Additional Resources for International Students
International Student Engagement
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ASU International Graduate Resource Hub
Join this new Canvas site managed by ISSC to learn about events and support available to international and globally-minded ASU graduate students. You can get access at a glance to ISSC’s cultural events, including “Coffee and Tea Conversations,” “Global Friends,” etc. as well as resources like health and safety, transportation and travel, career development, finances, and more.
Financial Aid for International Students
As an international student your primary financial aid options include private scholarships and private education loans to supplement your own personal funds for the cost of your education. Many private scholarships are available for graduate-level education. Next Student Scholarship Search and Fastweb Scholarship Search are great resources to investigate, and you can also use ASU Scholarship Search to find additional scholarships and options.
To be considered for private education loans through a lender, individuals must apply for the loan with a creditworthy co-applicant (co-signer) who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. An international student who is able to apply with a U.S. co-applicant can request up to approximately $40,000 through an alternative education loan.
Student Employment
To help with the cost of school, you may look for on-campus employment. Check out available options to find employment that fits with your class schedule and other commitments.
Banking
Banking in the U.S. can be very different from other countries. To help with this transition Hands on Banking provides an online financial education program that teaches practical money management skills, budgeting, using credit wisely, saving, and much more. ASU has several ATM and banking branches conveniently located on the Tempe campus.
On-campus Banks in the Memorial Union (MU):
MidFirst Bank
(480) 967-7517
ATMs located on the main and lower levels of the MU
OneAZ Credit Union
(602) 644-4780
ATMs located on the main level of the MU
Social Security Card
A Social Security card will be necessary for anyone working in a Graduate Assistantship, internship, or elsewhere on campus. A card cannot be obtained until you have proof of employment. For those with a graduate assistantship you will need to obtain a letter from your department as proof after arrival. You may apply no sooner than 10 days after arrival in the U.S. and only after you have submitted all immigration documents to the ISO, registered full-time and paid tuition or enrolled in installment plan. View the application and requirements.
F-1 and J-1 students:
- Must be currently engaged in on-campus employment or have secured employment on-campus to request SSN from the local Social Security Card Center (SSCC)
- Once you have secured employment come to the ISO to submit a request for a letter which you will use to apply for a SSN at the local Social Security Card Center (SSCC)
Cell Phone
To help keep up with the busy graduate student life style, it is strongly recommended that you purchase a cell phone. Cell phone and cellular service providers in the U.S. include T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Qwest, Virgin Mobile, Alltel Wireless, AT&T, Cricket, Boost Mobile, Nokia, US Cellular, Jitterbug, TracFone, Power Net Mobile, Cellular One, and Mobile Tech.
In the past some of our international students have had difficulty getting a contract phone because they lack a credit card or Social Security card. An alternative option is purchasing a prepaid cell phone. These phones are also called Pay-As-You-Go phones. You can get the same kind of plan that a contract phone offers but instead of having a monthly bill and contract, you pay a flat fee for a designated number of minutes.
Housing
Coming to a foreign country and obtaining housing can be challenging for new students. To help with this we have identified a few key items that you should know before securing housing.
Off Campus Student Services:
Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) was created to meet your needs as an off-campus student.
Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance covers all your personal items that are in the apartment like clothes, televisions, etc. The price of renters insurance all depends on how valuable your belongings are. For example, if you have $17,000 worth of belongings, your monthly payment can be about $15 a month. The price can also range depending on the insurance company. Some insurance companies are State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Nationwide, and GEICO, to name a few.
Lease Agreements
It is highly recommended that lease agreements have these six essential areas addressed before signing. These include: parties to the lease, time of tenancy, monthly rent and penalties for late payment, security deposit and other deposit fees, utilities, and terminating lease information
University Resources
Learn more about the ASU experience for incoming international students: