What to expect:
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: August 19, 2019
Northwestern will provide three airport shuttle pick-up options that day (August 19th) in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The times of the shuttles are still being determined. If you happen to miss one of the airport pick-up times you can wait for the next pick-up option. We will meet students by baggage claim at Minneapolis—Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). If none of the times work for pick-up, 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.
Welcome Kit
Student Life will provide each international student 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
- Light refreshments
Tuesday, August 20, 2019 – Secondary Arrival Date
If you are unable to arrive on Monday, Aug 19 this is a secondary date option. We will provide limited airport transportation on Aug 20th. Keep in mind, that orientation begins on Wednesday, August 21st, therefore, arriving only a day before orientation begins might not give you enough time to adjust to the new time zone and environment.
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
Other Information
I was thinking of putting contact information here, but depending on what time of the year it is, should we have students continue to communicate to their admissions counselor? Just want to make sure we are walking the “international student communication line” well.
Hotel Options
Below are the university's suggestions for hotel accommodations close to campus:
Country Inn & Suites- Roseville
Best Western Plus-Shoreview