Pre-Arrival Guide - Other Considerations
Payment of Tuition, Fees and Other Charges
The University bills students for tuition, fees, room and other charges. A payment plan option “Time Option Payment Plan” (TOPP) is available through the Bursar's office. Billing and payment information is available to their website: http://ws.cc.sunysb.edu/bursar/
Financial Aid Information
Financial assistance for international students is limited. Most financial aid from New York State or the federal government is not available to non-immigrant students. Very few scholarships or fellowships are available to international students other than those awarded through graduate programs. No long-term loans are available through the University. Because immigration regulations place restrictions on work in the US , students should not plan to finance their education through work in the US .
As a non-immigrant student, you were issued a SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019 on the basis of financial affidavits and proof of financial ability to cover the costs of your proposed program of study. If there is an adverse change in your financial circumstances, do not come to the University with inadequate financial support. Please contact International Services for advice regarding your individual circumstance.
Graduate Assistantships
Academic departments make decisions about graduate teaching and research assistantships, fellowships, and tuition scholarships based on the funds budgeted to the department by the University and on funds available through faculty research grants. These awards are merit-based, and as such are not provided to every student.
Proficiency in spoken English is required for those who are offered teaching assistantships. Please see the enclosed information regarding SPEAK test requirements if you have been awarded a teaching assistant position.
Graduate students accepted without verification of a financial award should assume that they are not recipients of university financial assistance.
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The University requires that all students have adequate medical hospitalization, and medical evaluation and repatriation insurance. All international students are required to purchase the mandatory International Student and Scholar Health Insurance (ISSHI) policy through the University. The ISSHI policy cost is automatically billed to F-1 and J-1 students as a required fee. Coverage is effective upon you date of arrival in the US , provided the insurance is purchased within the first 30 days of arrival.
Students offered graduate assistantships may be offered some employment-based insurance options. Insurance coverage will be discussed in detail at Graduate orientations.
For more details, visit the Health Insurance site.
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You are encouraged to contact your family as soon as possible after arrival to assure them you have arrived safely in the US .
Students living on campus have access to telephone service. However, students living in the West Apartments will have to purchase their own phone equipment.
E-mail accounts can be arranged through the Computing Center in the Engineering Quad, or through the SINC site in the main library: Frank Melville, Jr., Memorial Library, Room S-1460. The Instructional Computing website is: https://tlt.stonybrook.edu. Undergraduates may also sign up for an account during New and Transfer Undergraduate Student Orientation.
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The Host Family Program is a community hospitality organization for international students. Host families provide new students with friendship, companionship and guidance while they are learning to adjust to a new culture and a new environment. The Host Family Program provides a great opportunity to get to know an American family and to share your culture with them. Host families do not assume any financial responsibility or provide housing for students.
For more details visit this page.
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Stony Brook International Clubs
Stony Brook University has many student clubs and organizations that are prepared to welcome you. The following are only a few of the numerous clubs available to our students. A complete list of these clubs and organizations is available at http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Clubs/
· Caribbean Students Organization
· Chapin Apartments Residents' Association
· Chinese Association at Stony Brook http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/casb
. Chinese Student and Scholars Association
· Graduate Student Organization http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/gso usbgso@ic.sunysb.edu
· Indian Graduate Student Association http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/igsa igsa@ic.sunysb.edu
· International Cultural Exchange (ICE) Buddy icebuddies@gmail.com
· Korean Student Association http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Clubs/ksa ksa@ic.sunysb.edu
· Latin American Student Organization http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Clubs/laso
· Muslim Students Association http://www.stonybrookmsa.com/ msa@ic.sunysb.edu
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