International Student and Scholar Services

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) proudly serves as the liaison between international students and scholars, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Our office assists with the requirements to maintain F-1 or J-1 visa status monitored by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State.

ISSS coordinates international activities, administers all matters involving immigration for international students and exchange visitors, and provides advisement services to the university’s international population.

International Student and Scholar Services
106 Centennial Hall
Rolla, MO  65409-0160 USA
573-341-4208

International Sponsored Student Program

ISSS provides a full range of services for sponsored international students. Sponsored students receive financial support from an outside organization, such as a corporation, nonprofit organization, or foreign government. Students receiving funds from family members, friends, or through education loans are not considered to be Sponsored. Students receiving financial support through academic departments are also not considered sponsored students. These sponsoring agencies are the primary source of funding for the student’s educational expenses. A third-party billing agreement is established between Missouri S&T and the sponsoring agency. Sponsors provide their students with a financial guarantee letter that specifies the educational costs that are covered by their scholarship.

International students sponsored by international agencies receive special services and are assessed a sponsored student fee for each semester.

Details on the current sponsored student program can be found on the following website: https://international.mst.edu/sponsored-student-services/.

International Student and Scholar Services
Sponsored Student Services
106 Centennial Hall
Rolla, Missouri 65409-0160 USA
573-341-4208
iasss@mst.edu

Exchange Visitor Program

ISSS administers Missouri S&T's exchange visitor program for all U.S. Department of State (DOS) certified visitor categories in accordance with DOS regulations and processes. Missouri S&T is currently certified to host exchange visitors in the following categories:

  • Professor
  • Research scholar
  • Short-term scholar
  • Student intern
  • Non-degree seeking student
  • Degree-seeking student

ISSS works closely with faculty members, enrollment management, graduate studies, and other campus entities on eligibility requirements and qualifications of prospective exchange visitors and on completion of applicant documents. ISSS provides orientation programming to all categories of exchange visitors. ISSS staff coordinate with the exchange visitor faculty advisory committee and faculty exchange visitor hosts to provide DOS-mandated cultural programming and opportunities.

All exchange visitors must purchase mandatory health insurance:
https://studenthealth.mst.edu/internationalstudentinformation/

For additional information regarding the exchange visitor program please visit the following website: https://international.mst.edu/visiting-scholar-services/.

Office of International Student and Scholar Services
Exchange Visitor Program
106 Centennial Hall
Rolla, MO 65409-0160 USA
573-341-4208
ia@mst.edu

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a pre-completion, off-campus employment authorization available to students in good F-1 status. CPT is defined by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as employment which is to be alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. This work experience must be an "integral part of an established curriculum" and the student must receive credit for the CPT. Students must receive authorization on their I-20 before beginning practical training.

Detailed information about CPT and the form to request CPT is available online at https://international.mst.edu/international-student-services/employment-opportunities/.

GTA Workshop

The GTA Workshop provides cultural orientation for prospective graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) at Missouri S&T.  All graduate students scheduled to hold a graduate teaching assistantship must successfully complete the GTA workshop before teaching in order to meet the standards established by the campus and Board of Curators in compliance with Missouri Revised Statues, Chapter 170.012.

Graduate students who did not receive both their primary and secondary education in a nation or territory in which English is the primary language shall not be given a teaching appointment during their first semester of enrollment at Missouri S&T.