Visiting International Students Programs

Barnard has agreements with the Institut d'Etudes Politiques ("Sciences Po") in France, The University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and University of New South Wales ("UNSW") in Australia which allow international students to study at Barnard for an entire academic year.

If you are a student currently enrolled in one of these institutions and are interested in studying at Barnard for a full year, please contact the study abroad/away office at your home institution.

Preparing for your semester at Barnard

Once you are accepted to VISP, you will receive an email from International Student Services with information on the visa application process.

You will also receive your acceptance packet from Admissions, which includes required forms and information on:

• housing
• meal plans
• medical forms and insurance
• setting up your Barnard email account
• what to bring
• arrival information

and much more.

Choosing courses for your VISP semester

You will not register for courses until you arrive on campus in January. Courses which VISP students are eligible to take while at Barnard include:

• Courses designated BC, UN, C, R, V, and W
• Courses numbered from 1000 through 4999
• VISP students are not eligible to take classes in Journalism, Law, Engineering (except for "The Art of Engineering")
• Students may not register for more than two Business courses

Please note that you are welcome to search for courses but you should plan to work closely with your academic advisor during Orientation to put together an appropriate program. The Columbia online catalog includes courses from Columbia, Barnard, and even some graduate schools. Remember, undergraduate students may not enroll in graduate school courses.

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions for even more helpful information as you prepare for your semester at Barnard.

VISP-Specific Resources

When they first arrive on campus, VISP students will participate in a special track of Barnard’s New Student Orientation Program that will integrate them into campus life, introduce them to other new students at Barnard and also address concerns and questions specific to VISP. The VISP Extended Orientation Program follows Barnard’s general New Student Orientation Program, adding additional sessions throughout the spring semester to help VISP students adjust to life at Barnard. These events include:

Welcome meeting specifically for VISP students

Individual Advising Appointments with a faculty member or academic dean

Sessions on American Culture, Culture Shock, American Slang and Colloquial English 

Sessions on Public Speaking, Writing Papers, Study Skills

Barnard Reach Out (BRO)— VISP students will be eligible to participate in a variety of community service projects on the final day of NSOP. This is a great way to start becoming familiar with various neighborhoods in New York City, to get to know other visiting students, and to meet other Barnard students and faculty/staff. The program is modeled on Barnard’s well-known programs for first-year and transfer students during fall Orientation.

Prior to coming to Barnard, VISP students will be matched with a Visiting International Student Ambassador (VISA), a current Barnard student interested in introducing VISP students to the Barnard campus, to the University, and to New York. Ambassadors will be matched for the entire semester, and are available to the incoming students before the semester begins, to answer questions and give advice.

All VISP students will also be assigned a full-time faculty member to assist them in choosing and signing up for courses when they arrive.

All VISP students are eligible to take an American Language Course through Columbia’s American Language Program. Placement will be determined upon arrival; depending on TOEFL/IELTS scores, some students may be required to take a course through ALP.

Throughout the semester, VISP students will have the option of participating in:

• Monthly food and cultural festivals sponsored by VISP students from different countries, in collaboration with various Barnard offices and student cultural groups
• Sporting/Cultural Events on and off-campus
• And much more!

General Campus Resources

VISP students have access to the same services and support as all Barnard students, including but not limited to:

• Academic support is available to all VISP students via Access Barnard
• Student Computing Services
• Honor Code
• Disability Services
• Primary Care Health Services
• Counseling Services
• Alcohol and Substance Awareness Program (ASAP)
• The Wellness Spot
• Student Life
• New Student Orientation Program

The I-20/DS-2019 document will enable you to secure your F-1 or J-1 visa for study at Barnard.  The Application for I-20/DS-2019 is a fillable form. Please see our detailed instructions on how  to qualify for an I-20/DS-2019.

A complete application must include:

• Your I-20 Request Form
• Copy of your passport photo page
• Financial documentation
• Sponsor's Affidavit of Support Form (if applicable)
• F-1 Transfer Verification Form (if applicable)

You must email your completed applications as one file in PDF format to: IISP@sys-filter.com.

Once your I-20 request has been approved, we will mail the I-20 to you via express mail. You will then need to make an appointment with your nearest American embassy or consulate to apply for your F-1 student visa.

Once you've read the instructions carefully, you may discover that you need to submit the forms below in addition to the I-20 request form posted above.  The forms below are not fillable online, so you will need to download them, fill them out, and submit them via email with your application.

F1 Transfer Certification:  Please submit this form ONLY IF you attended another U.S. secondary school or U.S. college/university within the last six months.

Dependent Information:  Please submit this form ONLY IF you plan to bring a spouse and/or children with you.

Sponsor’s Affidavit of Free Room and Board in the New York City Metropolitan Area:  Please submit this form ONLY IF you will be sponsored for free room and board.

Sponsor’s Affidavit of Support Form:  Please submit this form ONLY IF you have a sponsor (parent or relative) supporting you financially. Each sponsor must complete a separate Affidavit of Support Form.

Questions about these forms may be directed to Office of International & Intercultural Student Programs via email at iisp@sys-filter.com or by phone at 212-854-1777.  Remember, your application should be submitted as one file in PDF format

Click here for a list of frequently asked questions about VISP.