New Exchange
(Non-Degree) Students

Welcome Guide: This guide is filled with tips and information designed to help you navigate through your first steps as a new international student. It includes a helpful checklist to you keep you on track in your journey to UC San Diego.  

Surf Check: A surf check is an action done by surfers to survey conditions at a location and get an understanding of what the surf will be like. Each surfer may look for different things; some surfers may be looking for huge waves while some may just be looking for windless classic waves. Just like a surf check, ISEO will be providing the necessary knowledge and experience to help you navigate your way to an exemplary experience at UC San Diego. From what to pack when coming to the United States to the best eateries on campus, Surf Check will cover everything you need to know! 

The University of California is committed to protecting the health and well-being of our students. All incoming students are REQUIRED to obtain certain vaccines and undergo Tuberculosis testing. Failure to meet these requirements by the stated due dates may result in the student receiving registration holds. 

To complete your Health Requirements and review important deadlines, review the Student Health Services website. 

QUESTIONS? If you have questions regarding your Health Requirements, please contact Student Health Services (SHS) by activating your MyStudentChart account (see instructions). Once activated, login to MyStudentChart and use the “Ask-A-Nurse" messaging feature to communicate with the SHS Nursing team. 

*Note: Exchange students who participate in exchange at UC San Diego during only the Summer Session, are not required to complete the health and immunization requirements. 

J-1 Exchange Visitors are required by the U.S. Department of State to have health insurance with specific minimum coverage for themselves and any accompanying dependents in J-2 status for the entire time that they are in the United States as exchange visitors. Failure to maintain valid health insurance at any point during the visitor's stay in the U.S is considered a violation of J-1 visa status.  

In addition, the University of California considers health insurance a mandatory non-academic condition for enrollment at UC San Diego. During the academic school year, the university offers students the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) to satisfy both the university's and the U.S. government's health insurance requirements. 

Beginning your exchange program in Fall, Winter, or Spring: 

Exchange students who begin their exchange participation at UC San Diego during the Fall, Winter, or Spring terms will be automatically enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). Students may request to waive out of UC SHIP by submitting proof of alternative comparable health insurance by the deadline set by Student Health & Well-Being. 

QUESTIONS? If you have questions about enrolling in or waiving UC SHIP, please contact Student Health & Well-Being at ship3@ucsd.edu. 

Summer Session exchange students: 

Exchange students who participate in exchange at UC San Diego during only the Summer Session, are not eligible for UC SHIP and must utilize UC San Diego's health insurance partner, Gallagher, to meet their university and U.S. government health insurance requirement. Summer-only exchange students may either 1) enroll in Gallagher's health insurance plan; or 2) waive coverage with Gallagher by submitting proof of alternative comparable health insurance. 

1. To enroll in Gallagher's health insurance plan, visit the Gallagher Visiting Scholar Benefit Plan Portal and select "Begin Enrollment". Follow the instructions to complete the enrollment process. 
2. To waive coverage with Gallagher and submit proof of alternative comparable insurance, visit the Gallagher Visiting Scholar Benefit Plan Portal and select "Waive Coverage". Follow the instructions to complete the waiver process. 

QUESTIONS? If you have questions about enrolling in or waiving Gallagher, utilize their Contact Us resources. 

12 Units per Quarter Required to Maintain Visa Status 

Per U.S. federal regulations, all exchange students are required to enroll full-time during the academic school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters*). Full-time enrollment is considered 12 units or more per quarter. Ensure that by each quarter's "Deadline for all students to add or re-book in classes" as posted on the Booking and Registration Calendar (see next section), you are enrolled in at least 12 units!     

Exchange students are also required to enroll full-time during their FIRST quarter. If you will be starting your exchange program during the Summer quarter, then you must enroll full-time during the Summer quarter. Full-time enrollment during Summer quarter is considered at least 6 units PER SUMMER SESSION. 

For more information on J-1 visa enrollment requirements, review ISEO’s Enrollment Requirements webpage. 

*The academic school year is the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Summer quarter is traditionally a vacation term for international and exchange students, UNLESS it is the student’s first term of enrollment. If the Summer term is NOT the student’s first term of enrollment, then Summer quarter enrollment is not required. 

