Before You Arrive
All Virginia Tech students enroll in VT classes using an online course enrollment system known as Hokie Spa. Student must first be admitted to see their own personalized registration links. Students will receive a student ID number with their official admission letter. Students should use this number to create a Personal ID (PID) which will be needed to register for courses.
Courses and course descriptions at Virginia Tech are found in the university catalog.
The Undergraduate Catalog is available online at http://www.undergradcatalog.registrar.vt.edu/.
The Graduate Catalog is available at https://secure.graduateschool.vt.edu/graduate_catalog/.
Select the most recent year for each catalog.
Virginia Tech uses a course numbering system that indicates generally the level of knowledge that is expected in each course. Each course number has four digits (for example, 1004). The first digit typically indicates the class level and level of depth of knowledge expected in the course.
1000 and 2000 usually means first-year (introductory) level and is covers breadth of a topic.
3000 and 4000 is advanced undergraduate level and indicates a depth of a topic. Most 3000/4000 level courses will require prerequisite knowledge indicated in the course description in the catalog.
5000 means Masters level and 6000 indicates Ph.D. level. These courses are only available to students who are admitted for graduate study or occasionally, for senior undergraduates with adviser or instructor permission.
Before students are admitted to VT, they can access the timetable of classes at:
https://banweb.banner.vt.edu/ssb/prod/HZSKVTSC.P_DispRequest
Sometimes, students can view past semesters in the Historical Timetables at https://banweb.banner.vt.edu/student/timetable/index.html to anticipate what might be offered in future terms.
Based on your application preferences, your academic adviser will typically begin the registration process on your behalf prior to your arrival. You will be meeting with your adviser during orientation week in the week prior to the term beginning to edit and finalize your class schedule.
Please keep in mind that 12 credits of in-person (not online) credits, or 9 credits for graduate students, are required in order to be full time for the J1 visa program. Once the term begins, students may not at any time drop below this full time limit. Many students at VT enroll in 15 or 18 credits and then choose to drop a course. The drop limit is 5 weeks into the term so this can be a good way for students to settle in to courses and still be able to change as needed.
Living on campus is a great way to meet new people. The on-campus community at Virginia Tech has more than 10,000 students living in the residence halls. The location and community are just a few of the benefits to living on campus. With 45 residence halls, Virginia Tech ranks as the 14th largest on-campus housing system in the nation.
Your request for on-campus housing will be noted based on the receipt date for your bilateral exchange application. Normally, the demand is greater than the spaces available.
If on-campus housing is not available, students can arrange housing at apartment complexes available in Blacksburg. On-campus housing is NOT guaranteed.
If you are offered a space on campus, you will receive a contract from Housing & Residence Life office. Please note, for students on exchange during a full academic year, the terms of the contract will cover two semesters. To be guaranteed a room on campus, the contract must be promptly signed and returned. The housing and dining contract is a legally binding agreement [see below for dining information]).
More information about on-campus housing is available at Housing and Residence Life.
ISEP students are provided on-campus housing in a double room occupancy. The first step is to complete the housing contract. After completing the housing contract, log on to Star Rez during your assigned start date and time to complete the housing application.
Off-Campus housing is an alternative to living in the Residence Halls. Moving off campus offers greater access to town facilities, more opportunities to use personal transportation, and a greater sense of self-reliance. If you are looking for a place to rent for the full-year or sublet for the semester, there are many options listed on Virginia Tech's official off-campus housing database. After registering with the database you can use the website to find roommates, buy and sell furnishings, and find more information about off-campus life.
Renting an apartment in Blacksburg, monthly rent can range from $450 to $1200 per person for shared accommodations.
Exchange students who wish to live off-campus (in an apartment or flat in Blacksburg) can access the services of the Off-Campus Housing office at this website.
Health Insurance
International students with an F1 or J1 visa are required to have health insurance either through Virginia Tech's Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan or a comparable plan. Learn more.
Travel Documents
Some of the forms you will need include:
- Form DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status (“DS-2019” for short). This is issued by GEO after your application to Virginia Tech is approved.
