Incoming Exchange Students

Incoming Journalism Exchange Students

Partner Universities

The Missouri School of Journalism welcomes applications for study abroad terms from our international partners listed below. Interested students from those institutions listed below should contact the appropriate advisor at their home institution to apply for the required nomination.

Continue scrolling the page to learn more on eligibility, how to apply by the specified deadlines and more...

The Quad and Columns at the heart of the Mizzou campus

Auckland University of Technology
Danish School of Media and Journalism
Edinburgh Napier University
La Trobe University

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Nanyang Technological University
Sciences Po
Universidad de los Andes
Universidad de Navarra

Universita' Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Universite' Libre de Bruxelles
University of Technology Sydney
University of Westminster
Waseda University

Columbia Downtown, better known as The District

Information for Incoming Journalism Exchange Students

Eligibility
Application Deadlines
University of Missouri Academic Calendar
Application Materials
Course Selections
Housing
Health Insurance
Costs
Preparing for the Visa
Preparing for the Visa Interview
Day of the Visa Interview
Arrival Information
Helpful Resources

All applicants must be recommended by their home university to be eligible for studying abroad at Mizzou. Additionally, applicants must provide evidence of the equivalent of a US GPA of 3.0 or higher in order to be considered for acceptance. If submission of IELTS, Duolingo, or TOEFL is required, applicants must provide evidence of appropriate scores for admission to the Missouri School of Journalism.

IELTS: 7.0 or higher with no individual band score below 6.0

TOEFL-iBT: 100 or higher
Duolingo: 120 or higher (90 minimum for 3 of 4 parts)

All applicants must be recommended by their home university to be eligible for studying abroad on the journalism exchange program at Mizzou. Nominations should be forwarded by email to the Director of Study Abroad for the Missouri School of Journalism by the following dates*:

Semester 1 (Beginning in August): March 15
Semester 2 (Beginning in January): September 15

In order to ensure timely issuance of necessary immigration (visa) documents, complete application materials are required by the following deadlines*:

Semester 1 (Beginning in August): April 1
Semester 2 (Beginning in January): October 1

*All deadlines falling on weekends or holidays correspond to the following Monday.

In order to be considered for admission to study abroad on exchange at the Missouri School of Journalism, your home institution must currently have a reciprocal exchange agreement with the Missouri School of Journalism. In addition, your home institution must officially nominate you for acceptance before you should apply for this exchange program.

Step 1: Apply online.
Obtain the link to the online application from the international or study abroad office at your home institution. The application fee is waived for this process.

Step 2: Submit supporting documents.
Once completing the online application, watch for an email requesting the submission of the following supporting documents. All supporting documents should be scanned and attached as PDFs to an email sent to [email protected] through their home university advisor.

Legible copy of your passport photo ID page
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Official academic transcripts of all university-level coursework (English translations, as appropriate)
Proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, DET, PTE, or C1 scores)
- See more information and minimum score requirements on the International Admissions website.
- To establish proficiency, you must score the requisite benchmark on one of the highlighted exams, complete level 5 of the MU Intensive English Program, complete the IGCSE with a B or higher, or score a 5 or higher on IB English A
- All students for whom English is not their first language are also required to take the English Language Support Program's English Language Exam
Financial support documentation
- Affidavit of Support Form stating ability of student or sponsor to cover estimated expenses for duration of study in the US.
- Bank letter, signed statement verifying that the sponsor listed on the Affidavit of Support Form has sufficient funds to cover student expenses not included as part of the exchange agreement. (See estimated expenses for a semester or academic year at Mizzou).
- Bank statement must be current and cannot be printed from the internet.
- For more information, please visit our MU International Center financial documentation and support webpage.
Course Request Form - International exchange students at the Missouri School of Journalism must take 12 credit hours. Please note additional details below and on the course request form.
Housing Request Form. Exchange students may choose guaranteed on-campus housing or may decline this option and choose to live off campus.

Applications will be reviewed following the posted application deadlines. Official decision notifications will be sent during the month of May for a fall semester / August start and during the month of November for a spring semester / January start.

Have any questions? Email the Director of Study Abroad for the Missouri School of Journalism at [email protected].

Students should review the following to become familiar with our academic program. Note, that while course selections are reviewed in the application process, actual course registration will take place on-site during the orientation week prior to classes.

Course Selection:

Courses at U.S. Universities are assigned a designated number of credit hours. Typically, one class is equal to 3 credit hours. Exchange students can enroll in 12 credit hours of coursework per semester at the University of Missouri through agreement with partner universities. (Note: Students who enroll in more than 12 credit hours of coursework may incur an additional financial obligation.)

Of those 12 credit hours, exchange students must take at least 6, but no more than 9, journalism credit hours. Enrollment in at least one non-journalism course (3 credit hours) per semester is also required. Non-journalism courses include studies in psychology, art, political science, history, etc. In order to enroll in these courses, students must have met all necessary prerequisite courses.

