Arrival Information for Spring 2023 New Students
- John Day
- Choua LeMay (Deactivated)
International students may arrive up to 30-days before classes start to allow time to adjust to a new time zone and culture. However, they’ll be responsible for their own lodging and transportation until their move-in date.
International Student Move-In Date: Thursday, January 5, 2023
Northwestern will communicate with you regarding transportation from the airport closer to the arrival day. We will meet students by baggage claim at Minneapolis—Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). If you arrive early in the morning or late at night you may be asked to use Uber/Lyft or a Taxi to get yourself to the university.
If you are being accompanied by family members/friends, all family members/friends will need to provide their own lodging and transportation. We recommend family/friends to stay at the Country Inn and Suites in Roseville, MN. Please click here to book your room (mention that you are visiting University of Northwestern for a discount). Additionally, family and friends are responsible for their own transportation during their stay at University of Northwestern – Saint Paul. Therefore, we highly recommend renting a vehicle after you plane lands to get yourself to and from the airport, hotel, and university.
Parents/family and friends are not permitted to stay in the university dorm room with their student.
Before leaving the airport…
If you have foreign currency to exchange into U.S. Dollars while you are in the U.S., it would be advisable to make the exchange before leaving the MSP airport.
For Parents/Families/Friends of international students: Please reserve and pick up your rental vehicle to ensure you have proper transportation during your stay.
Checking in
More information will be provided for you about where to check in closer to the arrival day. When you check in, you will receive a folder with your room key, a card to swipe for temporary access to the buildings you need before Orientation officially begins, and a key to your own personal Mail Center box. Additionally, you will be provided with a campus map to help you navigate your way around campus.
Welcome Kit
Student Life will provide you a small welcome basket that will contain some helpful items as you transition to our university. Those items are:
- UNW water bottle
- Set of towels
- Set of sheets
- Pillow
- Several rolls of toilet paper
- Bar Soap
- $20.00 Target Gift Card to help you get started on getting supplies
- Light refreshments
Items for your Dorm Room
University of Northwestern dorm rooms have the following items:
- Bed
- Personal Desk
- Small Kitchenette (Sink, small refrigerator, small stove-top and small oven)
- Full bathroom (shower, toilet, vanity (mirror/sink) area).
- Closet
- Air conditioning and heating unit
You and your roommates will need to provide the following:
- Dishes (plates, silverware, cups etc.)
- Cookware (pots, pans, spoons, spatulas, cookie sheets…etc.)
- Toilet Paper (we will supply this when you first arrive; however, it is your responsibility along with your roommates to continue to purchase this for yourself).
- Paper towels
Christmas Break 2023
As you plan your arrival, we wanted to make you aware about details regarding Christmas Break.
All University of Northwestern dormitories are closed during Christmas Break. All students must leave their dorm for Christmas Break. Students are required to complete all final exams/papers/projects for their classes during finals week before they are eligible to leave campus for Christmas Break. After your exams are completed you may leave the dormitory.
It is a student’s responsibility to find a place to stay during Christmas Break if they are not returning home. If they are flying back home, it is the student’s responsibility to find airport transportation.
Students may find a friend or someone from church to spend their Christmas break with. If this cannot occur and you’re wanting to say locally, please see the list of local hotels below to book a reservation at during Christmas Break. Another option would be booking your stay at a local Airbnb.
(Christmas break dates will be posted at the end of spring 2022)
Hotel Options
Below are the university's suggestions for hotel accommodations close to campus:
Country Inn & Suites - Roseville
Holiday Inn Express - Roseville
Homewood Suites – New Brighton
Other Information
If you have any questions, let your admission counselor know!