Important Booking Dates 

Review the relevant Booking and Registration Calendar to take note of important booking dates. Exchange students should note the following:  

• Schedule of Classes and Booking times available – The date that course offerings for the upcoming term become available for viewing in the Triton Student System (TSS)* and TritonLink. Your booking window, which is your initial appointment time for booking courses, will also be available for you to view in TSS on this date. 
• Booking begins for all continuing students – The date course booking for the upcoming term opens. Exchange students will receive a booking window for a specific day and time within a week of this date.  
• Wait Lists Open – The date you may add yourself to the wait list(s) for any course(s) that are full and that you wish to attempt to join. Adding yourself to the wait list does NOT guarantee you a spot in the class. 
• Registration fee payment deadline – You must pay your student account by this date. Students who do not timely pay their student account may be dropped from classes. If dropped from classes due to non-payment, there is no guarantee of rejoining those classes. 
• First day of classes – The day classes for the term begin! 
• Automatic wait lists officially end – The date wait lists close. If you have been waitlisted for a class and have not been able to join the class by this date, then the course is full and you will not be able to join it. 
• Deadline for all students to add or re-book in classes if canceled for non-payment via TSS – This is the deadline to add classes for the term and is the end of Week 2 of the quarter. Students still waitlisted as of this date will be unable to join the waitlisted course(s) and must book themselves into an alternative course(s). Exchange students must meet the full-time enrollment requirement (12 units) of their visa status by this date.  

Prepare: What to Know about Booking Classes at UC San Diego 

• Booking in or availability of specific courses is not guaranteed. You are not guaranteed a spot in any particular class, including classes in your major. You should have several alternative course options prepared to ensure you can meet the full-time enrollment requirement (12 units) of your visa status. Remember to also confirm with your home university advisor that the UC San Diego courses you select meet your home university's program requirements.   
• Some courses may have pre-requisites or enrollment restrictions that require you to apply for authorization to enroll. You will need to request permission to book any course that is upper-division standing or which has prerequisites. Pre-requisite and course restriction information for each course is available in the UC San Diego General Catalog. 
  • Requests for prerequisite clearance or to book upper-division courses must be submitted through the Triton Enrollment Authorization (TEA) system, which will be launched with TSS*.   
  • To submit a request in TEA, you must provide documentation that you have met the requirements/restriction criteria for the course you are interested in. This documentation may include official transcripts, course descriptions, and course syllabi (other documents may be requested by the reviewing department). All documents submitted must be in English. 
• If you want to enroll in a class that is full, you can put yourself on the course’s wait list. Adding yourself to the wait list means you “queue” along with other students to be added to the course if a seat becomes available. Note that being on a wait list is not a guarantee that you will be added to that class. 
  • Your spot in the wait list queue is on a first-come, first-served basis. For example, if you are #3 on the wait list, that means there are two students who joined the wait list before you did and are ahead of you in the queue. This means 3 students currently booked in the course must drop the course before you can add it. 
  • If a seat in the course becomes available, you will receive an email at your UC San Diego email address instructing you to enroll for the course. The seat will only be available for a short time before it is offered to the next student on the wait list. Check your UC San Diego email frequently! 
  • If you have been waitlisted for a class and have not been able to join the class by the “Automatic wait lists officially end” date posted on the Booking and Registration Calendar (see previous section), then the course is full and you will not be able to join it. 
• You MUST meet the full-time enrollment requirement for your visa status by the “Deadline for all students to add or re-book in classes if canceled for non-payment viam TSS” date posted on the Booking and Registration Calendar (see previous section). Failure to enroll in 12 units by this date is a violation of your exchange student visa status and can negatively impact your ability to complete your exchange program. 

