Visa Information
(Exchange Students Only)
International students accepted for exchange at MICA are required to obtain a J-1 visa. To begin this process, students first submit financial documents and other personal documentation to the Office of International Education in order to obtain a Form DS-2019 — a required part of the J-1 visa application process.
Admitted exchange students will receive detailed information about the J-1 visa application process along with their acceptance letter and DS-2019.
After gathering the materials required for a J-1 visa interview, students can schedule an appointment for the interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate nearest their home. Students should consult with the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate that they plan to visit to ensure that they have all of the materials required for the J-1 visa interview (note that the items required may vary among locations).
While in the U.S., international exchange students are subject to all J-1 regulations.
Tuition and Fees - Refer to Your Home School Tuition Cost
The cost of MICA's tuition is waived in accordance with MICA's exchange agreements with our partner institutions. As with all MICA undergraduate students, there are certain fees that exchange students will be responsible for pertaining to the use and access of MICA's campus and related facilities. These fees are as follows:
Student Life Fee - $625/Semester
The Student Life fee supports a wide variety of resources and programs that support student wellness and strengthen the co-curricular experience. This fee allows most campus events to be free for students, and the remainder
Technology Fee - $370
This fee covers the use and access of campus-related technology for the pursuit of academic success at MICA.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) - Variable, Dependent on Term
MICA health insurance is now required for all exchange students. Exchange students will be automatically enrolled and billed directly for this cost. The costs are as follows:
- Academic year: $2300
- Fall semester: $1000
- Spring Semester: $1300
The MICA Student Health Insurance Plan and associated health coverage, provided by Aetna Insurance, can be found here. It is highly recommended that you review the coverages and direct all questions to Aetna by calling 1-877-480-4161.
Housing - Single: $6590/Term; Double: $5930/Term
All exchange students are required to live on MICA's campus during the fall and spring semesters. MICA operates on-campus student housing facilities for upper-class students, Meyerhoff House and the Gateway. Campus residences are designed apartment-style with private or double-occupancy bedrooms and a shared kitchen, bathroom, and furnished
Students admitted for exchange will receive detailed information about housing options, including a housing application.
MICA Student Meal Plan - Variable
Sample Exchange Student Invoice
Estimated Expenses
Students should budget for all expenses they may incur during their study at MICA, including room, meals, health insurance and healthcare, local travel, art supplies, personal expenses, etc. The estimated total cost of one semester in Baltimore is
Travel Plans and Arrival
Below are tips that may be useful in planning travel. More detailed information about MICA's orientation programs and arrival in Baltimore will be sent to admitted exchange students in the mail with the DS-2019.
Flights to Baltimore
We strongly recommend that students fly into Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI). (Note that Reagan National and Dulles Airports are quite far from MICA.) Information about travel options from BWI Airport to MICA will be sent by mail with the DS-2019.
Scheduling Flights – Arrival
In the exchange acceptance letter, the Office of International Education will specify the date that we expect students to arrive at MICA. Usually, this will be the first day of International Student Orientation.
Students who will live on campus will not be able to move into campus housing until it officially opens. We will notify students of this date in the acceptance letter; it is typically the day before International Student Orientation begins.
In planning travel, also note that J-1 visa regulations require that international students arrive no more than 30 days before their academic program begins.
Scheduling Flights – Departure
Students on an F-1 visa are permitted to remain in the U.S. until thirty days after the end date on their DS-2019. This is called the J-1 "grace period." In planning travel home, consider that students are able to remain within the U.S. and travel during these thirty days, but after leaving the U.S. during this period it is not possible to re-enter in J-1 status.
Location, Areas of Interest and Travel Opportunities
Students who wish to travel to Canada or Mexico, for example, are advised to do this during a vacation period during the regular semester while their DS-2019 is still valid for re-entry, or else plan to travel outside of the U.S. after the semester ends so that they can fly directly home afterwards.
Baltimore is a historic U.S. city that blends tradition with a contemporary style all its own. It is located in the middle of the eastern seaboard, allowing convenient access to major east coast cities by train, bus and car. The Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Airport offers daily national and international flights. Students at MICA can easily visit Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; and New York City — and their world class museums and galleries — for a day on their own or on one of the frequent bus trips that MICA organizes. Students may plan longer trips during school vacations.