Information for Incoming Exchange Students

Please note: We may not be currently accepting exchange students from all schools listed above depending on the exchange balance. Please check with your home university coordinator to see if you are eligible to attend Hawaii Pacific University as an exchange student. Students who are not eligible to come as exchange students can still come to HPU through the Visiting Student Program.

Application Requirements
Students must:
- Be formally nominated by their home university
- Have at least 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Meet HPU English Requirements for regular admissions

APPLY TO STUDY ABROAD THROUGH YOUR HOME UNIVERSITY
Once accepted at your home university and formally nominated to study as an incoming student to HPU, you will be sent a link to the Incoming Exchange Student Application. To complete your application, you will need the following documents:

Application Information
There are three main parts to the Incoming Exchange Application:
PART One: Personal and Academic Information
PART TWO: Required Documentation- Please see the checklist below
PART THREE: Application for Admission

Required Documentation CHECKLIST
1. Color Copy of Passport
2. Official Transcript with Coordinator's Stamp and Signature
3. Conferral of Undergraduate Degree with Coordinator's Stamp an Signature (Graduate/Masters Students Only)
4. Original English Test Score with Coordinator's Stamp and Signature 
5. Health Clearance Form and Documentation 
6. Statement of Financial Support and a Bank Statement with the Amount in US Dollars 
7. Course Request Form- The form with instructions will be sent to you once your HPU application has been accepted
8. Proof of International Health Insurance- Please see Health Requirements below for more information

HPU requires proof of English proficiency. We accept scores listed on HPU's English Entry Levels page. Test scores may not be more than two years old by the intended entry term. 

For native speakers of English from the following countries, who list English as their language on their application, proof of English proficiency is not required, but may be requested. 

Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada (not Quebec), Dominica, England, Fiji, Grand Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Irish Republic, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tabago, United Kingdom, United States of America and its territories.

Incoming Exchange students can study at HPU for either one semester or one year.

• One Semester:

  • Fall (August to December)

  • Spring (January to May)

• One Year (August to May)

Application and Nomination Deadlines:

Your Exchange Coordinator will send you the application once you have been nominated

HPU tuition is WAIVED for those students in exchange from one of the academic institutions we have established an exchange agreement with. Non-tuition related fees for students will include:

• $100 Upass Bus pass that will allow you to take the bus anywhere on the island all semester (Without the Upass each ride on the bus is $2.75)

• $50 Student Activity Fee so you can take advantage of the assortment of events and activities organized by HPU throughout the semester

• $150 Passport Week (Orientation) Fee. During Passport Week you will meet other new students and learn all about HPU and living in Hawaii

• $115 Health Services Fee. This allows students unlimited access to on-campus health services for no additional cost for a routine visit. Other services may have an additional cost.
• Books. Students will be required to purchase books for each class, which can cost $200 or more per semester. There are rental options and used books available, and you can find the books you will need for each class here.

Participants are also responsible for the costs of transportation, visa application, room and board, health insurance and personal expenses.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: International students are required to take a minimum number of in person (not online) classes per semester:

• Undergraduate (Bachelors) 12 credits
• Graduate (Masters) 9 credits

CLASSES NOT AVAILABLE TO EXCHANGE STUDENTS:

• 4000 or 7000 level courses - these are capstone courses for HPU students only
• Honors Classes (HON)
• 8 week classes (Section 8A or 8B) - you can avoid seeing these classes by selecting "Full Term" in the course search
• Classes outside of their level - undergraduate (Bachelors) may only take undergraduate courses (1000, 2000, and 3000 level)

Students can take any classes except for what is listed above as long as they have taken classes that match the prerequisites for each course they would like to take. This will be determined by an HPU academic advisor according to the transcripts submitted by the student.

COURSE SEARCH: The exact course schedule for Fall and Spring will be released at the end of March. Students may choose courses from the Pre-Approved Course List 

SYLLABUS SEARCH: For an idea of what classes are generally offered before the course schedule is published, you can access the syllabus search to see what classes have been offered in the past. Here you can get syllabi for previous classes and see what term (fall or spring) a class is generally offered. Please contact your exchange coordinator for a link to the syllabus search.

Incoming Exchange Students are able to use the same resources for housing as all HPU students.

On-Campus Housing: The are two on-campus housing options at the Waterfront Lofts downtown and at the Hawaii Loa campus. You can apply for housing through your HPU student portal. You will receive your my.hpu.edu portal login information once your application has been processed.

Off-Campus Housing: There are various options for off-campus living. Visit our off-campus housing page for more information.

*Please note that Exchange Students do not need to pay enrollment deposits, and it is not necessary for them to pay an enrollment deposit to apply for on-campus housing.

HEALTH INSURANCE

All international students at HPU are required to have health insurance coverage that meets the Minimum Plan Coverage Requirements mandated by US Department of State. There are two options for exchange students to obtain this coverage:

Option 1- Purchasing insurance: Exchange students must purchase health insurance from ISO for the duration of their studies at HPU. Any of the ISO plans will meet the requirements including the basic plan. You will be required to submit a copy of the insurance policy including your name and dates of coverage upon purchase.

Option 2- Insurance provided by your home university: If your university provides health insurance that meets the requirements, you may submit a Health Insurance Provider Certificate Form along with a copy of the insurance policy in English including your name and dates of coverage.

VACCINATIONS & MEDICAL SCREENINGS:

Per State of Hawaii regulations, students studying in Hawaii are required to demonstrate certain medical clearances in order to be enrolled in coursework. These requirements have to be fulfilled prior to beginning classes at HPU.

1. PROOF OF MEASLES, MUMPS, AND RUBELLA (MMR) IMMUNIZATION as well as a Tuberculosis (TB) Test

• All students are required to demonstrate proof that they have received two doses of the MMR immunization (taken at least four weeks apart)  

• All students coming for longer than one semester are required to take a TB test after their arrival in Hawaii. During check-in and orientation, students will be provided with information on how and where to get tested.
  

• Please submit Form D (Immunization Verification MMR and TB) 

2. students will also need to provide proof of immunization for the following:

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (TDap)
• Varicella (VZV)
• Meningococcal (MCV) - only for students who will live on campus
• Please submit Form E (Immunization Verification TDap, Meningococcal, and Varicella) 

For more information and details on the two required forms (Form D and Form E), please visit State of Hawaii Health Clearance Requirements.

Visas

Exchange Students will enter the United States on a J-1 visa status. In order to receive their J-1 visa, they will be issued an acceptance letter and a DS20-19 Certificate of Eligibility once they have successfully applied and been accepted to the Exchange Program.

United States visa requirements vary depending upon the country of origin. Please consult with your local US Embassy or Consulate.

Please see the U.S. Department of State's Information on J-1 visas for more detailed information.

Length Of Stay

J-1 Students may enter the United States no more than 30 days before classes begin and may stay no more than 30 days after the end of the term. Please see the Academic Calendar for the exact dates of the term.

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