International Students in Fall/Spring

Most international students in on-campus courses will need an F-1 student visa to study at Cornell. You cannot study at the university on a tourist visa.

• If you do not need an F-1 visa or will be taking online classes, please follow the registration steps for Visiting Non-degree Students.
• If you need an F-1 visa and will be coming to the Cornell campus, please proceed with the steps below.

The F-1 student visa requires that students studying in the United States be fluent in written and spoken English. This proficiency is also critical to your success at Cornell. Please review the English Language Proficiency requirements.

In addition, you must be enrolled for the duration of your Fall/Spring studies in at least 12 credits for a 15-week semester.

Obtaining the F-1 visa may take a number of weeks. Therefore, we ask you to submit your I-20 Request Form as soon it’s available.

See the Fall/Spring Study academic calendar for term dates and enrollment and registration deadlines.

A. Choose your course

• Fall 2025 courses
• Spring 2026 courses

Note

• Courses marked with a red square are full and not available for enrollment.
• Some courses may include additional required components such as labs and discussions. You will need to indicate your choice of required additional components when you submit your registration request.

(Students in the International Research Internship Program [IRIP]: Your overseeing faculty and department will determine the course number in which you will enroll. This information must be listed on the IRIP approval form.)

Also, review prerequisites, credit limits, and instructions for selecting courses.

B. Note the following class information

You’ll need to enter the following information on your registration request form:

• Class name
• Credits
• Grading basis
• Class number
• Component number

You’ll be asked to select preferred and alternate course components. If your preferred component is full, you’ll be enrolled in your alternate component instead.

A. Request class approval

You must obtain permission from your instructor, department, or college registrar to join a Fall/Spring course. This approval does not guarantee a spot in the class if it fills. See the sample email for course approval.

To determine from whom you need permission, see the list of required approvals by college.

You will upload a screenshot or PDF of this approval in your registration request form.

(IRIP students: Please upload your IRIP approval form as your class approval.)

B. Submit registration form online

Register Now

This form will submit your registration request to the registrar via the SCE Application System.

Please keep in mind the registration deadline. Students are enrolled (Step 6) in the order they submit their registration form, so it is to your advantage to register early.

See the Fall/Spring Study calendar.

When completing your registration request, you’ll be asked to submit the following documents:

• If applicable, English Language Proficiency scores are required at time of registration. Review English Language Proficiency requirements.
• A statement outlining your specific reasons for wanting to study at Cornell for a semester, including how this study will help you achieve your academic goals, and the course you hope to take.
• All of your college and university transcripts.
• Two letters of recommendation from professors who know you well.

The Dean will review your materials and our office will send you an email notifying you of whether or not you have permission to proceed with registration.

You might also be required to meet with a dean.

C. Pay the registration fee (if applicable)

A nonrefundable fee of $75 must be paid in our secure online system when you submit your registration.

Certain programs have agreements with SCE to waive the registration fee. If your fee is waived, it will not appear on your registration form. Please contact your program coordinator with questions.

Registration requests are not processed until the registration fee is received. Allow 7-10 days after confirmation of payment to receive information on next steps.

A. Activate your Cornell NetID and sign into Student Center

After your registration is processed, you’ll receive email instructions from IT@Cornell for activating your Cornell NetID and setting up your Cornell NetID email.

To finalize the activation, you must sign into Student Center.

B. Go to your Registration Status Portal

Review your Registration Status Portal and complete any outstanding items on your registration (application) checklist.

Once you’ve completed the required steps and if there is space in your class(es), you’ll be officially enrolled, and the SCE Registrar will send you an email confirming enrollment.

You’ll also receive an email if your approved course or courses are full. Please have one or two back-up courses in mind so that we can help you enroll in your second choice(s). As a reminder, all students on an F1 visa must maintain full-time student status, which means you must be enrolled for the duration of your Fall/Spring studies in at least 12 credits for a 15-week semester.

Upon receiving an enrollment confirmation, please visit the Student Center to verify that you are enrolled in the correct class(es) and that the correct grading basis is reflected.

Learn about course materials, textbooks, and course expectations.

Tuition and fees are due within four business days of your enrollment confirmation. (Your payment deadline will be included in your confirmation email.)

See tuition and how to pay.

In addition to the payment methods listed on the how to pay page, international students who are visiting Cornell may also pay by credit card (this exception does not apply to full-time Cornell students).

You’re responsible for the tuition associated with all classes in which you’re enrolled, whether or not you participate in those classes.

If you no longer wish to take a class, follow the steps on the Course Changes page to drop it immediately. If you drop after the refund period has passed (see Dates and Deadlines), you’ll be responsible for the total cost of your tuition.

International students attending on-campus classes are required to pay both the Student Health Fee and enroll in Cornell’s Student Health Plan. See the health services page.

After you have submitted your registration, you will gain access to the I-20 request form in your registration account.

Use that form to submit the following required information:

• A clear copy of the biographical data page of your passport.
• Financial verification:
  • Personal funds: You must provide a current statement from a bank guaranteeing that you have sufficient funding to cover your tuition and living expenses while studying at Cornell.
  • Sponsorship: If receiving funding from a sponsorship or scholarship, you must provide a letter certifying your funding and the total amount given.
    (IRIP students: Please upload your IRIP approval form as your sponsorship source. This shows funding for your tuition and possibly the administrative fee only. It does not include living expenses, health fees, and insurance.)
  • The total in U.S. dollars for sufficient funding must equal the course fee of $1,940 per credit, plus $550 per week estimated living expenses, plus funds to cover both the Cornell student health fee and health plan (between approximately $210 and $3,500, depending on coverage).

Note

• If you have not received your I-20 form as expected, contact our office.
• If you have received your I-20 form and have questions regarding your F-1 student visa application or other immigration matters, contact the Office of Global Learning’s International Services.
• If you’re already attending a school in the U.S. or will be in the next term, a new I-20 may not be required. To check, please contact our office at cusce@cornell.edu and include information about your current status.

Before beginning your term, you must complete the steps on the SCE onboarding page.

These requirements include familiarizing yourself with important policies.

• Once you arrive at Cornell and are within five days of your Cornell start date, you must complete the Office of Global Learning International Services (IS) online status activation procedure.

IS provides many useful services and programs to international students, including a quick guide to life at Cornell.