- The Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160)
- J-1 Visa
- Valid Passport
- Other documents listed on your specific U.S. embassy/consulate website.
The welcome brochure is a helpful guide to review before getting started.
Virginia Tech was ranked in the top twelve in the Princeton Review's "Best 366 Colleges: 2023 Edition" for Best Campus Food. There are 11 conveniently-located restaurants on campus and as a student you can chose from a variety of dining plans to suit your needs.
More information about how your dining plan works, the nutritional content of on-campus foods, and each location's daily menu can be found at this website.
ISEP
ISEP students are provided with a Mega Flex Plan.
Amtrak |
Regional train service used to travel to different cities on the East coast of the U.S.A |
ABP |
Au Bon Pain Café and popular meeting spot located in Squires Student Center and Graduate Life Center |
Breakzone |
Area in squires student center that houses billiards, bowling and table tennis |
The Bubble |
Rec Sports Field House Gym area with courts and workout equipment |
Canvas |
A platform for all your classes where professors should post anything relating to class, including assignments, quizzes and grades |
CID |
The Creativity and Innovation District Residence Hall New Residence hall on campus |
D2 |
Main buffet style dining hall on campus on the second floor of Dietrick Hall |
Deets |
Café on the ground floor of Dietrick Hall |
DX |
Self-serve express food options on the ground floor of Dietrick Hall |
Drillfield |
Oval-shaped grassy stretch of land at the center of campus |
East AJ |
Ambler Johnston East Residence hall on campus |
The Eggs |
Eggleston Hall Residence hall on campus |
GEO |
Global Education Office The office that helps you with all your exchange stuff |
GLC |
Graduate Life Center Place for graduate academics, community and residence life |
Gobbler Connect |
Database for current events and organizations on campus |
Gucci Kroger |
Refers to the large Kroger on S.Main street |
Hokie P |
Hokie Passport Student ID card |
Hokie Spa |
Portal for things such as class registration and billing |
Huckleberry Trail |
15-mile paved hiking trail that connects Blacksburg to nearby town of Christiansburg |
NVR |
New River Valley Region of Southwest Virginia that includes Blacksburg and its surrounding area |
O’Shag |
O’Shaughnessy Hall Residence hall on campus |
Pylons |
Big stone columns that overlook the drillfield. Beautiful place to watch the sunset! |
ROA |
Roanoke Airport Airport in Roanoke. Closest to Blacksburg |
Smartway |
Bus service that connect Blacksburg to its neighboring areas |
Squires |
Squires Student Center The main hub for students on campus, great place to study, hang out, and relax. |
Torg |
Torgersen Hall Refers to the bridge that crosses alumni mall, but also houses classrooms and laboratory spaces |
UCB |
University City Boulevard Area next to campus with many restaurants |
UCB Kroger |
Kroger shopping center at University City Boulevard |
Fly into either Dulles International Airport in D.C. (IAD) or Roanoke Airport in Virginia (ROA).
From DC
- Train/Amtrak (Note: you'll need to get to Union Station to catch the train. The train's final destination is Roanoke. You'll need to take the SmartWay bus from Roanoke to Blacksburg.)
- Virginia Breeze Bus (The Valley Flyer route leaves from Dulles airport and ends at the Virginia Tech campus)
From Roanoke
- Global Education Office Van Pick-Up: The Global Education Office provides van pick up rom Roanoke train station and Airport on the Saturday and Sunday before orientation starts. You must notify GEO that you will be using the service in advance.
- Uber/Lyft
- Smartway Bus (Runs between Roanoke Airport and Virginia Tech campus. Note: the bus does not pickup from the airport on Sundays.)
After your acceptance to Virginia Tech, you will be given access to an online platform called Canvas through your VT email. Here will be provided in-depth details regarding arrival, immigration, your time at VT, and information on orientation.
Every semester, a new WhatsApp group will be created to connect you with fellow exchange students and with Global Education staff. This link will be communicated to you via your Virginia Tech email.
