Partner Universities - USA
North Dakota State University
Subject Areas:
Agriculture, food systems, natural resources, arts, humanities, social sciences, business administration, human development, education, nursing, pharmacy, science, mathematics,
Session Dates:
- Fall term: late August to mid December
- Spring term: late January to mid May
Accommodation:
There are two choices of accommodation for students who wish to live on campus: residence halls and apartments.
NDSU currently has 11 residence halls of which are safe, comfortable and clean. Housing options give students choices such as:
traditional all female or all female halls, freshman only halls, co-ed buildings and upper class student accommodation.
Halls vary in amenities but most offer single or double rooms with bunk beds, sinks, desks and vanities, communal TV lounges, laundries, kitchens and computing facilities.
The apartments of which there are 306 and range from studios to 3 bedroom apartments. Most apartments include private bedrooms, bathrooms, cable TV and air-conditioning and offer communal laundry facilities.
Students must pay a US$50.00 deposit on submitting their housing contracts.
The 3 dining centres at NDSU are located near or connected to all the residence halls. Students have the option of choosing from 10, 15 or 20 meals per week, all offer healthy meal choices. Meal plans are also available to those living off campus.
Approximate expenses for one academic semester: US$5634
- Room and board; US$3110
- Student fees; US$481
- Textbooks; US$350
- Miscellaneous and living expenses: US$1300
- Matriculation fee; US$45.00
- Health Insurance; US$348
Exchange student support services:
The Office of International Programs provides support and advice to International students on a range of issues, from immigration and tax requirements, cultural adjustment, health issues and both personal and academic problems. The office can also make arrangements for airport pickup and offer assistance in finding off-campus accommodation (after arrival), provides an orientation service and publishes a newsletter to keep students informed of policies and activities.
Numerous social activities are on offer to International students throughout the year through The Office of International Programs. They also administer a Student Speakers' Fair in the local schools giving international students an opportunity to talk about their cultures with school children and there are other programs such as The International Friendship Program which matches students with local families to share meals, special occasions, and companionship.
Visa:
J-1 Exchange Visitor
Students who enter the United States using a DS-2019 form enter in J-1 status. In order to avoid legal difficulties it is essential that students follow all regulations regarding their visa. It is the student’s responsibility to maintain their own status by understanding and complying with all these regulations. If you have any questions, please consult with your International Student adviser or US embassy in your home state. By not following all J-1 regulations, students will be considered "out of status", meaning in violation of their immigration. There are serious penalties for those found to be in violation of their visa which may affect an exchange visitor's privilege to stay in the U.S.
Health Insurance:
North Dakota State University requires all students to purchase the North Dakota State mandated health insurance policy for the duration of their studies. Students may purchase the plan from the university through the Hinchcliff International. For further information about the health insurance policy check the following links: CISI Health Insurance Coverage Description or http://www.ndsu.edu/International/int_students/health_insurance/health_insurance.shtml
Immunisation requirements: Students cannot register for classes without showing proof of vaccination for measles, mumps, and rubella. The university also recommends students receive vaccinations for other communicable diseases such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. Students who do not arrive with their immunisation records will be required to be vaccinated again at their own expense after arrival. Therefore, students should bring original or certified copies of vaccination records with them.
Facts in brief
About North Dakota State University:
Situated in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University was founded in 1890; just one year after North Dakota became a state. The NDSU main campus comprises of 88 buildings and covers about 258 acres. Over all, NDSU is located on 22,053 acres of North Dakota land including the Agricultural Experimental Station in Fargo and seven research centres located across the state. The student population at NDSU is approximately 11, 500 students with the teacher to student average ratio 19 to 1. NDSU is a small community with its own newspaper, post office, campus stores and restaurants and an on campus population of 10,000 people.
Location:
Fargo is the state of North Dakota's largest city, bordering on the state of Minnesota and divided from its sister city, Moorehead by the Red River which acts as a natural boundary. It has a population of approximately 80,000 people. The downtown area and the West Acres shopping mall are only minutes away from the NDSU campus. Fargo is cradled by rolling farmland and lakes of Minnesota on the east and by open prairies of North Dakota on the west.
Climate:
Fargo is known for its cold weather, but that should not deter visitors. Most international students adapt well to living with the snow and even think it is something fun to experience! The spring and autumn weather is moderate and summer gets very warm. Average low and high temperature ranges (in degree Celsius):
- January -19 to -9
- April 7 to 13
- July 15 to 28
- October 1 to 13
Activities:
Culture
Fargo-Moorhead is a lively, cultural community that boasts a pleasant variety of things to do and places to see. Its art galleries, museums, theatres and music groups offer something to please everyone’s tastes. The local theatres host performances as diverse as classic plays, opera, film and locally written productions. Numerous art galleries and museums not only facilitate many exhibitions but also provide tours and workshops for all ages. Other cultural institutions include the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, the Jazz Arts Group of Fargo-Moorhead and the Trollwood Park/Trollwood Performing Arts School, who present outdoor theatrical productions during the summer.
With so many student organisations at NDSU, students will find a group to support their interests. There are over 200 associations and clubs to choose from. They cover a wide range of interests, including performing and fine arts, humanities, social and ethnic issues. In addition The Lively Art Series, run through North Dakota State University provides quality performing art programs for the university and Fargo-Moorhead community. Performances provided by the Lively Arts Series have provided audiences with such shows as the Peking Acrobats, the American Brass Quintet and The Ahn Trio.
Sport
Set in such an idyllic environment Fargo-Moorhead is a huge attraction for lovers of the great outdoors. Activities range from relaxing river boat tours to enjoying a game of baseball, football or a wrestling tournament. The parklands of Fargo are varied and vast and host some great camping, hiking, cycling and picnicking locations.
There is a sporting club for everyone at NDSU. Just some of the activities students enjoy are athletics, wrestling, football, golfing, fishing, and hiking. The Outdoor Centre provides equipment and materials for the outdoor enthusiast as well as hosting trips and events. The Recreation Centre has a variety of indoor recreational opportunities available including bowling lanes, billiard tables, table tennis, board games, video, and pinball games. Events and tournaments are held here throughout the year. The Wellness Centre runs a variety of fitness classes. So whether students are indoors or out they have no excuse not to keep active.