Admitted International Students
Congratulations and welcome to the Belmont family! We are so excited you are here. This page has everything you need to know to prepare for your arrival in Nashville.
Questions at any point? Reach out to Dr. Elizabeth Dean, Assistant Director of International Student and Scholar Services, at elizabeth.dean@belmont.edu or 615.460.5289.
Before You Arrive
There is a lot to do before you board your flight, and we want to make sure you feel prepared and excited, not overwhelmed. Here are your key steps:
- Review your I-20 carefully and make sure all information is correct. If anything looks wrong, contact our office immediately. Sign your I-20 and keep the original in your carry-on bag along with your passport, visa, admission letter, and evidence of financial support. Never pack these in checked luggage.
- Complete your visa application as soon as possible. You will need your SEVIS ID (found on your I-20) to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee and complete Form DS-160. Visit travel.state.gov for the full F-1 visa application process.
- Submit your immunization records through the myBelmont Health Portal before June 1 (fall) or December 1 (spring). This is required for all students.
- Apply for on-campus housing as soon as you receive your enrollment confirmation: housing is not guaranteed and fills quickly.
- Set up your US phone and bank account before you travel.
- We recommend CampusSIMS for an eSIM you can activate on your travel date, and
- Download the Campus Community app to start connecting with your new community before you even land.
Getting to Nashville
Fly into Nashville International Airport (BNA), approximately 20–25 minutes from campus by rideshare. Download Uber and Lyft before you leave home and set up payment in advance. Ground transportation to campus is self-arranged: the ISSS office does not provide airport pickup.
You may enter the United States up to 30 days before your program start date. You are also welcome to travel within the US before your start date, and you can drive from another airport if you prefer. Please let us know your travel plans so we can be available to help if anything comes up!
International Student Orientation
International Student Orientation is mandatory for all new F-1 and J-1 students: undergraduate, graduate, and professional alike. This is your week to settle in, meet your community, and get everything you need to start your Belmont experience with confidence.
Do not book travel until you have received confirmation of your specific arrival date from the ISSS office. An early move-in date will be arranged for all new international students to allow time to adjust before orientation begins.
Orientation week includes a formal welcome from university leadership, a campus tour and scavenger hunt, sessions on immigration essentials, healthcare, academic culture, and campus safety, a US American Culture Workshop, and the International Student Luncheon - plus plenty of time to make friends and explore Nashville.
Campus Life
Belmont is more than a university: it is a community. From your first day on campus, there are people and programs designed to help you connect, belong, and thrive.
We strongly recommend living on campus for your first year (and for freshmen, it is required). Apply early! Being on campus means you are constantly connected to the friends, faculty, and events that will shape your experience here. Belmont offers a range of on-campus housing options through Residence Life.
At Belmont, we encourage our students to Show Up, Link Up, and Step Up. With over a thousand events on campus, there is always something happening. More than 275 registered student organizations give you endless ways to find your people, from Active Minds and the Black Student Association to Habitat for Humanity and the Board Game Society. And if you do not see a group that fits, you can start one!
Our intercultural student community, Global Bruins, is open to both international and domestic students. It is one of the best ways to make friends across cultures and explore Nashville together.
Belmont is a Christian university, and faith is woven naturally into the rhythm of campus life, not as a requirement, but as an open invitation. Chapel services, small groups, and faith-based student organizations are part of what makes this community feel close-knit and caring. Students of all faith backgrounds and traditions are genuinely welcomed here. University Ministries is available to connect you with chapel services, local churches, and personal support.
Belmont is a private campus with a dedicated Campus Security team available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Officers are trained to the same standards as city police and are here to keep our community safe, including walking students to their destination if they feel uncomfortable after dark. Campus Security can be reached at 615-460-6617. In any true emergency, always call 911.
Your ISSS Team
The International Student and Scholar Services office is your home base for everything: immigration advising, orientation, culture shock, campus resources, and anything else that comes up. We are here for you from the moment you are admitted to the moment you graduate.
Dr. Elizabeth Dean
Email: elizabeth.dean@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center, Room 605
Lisa Donahoo
Email: lisa.donahoo@belmont.ed
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center, Room 606
Global Ambassadors 26-27
- Natalia P.
- Victoria S.
- Gray K.
- Mariah D.
Contact Us
We're here to make your transition to Belmont as seamless as possible! If you have questions, feel free to contact us!
Email: orientation@belmont.edu
Phone: (615) 460-8529