departmental orientation schedule. Students can attend an ISO Student Immigration Orientation Session whether they are outside or inside the U.S. [NOTE: Students only need to attend ONE ISO Immigration Orientation Session]

ISO Immigration Orientation Session Sign-Up Instructions

  1. Students must login to their iMIT Portal account, under “Full Client Services for Students”.
  2. Students will enter their MIT Kerberos/email information to login.
  3. Once a student has logged in, their “iMIT Services Home Page” appears.
  4. In their “iMIT Services Home Page”, the student should see “Events” on the right side of the page. They can then scroll to view available scheduled events and select the appropriate ISO Orientation Session for their correct immigration status and/or program.
    Select from:
    • For example, select from:
      • (June or July 2023 in-person start at MIT) F-1/J-1 2023 Summer Orientation – New/Incoming Students
      • (F-1 ONLY) 2023 Fall Orientation New/Incoming (e.g. New, Transfer-In, & RLOA) Students for students in F-1 status with a Form I-20. 
      • (J-1 ONLY) 2023 Fall Orientation New/Incoming (e.g. New, Transfer-In, & RLOA) Students for students in J-1 status with a Form DS-2019. 

New international Ph.D. Students arriving to campus to begin studies at MIT in June or July 2023 should attend the F-1/J-1 2023 Summer Orientation – New/Incoming Students online orientation session on Friday, June 9, 2023 from 10:30am-12:30pm Eastern U.S. Time. Sign up in iMIT.

ISO Immigration Orientation Session Dates For Fall 2023 Admitted F-1 Students (ONLY)

DateStart TimeEnd Time
To Be Announced/Posted in July 2023

ISO Immigration Orientation Session Dates For Fall 2023 Admitted J-1 Students (ONLY)

DateStart TimeEnd Time
To Be Announced/Posted in July 2023

Graduate Student Orientation

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) is responsible for planning the Institute’s official Graduate Student Orientation. In addition, to attending orientation sessions offered by an academic program, the GSC sessions are meant to provide a broad orientation to MIT and life as a graduate student. Students are required to check with their department to see if they are holding mandatory departmental/program specific orientations.  It is helpful for students to attend as many sessions as possible; whether they are offered by an academic department and/or the GSC. NOTE: The ISO Immigration Orientation Session is MANDATORY.

**The ISO hosts a Grad Welcome Reception for all new/incoming graduate students and their families at the beginning of every fall term (event date in August will be published soon).

English Evaluation Test

All new/incoming international graduate students pursuing a degree at MIT and are non-native English speakers are required to attend the English Evaluation Test (EET) on Tuesday, August 29 at 8:00am-12:00noon in 10-250 (Building 10, Room 250). A 10-minute interview the same day or the next day will be scheduled at the test site.

For more information on the EET, visit the following link: https://cmsw.mit.edu/the-english-evaluation-test-eet/.

Return to the ISO’s main “Orientation” webpage

Return to ISO’s “Getting Started” webpage