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Activate Your IdentiKey
You’ll need your IdentiKey to apply for housing, sign up for New Student & Family Programs, register for classes, and log in to Buff Portal, the student portal for online services and information.
Review Housing Options
The housing application will open in early March. Please visit the housing website for updates.
Transfer Your Credit
Whether you have credit from a college or university, AP, IB, A-Levels or the military, you’ll need to get all final, official documents sent to the Office of Admissions from your prior institution or the testing agency. Transfer credit evaluations are completed using your final, official documents after you have confirmed your intent to enroll. You will need your IdentiKey to access your official transfer credit evaluation in the Buff Portal.
Send Final Official Transcripts & Documents
You should send final official transcripts to the Office of Admissions directly from the issuing institution as soon as they are available, by mail or by email to transcripts@colorado.edu. You must submit official transcripts before registering for classes or receiving financial aid toward your tuition bill.
Learn About New Student & Family Programs
As you navigate your transition to CU Boulder, New Student & Family Programs is here to support you. Learn when and how to complete the Online Experience, our virtual orientation program, to learn more about health and wellness, advising, registering for classes, and more.
Take Note of Your Program Start Date
All F-1/J-1 students MUST arrive no later than the date reflected on the I-20/DS-2019. We will post dates for students arriving for summer and fall 2023 as soon as they are available.
Obtain Your Immigration Document
Most international students attend CU Boulder on an F-1 student visa. To obtain an F-1 visa, you will need a Form I-20 issued by our school. If you are not already in the U.S. on an F-1 visa or will not be attending CU Boulder on an F-1 visa, the university will issue your I-20 soon after you confirm your intent to enroll.
Review Pre-Arrival Information
New Student & Family Programs’ website provides important and helpful information about life in and out of the classroom. Find details about immigration processes, what to expect in the U.S. and in Boulder, how to navigate the academic culture at CU Boulder, and more. You may arrive in the U.S. up to 30 days before the report date on your DS-2019 or I-20. You will need to arrange transportation to the campus and any temporary housing accommodations. The university does not provide transportation to campus.
Connect with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
Now that you have completed the admission process, you will begin to work with our ISSS office. ISSS will provide you with important information about immigration, preparing for arrival, New Student Welcome Programs and much more.
Undergraduate students who are newly confirmed to the University of Colorado Boulder but do not attend must reapply for admission to the university at a later time. This includes students who never enroll for courses; do not request a term change by the deadline; and/or enroll and withdraw before the third Wednesday of classes.
First-Year Applicants
First-year applicants are in high school, or have graduated from high school but have not taken any college courses after graduating or earning a GED.
Transfer Applicants
Transfer applicants have attended another college or university since earning their high school diploma or GED. Transfer applicants are looking to complete a bachelor’s degree at CU Boulder.
International Applicants
Undergraduate international applicants are students who need a visa to be in the U.S. Apply as a domestic student if you have a U.S. passport or green card.
