Exchange Students Coming to ACES

Illinois operates on a semester system, which includes the following terms.

• Fall Semester: August - December
• Spring Semester: January - May
• Academic Year: August - May
• Calendar Year: January - December

The Academic year is divided into three terms (Fall, Spring, & Summer). Exchange students can enter at any of these three terms. In order to be considered a full time student, a minimum of 12 credit hours is required, any amount below would need college approval, while the maximum without college approval is 18 credit hours. Some courses will require you to add an additional linked course, usually tacked on to support or interact with course content better, with a Teaching Assistant (TA).

Final Exams fall on the last week of the semester

Please reference the Academic Calendar for specific dates. 

Application Process & Deadlines

In order to apply for an exchange program, you must first be nominated by the office that manages exchange programs at your home institution. Nominations can be submitted via email to aces-studyabroad@illinois.edu. 

Once nominated, you will receive an email with instructions on how to move forward with the application. 

The nomination and application deadlines for ACES are as follows:

• Fall & Academic Year: April 1
• Spring & Calendar Year: September 15

Applications are submitted to International Admissions on a rolling basis as they are completed. It can then take 4 - 8 weeks to receive your admissions decision. 

Please refer to the links below for additional details:

• Minimum Eligibility Requirements 
• Instructions and Application Components

Course Information

As an exchange student, you can take courses in ACES and in subjects across campus (pending availability)! 

• Minimum Enrollment Requirement: 12 credit hours
• Language of Instruction: English (unless it is a foreign language course)

As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit a tentative course list to give us an idea of which courses you need to take. That list is not your official registration. You will register yourself in the Student Self-Service System after you have applied and been accepted. 

Please review the links below for important information on the course requirement, selection, and grading policies. 

• Grading System
• Credit Hours
• Restricted Courses (*Please review this site before selecting your classes)
• Course Catalog
• Registration Process
• J-1 Full Course of Study Requirement

Note: Graduate students may be nominated, but they will be considered undergraduates if coming as part of this exchange program. They may be able to take advanced undergraduate and graduate-level coursework at Illinois. Instructor approval will be required for upper-level courses.

The ACES Study Abroad Office  will automatically request a transcript to be sent to your home university upon successful completion of your exchange semester. Transcripts will come from the secure electronic system, Parchment. 

Transcripts are typically sent at the following times:

• Fall Semester & Calendar Year Students: January
• Spring Semester and Academic Year Students: June

ACES Study Abroad will not provide automatic copies to you as the exchange student. You can request official transcripts at any time through the Office of the Registrar. 
 

Tuition & Student Fees

Mandatory Fees for Exchange students:  

Exchange students do not pay University of Illinois tuition. 

The rate you will be charged as an exchange student is different from normally enrolled students. Beyond the differing tuition rates, exchange students will automatically be responsible for our additional student fees.

Student fees (which exchange students do pay) include:

• Heath Service Fee
• Transportation Fee (local bus)
• International Student Fee
• Health Insurance Fee (All students, including incoming exchange students, are automatically enrolled in and charged for the university's Student Health Insurance.)

Please refer to the Office of the Registrar for specific fee amounts: (select Undergraduate - Campus Based)

Housing

There are many housing options on and off campus here at Illinois. You are responsible for finding your own housing, but here are resources to help you get started. 

• University Housing: There many university residence halls to choose from! Please review the housing link to see all options and determine which will be best for your goals and lifestyle. Some residence halls have shared rooms, some require students to purchase a meal plan, or others may include private apartments. Costs vary by residence type. 
  
  Note: On-campus university housing is NOT guaranteed. 
  
   
• Private-Certified Housing: There are private facilities certified by the university for all students that you can look into. Some also come with meals plans. These are on campus and vary in type and price. 
  
   
• Off-Campus Housing: Many students choose to rent apartments or houses from private companies or landlords. Many of these options are on campus and provide excellent amenities. Prices vary significantly. One resource you can use is the Illinois Abroad Housing Board where Illinois students post their rooms for sublease when they go abroad. Illinois has an office for Off-Campus Community Living that can provide support in reviewing your lease, navigating landlord complaints, etc. 
  
  Note: If you are only on exchange for one semester, do NOT sign a full year lease even if the leasing agents encourage you to do so. It is very difficult to sublease apartments. 