Courses are classified according to the following numerical system:

Lower-level undergraduate classes are numbered 1000-2999
Upper-level undergraduate classes are numbered 3000-4999
Graduate-level classes are numbered 7000+

Graduate exchange students from Sciences Po and Waseda University may be eligible to enroll in graduate-level classes at the University of Missouri. Exchange students from all other programs must select undergraduate-level courses.

When completing the Course Selection Form, applicants should refer to course options online. Click on “Browse Course Catalog” under “Guest Access” to view the course offerings. Click on “Schedule of Classes” in the same section to determine which classes are offered during the semester you plan to study abroad at MU. Be sure to select the corresponding term from the drop down menu.

The Course Request document is used to create a preliminary schedule of classes for exchange students. The Course Request document is not a guarantee that the student will be enrolled in the options they have chose. While every attempt is made to enroll students in the courses they request, specific course registration is the purview of the academic department, which has governance over any specific class. Course enrollment requires approval of appropriate faculty, and may require the submission of additional supporting documents, such as samples of students’ work or portfolios.

Registration:

Conferences with faculty, submission of portfolios, and additional course selection will take place during the exchange students' orientation week, prior to their first week of class. The final schedule of classes (12 credit hours) will usually be completed just prior to the first day of classes and certainly before the end of the first week of classes.

The Global Programs Office with the Missouri School of Journalism will pre-arrange housing in residence halls for students who desire to live on campus. Demand for student housing is quite high. International students are typically housed in the Defoe-Graham or Hawthorn Residence Halls, as they remain open throughout the holidays and breaks, and are centrally located on the University campus.

Those who wish to live in private apartments must arrange housing independently. Information about living options can be provided to exchange university partners upon request.

Students participating in the Washington DC Internship Program are required to use university housing which is included in the program fee.

Complete information regarding university housing and meal plans can be found on the Residential Life website.

Health Insurance -

To ensure that all students have adequate coverage to pay for medical expenses, all international students will be billed for the appropriate MU mandatory health insurance plan upon arrival. There are no exceptions.

Enrollment in the plan is automatic, although waivers may be granted during the first days on arrival if providing the appropriate information when requested. Incoming exchange students will receive information on this process with emailed pre-departure communications from the Global Programs Office.

Information regarding the mandatory health insurance can be found on the University of Missouri page of the Aetna website.

Immunization Requirements -
All MU students must review and comply with the MU Immunization Policy. Visit the MU Student Health Center web pages to learn about the current required immunizations and to complete the appropriate paperwork. See MU Student Health Center Forms & Policies.

Estimated costs per semester: These are costs not covered by the exchange agreement.

Tuition and fees exceeding 12 credit hours
Housing and Meals (estimated): $6,500
Mandatory Medical Insurance: $1100, depending on the semester
Internship Program Fees: See the Washington D.C. page for more details

Although the exchange agreement covers most educational fees at MU, some schools and colleges charge supplemental fees for courses in their area to cover the cost of labs, specialized equipment, and other academic needs. Exchange students enrolling in these courses will be responsible for paying such fees and should budget accordingly.

Updated information pertaining to fees for specific coursework can be viewed by visiting the University of Missouri Cashier's Office website.

See MU International Center for information on Estimated Expenses for an outline of expenditures and further details.

Traveling to the United States to continue your education is an exciting prospect. We also know that you have many questions and a lot to accomplish before you arrive. Below is a checklist of things to do while preparing to depart for the States. To schedule the visa interview, review the following:

Review the US visa application process through the Study in the States website and complete the application forms online
Students must complete the appropriate visa application, as noted
Complete the I-901 form and pay the SEVIS I-901 fee online
Schedule your visa interview appointment at the U.S. Consulate.

Visa interview appointments fill quickly, so please schedule the interview as soon as possible. Remember, education visas are a priority at the U.S. consulate or embassy.
You will need the SEVIS number located in the upper, right-hand corner of the Form DS-2019.

Incoming exchange students should be aware to include our required orientation week, usually one full week prior to the first date of classes noted on the official academic calendar. This mandatory orientation week includes meetings with faculty and the on-site registration for classes.

Students should plan to arrive on the suggested arrival date. International Student Orientation will begin shortly following that date. Please refer to the information provided in your admission packet for specific dates on which you should prepare to arrive. The following information may be helpful as you prepare to travel.

Visit the EducationUSA website. If possible, plan a visit with the local EducationUSA advising office for additional assistance and travel preparation.
Make travel arrangements to Columbia. Direct air service can be booked into Columbia Regional Airport (COU). Alternatively, students may choose to fly to Lambert St. Louis International Airport (STL) or to Kansas City International Airport (MCI). Students arriving in either St. Louis or Kansas City can book shuttle service from the airport to Columbia through Mo-X
Students participating in the Washington DC Internship Program should make arrangements for ground transportation from either Reagan National Airport (DCA) or Dulles International Airport (IAD) to WISH student housing.
Submit your travel itinerary to the Global Programs Office at the Missouri School of Journalism. Provide the following information: arriving airport, arriving airline, final arriving flight number, date and time of arrival