International Student Orientation
Undergraduate Orientation
The New Student Orientation is MANDATORY for all new undergraduate students at Montana State University. Orientation will consist of the following:
- Online courses (in CatsConnect) that students must complete to facilitate a meeting with an academic advisor and register for classes
- Two in-person orientation sessions prior to the start of the semester:
- In-person International Orientation session that will focus on immigration rules and regulations affecting you as an international degree-seeking student, and
- In-person New Student Orientation session, an essential part of your transition to MSU that allows you to become acquainted with MSU's practices and get answers to your questions before classes start.
- BOTH of these in-person orientation sessions will take place after you arrive and both of these sessions are MANDATORY. You will receive additional information about these orientation sessions in the weeks leading up to your first term at MSU.
Students will receive emailed instructions on how to access online orientation modules before they are able to access the CatsConnect platform. Students who do not complete all modules in the online orientation will not be able to meet with their academic advisor or register for classes.
Registration for Undergraduate Orientation
Please complete and submit our International Student Orientation Registration form to register for orientation as an undergraduate international student. If you do not register, you will not have access to our online orientation modules that will need to be completed prior to registering for your Spring classes.
Graduate Orientation
The MSU Office of International Programs only requires international students to attend a Mandatory immigration session. You should check with your program and department regarding any other orientations you must complete.
- If you are unsure what you should do first, please check out the Graduate School's New International Students page.
- All new graduate students must attend an immigration session in which the Office of International Programs will provide information about how to maintain your immigration status and other important things to know as an international graduate student. All students should bring their passport, visa, and I-20/DS-2019 when attending the session. Please visit the International Student Immigration Session Registration page to complete the form and register for the MANDATORY session. Additional details regarding the time and location of the session will be provided to all incoming students via email.