Cost of Living

Below is a breakdown of estimated cost of living expenses, but the amounts will vary by each individual's spending habits. 

• Meals: There are campus grocery stores, as well as several supermarket options off-campus. Additionally, we have a vibrant and delicious restaurant scene woven into our campus. Eating out is a choice, and ranges depending on your restaurant preferences. (~$10 to $25) Meals at local restaurants in the campus area are $10-15 USD for lunch and $15-20 USD for dinner. There are many local grocery stores where students can purchase food to cook for themselves.
• Transportation:  Public buses are free when using university student ID card. Uber and Lyft are also options for an average of $10-20 per ride. Planning on visiting a different part of the United States, additional transportation methods are available including the Willard Airport, Amtrak (interstate rail system), and Couch bus system (several options: Peoria Charter, Bestway, Greyhound, etc.). These additional adventures vary in price and should be accounted for in your expected costs here. Estimates to Popular Destinations:
  • Chicago: Coach Bus: 4hrs (~$50), Train (Amtrak): 2.5hrs (~$50, price dependent on popularity of date)
  • St.Louis: Coach Bus: 3.5hr (~$40) Train (Amtrak): 3.5hr (~$40) Students can also rent or purchase used bikes to use on campus and around town.
• Books & Supplies: Some courses may require you to purchase textbooks or other supplies. The average for a semester is $600 USD total, but there are many resources to help you find affordable options.

As an exchange student, you have access to all of the campus support services we offer here at Illinois! 

• McKinley Health Center
• Counseling Center
• Tutoring Services
• Writing Workshop

RSOs (Registered Student Organizations): 

• RSOs (Registered Student Organizations) on campus are listed in the University Website, there are over 800+ student organizations on our campus. You can learn more about their meetings and memberships usually through their websites and social media (Instagram).

Our Sports Culture: 

• Our University has a long history of our teams (D1) and that students are able to purchase student specific tickets at a lower rate. Don't forget to pack blue & orange
• Our campus has several intermural and club sports teams that are available to join during your time here, listed on the RSO website. 

Campus Recreation Centers:

• Along with your student fees, you will have access to our multiple sports facilities on campus. We have two on-campus gyms, several tennis courts, recreation fields, basketball courts, and etc. 

Places to Visit on Campus:

• Our University's newspaper, The Daily Illini, publishes their annual results for the Best of CU (Champaign-Urbana). You may find your next favorite study spot or restaurant. 

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is located between the neighboring cities of Champaign and Urbana, creating a lively, student centered college town. The campus is large but walkable, centered around the Main Quad, surrounded by academic buildings and social areas. Campustown in Champaign offers restaurants, cafés, and nightlife, while downtown Urbana provides a quieter, arts-focused atmosphere. With convenient public transportation (MTD), a diverse international community, and a friendly Midwestern feel, Urbana-Champaign blends academic life with an accessible and welcoming local culture.

Explore More of Chambana

J-1 Visa Process

Students coming to Illinois as part of an exchange program typically apply for J-1 visa status.

1. Please pay your SEVIS fee once you receive your DS-2019 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The SEVIS fee can be paid on the Department of Homeland Security website (I-901 fee). Remember to print the receipt to present at your visa interview.
2. Schedule an appointment as early as possible for your non-immigrant entry visa with a U.S. Embassy. Bring the required documents to your visa interview as listed on the embassy website.
3. You will need to show the following documents at the U.S. Port of Entry:
   • Passport
   • Entry visa
   • Original DS-2019 (no copies)
   • If you are a Canadian citizen, an entry visa is not required to enter the United States

It is your responsibility to apply for your visa and maintain visa compliance while at Illinois. You will work with International Student and Scholar Services for any visa compliance questions or support while at Illinois. 

It is your responsibility to maintain your J-1 status while you are on exchange. Please consult with the  International Student and Scholar Services for any visa compliance questions or support while at Illinois. 

Please contact your Illinois and home university exchange coordinator for policies regarding stay extensions. 

Immunizations

You must complete the Immunization History Form and TB Screening Form prior to your arrival on campus. You will need to submit the completed TB Screening Form to the McKinley Health Center when you arrive on campus.