Arriving Students

After arriving in Wichita, you may open a bank account. We have popular banks nearby - University Credit union at the Rhatigan Student Center, Meritrust Credit Union at Braeburn Square on campus, and Bank of America has a branch next to our campus.

In order to open an account, you will need to show the bank your passport, your I-20, and proof of your address in Wichita (such as your housing contract or apartment rental contract). You will receive an ATM or debit card after opening an account so you can get cash quickly and easily.

A list of local banks with their requirements to open an account can be found here.

Tuition and fees payments are charged on a semester-by-semester basis. Deadline for payment is usually two weeks after school starts. There are several options to make payment to the university:

Direct Deposit from U.S. Bank Account: You can setup direct deposit from your U.S. bank account to your student account at WSU.

Cash, Check, Bank Draft, Money Order, or Traveler's Checks: If you bring a check or bank draft with you to Wichita, it is very important that the check be made payable to “Wichita State University”. Your check should include the address of the bank in the U.S. for collections. If your check is for an amount that exceeds what you owe, any extra amount will be applied to your next semester’s tuition and will not be refunded to you.

Credit Card: If you use a credit card to pay for your tuition, fees, medical insurance, or housing, a nonrefundable 2.85% service fee will be added.

Debit Card - VISA, MasterCard: Payment is made online only by going to the Student Account Suite. To avoid the 2.85% fee (min $3) associated with credit card payments, we encourage you to pay using electronic check process by entering the bank routing and account number attached to the debit card. Debit card payments cannot be made to a cashier in the Accounts Receivable office.

Installment Payment Plan: This allows you to pay for your tuition and fees in smaller installments each semester. With this plan, you can make a nonrefundable payment of US$130 (which includes a US$30 administrative fee) before the payment deadline in each semester. After the initial payment of US$130, the balance will be split into three equal installments due on the 15th of each month. You can arrange the Payment Plan by logging into your WSU student account.

International Payments Through Flywire:  WSU accepts international payments through Flywire. This allows payers to make payments in local currency or in US dollars by credit card, bank transfer (wire transfer), and other payment options from over 100 countries. You can find here a guide on how to use Flywire.

Wichita State University requires international students to have medical insurance. You will be automatically charged for medical insurance unless you can provide proof of medical insurance coverage from another provider that meets U.S. Affordable Care Act benefit requirements. For detailed information regarding student medical insurance visit this webpage.

When you don’t feel well or become sick and need to see a doctor, make an appointment with WSU Student Health Services by calling 316-978-4792. Examples of non-emergency care include: colds, flu, sore throat, aches, pains, inoculations (vaccinations), check-ups, and sprained ankles. Always go to WSU Student Health Services for non-emergency issues first. For more information on services provided visit the following website. wichita.edu/shs

When you need IMMEDIATE, URGENT care, go to a hospital emergency room! Call 911 in extreme emergencies, or have a friend drive you to the nearest emergency room. Examples of emergency care include: heart attack, severe bleeding, poisoning, allergic reaction, broken bones. Emergency care is extremely expensive in the United States. You will need your health insurance card.

Being in a new country can be exciting but it can also be scary! Every new student goes through this process and sometimes it can be very difficult. It is important to keep in mind that you will go through different stages as you try to adjust.

Here are the four phases that everyone goes through:

• Honeymoon Period

• Frustration Period 

• Adjustment Period

• Acceptance/Integration Period

If you are having trouble as you go through this process, the International Student Advisors at International Education are always available to help you with if you have a specific concern or if you simply just need to talk to someone. Wichita State University’s Counseling and Testing Center is also available for these kinds of issues. Asking for counseling is considered normal in the U.S. and everything is 100% confidential! Visit their website:wichita.edu/caps

Wichita has four seasons per year, and each season has a different type of weather. The four seasons are fall, winter, spring, and summer. Weather in Wichita can change very quickly and unexpectedly. Be prepared by downloading the ShockerAlert app.

People in the path of danger are urged to prepare and immediately seek shelter for protection if the storm is seen approaching them. The tornado sirens will go off to alert everyone of the threat.

The only way for F-1 students to get a Social Security Number (SSN) is to have a job. If you have found a job, the hiring department should provide you with a written offer of employment. From there you should:

1) Bring the written job offer and a copy of your I-94 to International Education.

2) Within 3 days, International Education will prepare an Employment Eligibility Verification. This letter confirms you are enrolled at Wichita State University and are eligible to work on campus.

After picking up the verification letter, you should take the following documents to the Social Security Administration:

• Completed Social Security Application form which can be obtained at an SSA office or online: www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/

• Employment offer from campus department

• Employment Eligibility Verification letter prepared by International Education

• Valid passport and I-94

• Most recent Form I-20

• You must maintain a valid passport at all times. It is your responsibility to renew your passport at least six months before it expires.

• You are required to report any change of address or legal change of name directly to the International Education office within 10 days. 

• You must complete an official SEVIS transfer procedure if you decide to transfer to another institution. 

• If you will not be completing your program of study by the program end date listed on your I-20, you must follow the procedures to obtain an I-20 extension from International Education BEFORE the I-20 expiration date. 

• You are NOT allowed to work off-campus in the United States without authorization. F-1 students are allowed to work on campus up to 20 hours per week when school is in session and up to 40 hours during semester breaks. F-1 students may only work at the school that currently maintains their SEVIS record.

• You must notify International Education prior to traveling outside the U.S. so that the Form I-20 can be endorsed for travel or new form can be issued, if necessary. A properly endorsed I-20 is required for entry into the U.S. 

• You must notify International Education of any changes affecting your F-2 dependents. (for example, if your dependent leaves the U.S. permanently or changes his/her immigration status).

Wichita State University's Child Development Center offers the highest quality childcare and early development services to the WSU community at an affordable cost.

Children of WSU students, faculty, staff and alumni aged 6 weeks to 6 years old are eligible for enrollment based on availability.

The Child Care Assistance Program provides student parents at Wichita State University with a discount as long as a parent is enrolled in 6 credit hours or more. A student can receive an additional discount that is directly correlated to the student's financial aid eligibility and the student has an EFC number (estimated family contribution) of 0. Faculty, staff, alumni and community pay the regular rate. Here you can find information about the rates.

If the student lives in the city of Wichita, their school district is Wichita's School District (USD 259). Children older than 6 years old, go the elementary, middle or high school. Some elementary schools offer education for children 3 years or older called pre-kindergarten or kindergarten. Information about enrollment can be found here.

There are Magnet Schools which are free public elementary and secondary schools of choice that are operated within the Wichita Public Schools. Magnet schools are based on the premise that all students do not learn in the same ways, so if there is a unifying theme or a different organizational structure for students of similar interest, those students will learn more in all areas. You can find more information about Magnet schools here.

Students need to contact their graduate advisor early to learn what classes they need to take and can search the schedule of courses before the registration begins and write down the course number (CRN) of each course so enrolling is faster and they do not miss out on any classes that they are interested in.

Eligible students can enroll as soon as the registration begins so that they can reserve a spot in the class. If a class is full some classes offer a waitlist option. Being on a waitlist does not guarantee that you will get into the class. If any open seats are available in a class which you are waitlisted a notification will be sent to the mail to register for that class.

If a student changes his mind classes can be dropped during the add/drop period. After the 100% refund period has ended, all drop and add transactions must be submitted at the same time in the registration system to avoid financial penalty.

If the course you wish to enroll in has already started and it is past the last day to add a class, you will need to email the instructor of the class you wish to add and cc  registration@wichita.edu on the email requesting permission to late add the class.

See the semester calendar for important dates related to adding, changing and dropping classes.