How to Book Classes 

• Students book courses through the Triton Student System (TSS)*. TSS is also where students can review the schedule of classes and plan their course schedule, in accord with the dates posted on the Booking and Registration Calendar (see previous section). 
• There are two booking windows, or “passes”, within which you will be able to book courses. Every student receives their own personal booking window, so do not be surprised if your booking times differ from others’. Your specific booking window will be emailed to your UC San Diego email on the date posted on the Booking and Registration Calendar (see previous section).  
  • First Pass: First pass booking is open for a 48-hour window. During first pass, you can enroll in up to 11.5 units. You may not add waitlisted courses during first pass enrollment. Once your first pass window has ended, you cannot make changes to your course schedule until second pass.  
  • Second Pass: During second pass, you can book the remainder of your courses/units. Your second pass window remains open until the " Deadline for all students to add or re-book in classes" as posted on the Booking and Registration Calendar (see previous section). 

Questions about Booking Classes? Contact your College’s Academic Advising Office 

To help personalize the university experience, UC San Diego is organized into 8 Colleges, and every student belongs to a College. Each College has its own academic and community support services, educational philosophy, and distinctive traditions that help to foster a tighter sense of belonging. Each College has an Academic Advising Office, which will be your resource for any questions related to course booking. Read more about the College system here. 

Not sure which College you belong to? Reference your official UC San Diego acceptance notification or check TritonLink. 

Your College’s Academic Advising Office is your point of contact for all booking-related questions. Check out your College's website by following the relevant link below, and search for "Academic Advising" in their menu options. 

• Revelle College 
• Muir College 
• Marshall College 
• Warren College 
• Roosevelt College 
• Sixth College 
• Seventh College 
• Eighth College 

ISEO strongly recommends you wait to invest financially in housing until you have obtained your Form DS-2019 and J-1 visa. 

On-Campus Housing 

On-campus housing at UC San Diego is limited and is not guaranteed. Applying for on-campus housing does not guarantee that you will be offered a space. First-year UC degree students have priority for on-campus housing assignments. As a visiting, non-degree exchange student, you may apply for on-campus housing with no guarantee of assignment, and should be prepared to find your own housing off-campus.

On-campus housing application fees and deposits are non-refundable and will be your responsibility. Before accepting an on-campus housing contract, make sure to read all conditions and agreements carefully. Do not sign a housing contract for more than one option.

Beginning your exchange program in Fall, Winter, or Spring: 

• Exchange students who begin their exchange participation at UC San Diego during the Fall, Winter, or Spring terms may apply to live on-campus at I-House and/or join the Undergraduate Housing Waitlist. 
• QUESTIONS? Contact Undergraduate Housing at ucsdhousing@ucsd.edu. 

Summer Session exchange students: 

• Exchange students who participate in exchange at UC San Diego during only the Summer Session, may apply to live on-campus via the Undergraduate Housing Traditional Summer Program. 
• QUESTIONS? Contact Undergraduate Housing at summerhousing@ucsd.edu. 

Off-Campus Housing 

REQUIRED - iTriton: Online International Student Orientation 

All incoming F-1 and J-1 students must complete ISEO’s mandatory online international student orientation, iTriton. To learn more about iTriton, including how to access it, visit iTriton.ucsd.edu. 

Fall 2026 new students: iTriton must be completed by September 1 or your U.S. arrival, whichever is earlier. 

REQUIRED – SHAPE Training 

SHAPE Training through the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) is an online program that introduces you to our student community and your role in maintaining a welcoming campus environment. You will receive an email to your UCSD inbox once you have been assigned the training. Students who do not complete the training may receive a registration hold on their account. Learn more, including due dates for completion, by visiting the SHAPE Training website.  

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – ISEO's iOrientation Events 

ISEO is excited to meet you! ISEO’s iOrientation will take place in the week(s) leading up to the start of the school year, and is your chance to review the content presented in your iTriton Online Orientation. iOrientation is open to ALL new international students, and it is free of cost. For more information, visit iOrientation.ucsd.edu. 

Ensure that you are up to date with your student account. Review due dates and learn how to pay your bill. 

QUESTIONS? If you have questions regarding payments toward your Student Account, please contact Student Financial Solutions. 

Major U.S. cell phone service providers include Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint. Other student-focused providers include CampusSIMs and StudentSIMs. 

Once you arrive to campus, familiarize yourself with your new home! Visit Maps.ucsd.edu to search for campus locations, classrooms, college and department advising, dining, and more!