UMass Boston

International Student Enrollment Checklist

Congratulations on your acceptance to UMass Boston. There are still a few things left to do before you can call yourself a Beacon! Review the list below to be sure you have completed all steps. Contact the Office of Admissions at 617.287.6100 or undergrad.admissions@umb.edu with any questions. 

Have additional questions? Drop into the International Student and Scholar Services' virtual office hours Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST and 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EST.

Submit Your Enrollment Deposit

Submit Your Enrollment Deposit

All new students must submit a $250 New Student Deposit which will be applied to your first semester tuition bill. Log into Beacon Gateway to submit your deposit. 

I-20 Certificate of Eligibility

All international students requiring an F1 student visa are required to complete the following steps in order to receive an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility from UMass Boston: 

  1. Log into your Beacon Gateway and submit your New Student Enrollment Deposit
  2. Claim your UMass Boston student account
  3. After having claimed your UMass Boston account and created your unique password, use those credentials to log into UMassVIP
  4. After logging into UMassVIP, click on the Admissions link and begin the process of completing the Initial Undergraduate Declaration & Certification of Finance (DCF) E-Form

In order to receive an I-20, students will be required to upload:

  1. Completed Declaration & Certification of Finance (DCF) E-form
  2. Copy of Passport Biography page (.PDF document)
  3. Previous visa history
  4. Funding Options (.PDF)
    • Personal Funds: bank statement issued within the last 6 months showing adequate liquid funds
    • Sponsor: Sponsor's Statement and Bank Statement in sponsor's name showing adequate liquid funds
    • Government Scholarship: A scholarship letter issued by the governing authority

If you have any issues accessing UMassVIP or have other questions about receiving your I-20 Certificate of Eligibility, please contact the Office of Global Programs. 

We would encourage you to review the helpful information provided on the Global Programs website, including "Tips for a Successful Visa Interview". 

Housing

If you're planning to live on campus, after submitting your $300 housing reservation fee, log back into Beacon Gateway to access your housing application. 

For more information about on-campus or off-campus housing options, visit our housing website.

New Student Orientation

All new students are required to attend New Student Orientation. Orientation is where you'll have the chance to meet fellow classmates, register for classes, and familiarize yourself with university resources. 

After you've submitted your enrollment deposit, log into Beacon Gateway and click on the 'Events' tab in order to register for your New Student Orientation.

Writing & Math Placement Tests

Guided Writing Placement

All new students will participate in a guided writing assessment, which will result in recommended placements for both composition and first-year seminar courses. Please expect an invitation in your personal email account with the subject line: “Guided Writing Placement – Complete Before Orientation.” This process will help you determine which writing courses you should take in your first year at UMass Boston. You will receive a confirmation email with the subject line: “Guided Writing Placement – Recommended Courses” Please retain this email for your records. It will be helpful to have it readily available during your advising session following orientation.

ALEKS Math Placement

Students should refer to the Score Report Chart when considering whether to take the ALEKS math placement. When in doubt, take ALEKS before orientation, which will also give you access to a personalized learning module within ALEKS, and then give you the opportunity to retest. You may discuss this with your advisor during your advising/registration session following orientation.


Log into WISER in order to complete your ALEKS Math Placement test. Read instructions for logging into WISER.

Billing

For questions pertaining to financial aid or billing, UMass Boston's One Stop has "live chat" Mon-Fri during business hours.

University Health Services & Immunizations

To be ready for the start of classes, you are required to provide proof of immunization compliance. Using your UMass Boston credentials, access the MyHealthBeacon portal to upload any required documentation. 

Health Insurance

All UMass Boston students are required to participate in a qualifying health insurance program. Students may waive their university-provided health insurance if they can provide proof of comparable coverage.

Learn more about waiving your university-provided health insurance Contact the Bursar's Office with any questions regarding insurance waivers.