Before Applying
The Town
- Blacksburg, some 12,000 acres nestled on a plateau between the Blue Ridge and Alleghany mountains, is special. Home to about 42,600 local residents, the town is considered small by most any standard, but don’t let its size or location fool you.
- Because of its award-winning services, reasonable cost of living, safety, moderate climate, and abundant leisure activities, Blacksburg is consistently ranked among the country’s best places to live and has earned a reputation nationwide as a well-managed, stable, and forward-looking community.
- Established in 1798 and now Virginia’s largest town, Blacksburg lies within Montgomery County, which has a population of some 95,000.
- Vibrant and engaging, Blacksburg’s downtown offers unique stores, art galleries, and eclectic restaurants. The area’s wide red-brick sidewalks, Victorian street lamps, and park benches encourage foot traffic and make meeting folks easy
Our University
Areas of Study
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
College of Architecture, Arts, and Design
College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
College of Natural Resources and Environment
(All areas of study above offer graduate-level programs)
Requesting Courses: The university designates a one-week time period during the prior term to allow entry of enrollment requests for a future term. While exchange students are not admitted until after the initial course request period, they will be able to register for courses during orientation. Students can register for courses via HokieSPA, an online tool for students, faculty, and staff that allows users to view academic, financial, and other pertinent information).
Not all courses found in the Course Catalog are offered each semester. Students should consult the university timetable in making course selections.
For courses that specify prerequisites, students must be able to demonstrate that they meet the minimum requirements. If possible, students should bring course outlines or syllabi with them to Virginia Tech, showing what material they have already studied at their home university.
Timetable (use most recent academic year)
Graduate School Catalog (look under “Academics”)
All exchange students must be enrolled full time at Virginia Tech. For undergraduate students, a full-time course load is 12 credit hours or more, with students typically taking between 15 and 19 credits. For graduate students, a full-time course load is 9 credit hours or more. Courses range from 1-4 credit hours. However, most courses are 3 credit hours. Only 3 credit hours of online coursework can be counted toward the minimum course load required.
The academic achievement of a student in a specific course is rated as follows:
Letter grade |
Grade Equivalent |
Grade points for each hour |
A (Excellent) |
93-100 |
4.0 |
A- |
90-92 |
3.7 |
B+ |
87-89 |
3.3 |
B (Good) |
83-86 |
3.0 |
B- |
80-82 |
2.7 |
C+ |
77-79 |
2.3 |
C (Fair) |
73-76 |
2.0 |
C- |
70-72 |
1.7 |
D+ |
67-69 |
1.3 |
D |
63-66 |
1.0 |
D- |
60-62 |
0.7 |
F (Failure) |
<60 |
0.0 |
The Grade Point Average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total number of quality credits earned by the total number of hours attempted at Virginia Tech (note: exceptions and letter grades that do not immediately impact GPA are possible. Speak with your advisor for more details).
Tuition
Students participating in exchange programs pay tuition to their home universities. Tuition will not be paid to the host institution unless otherwise stated by the exchange agreement.
The Bursar’s Office generates monthly electronic billing statements. Tuition will be waived for exchange students during the first week of class. If you see these charges on your account before that time, don’t worry. Exchange students with a balance for room and board or additional class fees must pay by the invoice deadline. Invoices are sent to your Virginia Tech email address.
Expenses per semester
Expenses per semester for undergraduates may include, but are not limited to:
| Expense | Estimated Costs | Details |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus room |
$3,500-$4,700 (rates vary depending on residence hall) |
Visit Housing and Residence Life website |
| Meal Plan |
$2,600-$3,000 (rates vary depending on plan) |
Visit Housing and Residence Life website |
| Medical Insurance |
Varies | Visit Controller's website |
| Exchange Student Fee | $75 | This fee covers orientation, cultural and social programming throughout the semester, and transcript processing. It is mandatory for all exchange students. |
| Course-specific fees |
Varies |
Some Virginia Tech courses may require additional fees that are not included in the Exchange Benefits Agreement. Students enrolled in courses within the Pamplin College of Business will be charged $637 (1-6 credits) or $1275 (7 or more credits). Other courses may have laboratory fees or software fees that will be the student’s responsibility. |
| Other (textbooks, software, travel, discretionary spending) |
Varies |
**Please note, costs are approximations and are subject to change. Costs including room and board rates are set by the Board of Visitors. Expenses may also vary depending on what is included in the exchange benefits agreement between institutions.
Student medical insurance
All international students are required to have health insurance either through the university’s Student Health Insurance Plan or a comparable plan that must be approved by the Student Medical Insurance Office. The annual premium cost for Aetna Student Health, the university-sanctioned health insurance, is approximately $3,570 per year for single students. It is possible to add spouses and/or dependent children to the plan for an additional cost. The cost is not included in tuition. For more information about the requirements and coverage options, go to the Office of Risk Management.
If you have alternative insurance coverage that meets the university’s requirements, you may submit a waiver request to the university’s Student Medical Insurance Office
How to Access Student Account and Pay your Bill
The Bursar’s Office generates monthly electronic billing statements that will be sent to your Virginia Tech email address. Tuition and mandatory/comprehensive fees will be waived for exchange students during the first week of classes. If you see these charges on your account before that time, don't worry. Exchange students with a balance for room and board or additional class fees must pay by the invoice deadline. Invoices are sent to your Virginia Tech email address.
All submissions are to be completed online. You will receive access to the application portal once your home university nomination is accepted. The following items are required:
All submissions are to be completed online. You will receive access to the application portal once your home university nomination is accepted. The following items are required:
- Complete Bilateral Exchange Program Application.
- Copy of transcripts, with translation in English, for each college or post-secondary institution attended (uploading of an unofficial transcript is permissible; graduate students must bring an original transcript upon arrival).
- Photocopy of passport information page (including passport number, name, and photo).
- International students whose native language is not English must document proficiency in the English language by submitting either an IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE. Students taking the IELTS must obtain a score of at least 6.5, with no sub score below 6.5 to be considered for admission to Virginia Tech..
- Photocopy of passport information page (including passport number, name, and photo).
- List of 5-10 Virginia Tech courses student proposes to enroll in (to indicate academic goals at Virginia Tech). Listing a course does not guarantee enrollment or availability of the course.
In most cases, syllabi of pre-requisite courses should be made available as colleges/departments may need additional information to assess a student’s preparedness for placement in requested courses. - U.S. green card or permanent resident card (if applicable)
- Notification from your home school coordinator if you intend to participate in a sport sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
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