Coming to OU
To learn more about the process for newly admitted students, follow the links below. For answers to frequently asked questions, click here.
The NISO Experience (which stands for New International Student Orientation) includes a pre-arrival internet orientation, airport transport, required meeting with ISS, and an in-person orientation. NISO is designed to welcome new international students to OU and help them start their academic program successfully.
To learn more about each part of NISO, please see the information below.
Mandatory Internet Orientation
Prior to leaving your home country, you should complete the Mandatory Internet Orientation or MIO. Many of your questions will be answered in MIO. MIO is organized as chapters, with each chapter containing a review that you must complete in order to advance to the next chapter. OU is required by law to provide you with the information covered in MIO. There is a mandatory quiz at the end of MIO that each student must pass, but do not worry! The quiz will not be hard. It is simply our way of making sure every student understands this important information. Students should complete MIO before departing for OU.
To access MIO:
- Go to canvas.ou.edu
- Click "Login to OU Canvas"
- Sign in using your OU email and password
- Click "Dashboard"
- Click "Mandatory Internet Orientation (MIO)" to begin reviewing the content
- You must score 100% on the final quiz.
You will not be able to access MIO until you are enrolled in the course. MIO enrollment will automatically occur about a month before you will begin classes at the University of Oklahoma. You will receive an email when you have access to MIO.
Airport Transport
Transportation is available for all new international students from the Oklahoma City Will Rogers Airport to Norman, OK one week before classes begin through the David L. Boren College of International Studies. At Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City, you will be welcomed by staff and students at our OU table located in the baggage claim area. These OU greeters will wait with you for the shuttle and ride with you to Norman. They will be happy to answer any questions you might have. We look forward to welcoming you to Oklahoma!
Registration will be available in the MIO course. If you have questions, please email niso@ou.edu.
International Student Services (ISS) Arrival
US federal immigration regulations require all international students to submit certain documents to the International Student Services after arrival in the United States.
Once you arrive in the United States, please submit the ISS Arrival Confirmation / SEVIS activation form. You must submit this form to validate your student immigration status. Please have the following ready when you submit the form:
- I-20 or DS-2019 with your signature
- Passport
- Visa
- Entry stamp in passport
- Local address (Oklahoma address)
Do not submit the form until after you have arrived in the United States. After you submit the form, you will receive a confirmation email with detailed information and links about your next steps on campus.
Tulsa Campus Students
Make sure to attend the new student orientation with Student Affairs. For dates and times visit www.ou.edu/tulsastudentaffairs
OU MBA Students
If you will attend the OU Graduate School of Business in Oklahoma City. The address is 865 Research Parkway, Third Floor, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. OU MBA students should contact oklahomamba@ou.edu for more information.
NISO Connection
NISO Connection (formerly named Crimson Connection) is a required in-person orientation designed to help you succeed in your transition to life at the University of Oklahoma. The orientation will be filled with fun activities that will teach you more about the history of Oklahoma and help you get to know OU. At NISO Connection you will be put in a small group with other new international students. Each small group will be led by two current OU students, your Peer Mentors, who will be eager to help answer your questions. They are also dedicated to spending time with you and helping you get involved on campus throughout your first semester. You will also meet people from different offices across campus that will share helpful information including important campus resources, strategies for coping with culture shock, and guidelines for succeeding in the classroom.
Registration will be available in MIO. If you have questions, please email niso@ou.edu.
