International Student and Scholar Services

Incoming Students

Predeparture Information

Congratulations on your acceptance to Florida Tech and welcome! Our staff at the Office of International Student and Scholar Services will be serving as your advocates while you are with us, advising you on all immigration matters, and we look forward to helping you through all phases of your academic career. With over 700 international students representing over 100 countries worldwide, you will find Florida Tech a rich and diverse community with a broad variety of cultural programming and activities available to you.

Entering the Country

Students will be admitted to the United States with a valid passport and a valid U.S. entry visa stamped in the passport by the U.S. Consulate, on the basis of a valid I-20 or DS-2019 and proof of sufficient funds.

Back to Top

What to Do Once You Arive On Campus

Students living on campus will not be allowed to check-in to residence halls until the arrival date listed on your I-20. If you have made arrangements to live off campus, in an apartment or with a friend, you may arrive earlier, but there WILL NOT be a university representative available to meet you. For emergencies, call Florida Tech Security at (321) 674-8111. The Security Staff will try to assist you.

There will be MANDATORY ORIENTATION for international students after you arrive on campus, which will provide very important information you need to know such as academic advising, public transportation, security and safety, adjustment to American life and your responsibilities as an international student. A detailed Orientation Schedule will be provided when you check in. You are expected to arrive on time to participate in the orientation. On the first business day after you arrive at the university, please check-in with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Room 211 in the Keuper Administration Building. Bring your passport, I-20 or DS-2019, your I-94 card, as well as any additional immigration documents you may have. Failure to check-in with our office may result in the loss of your immigration status, so it is very important that you do so as soon as possible.

  • FLORIDA TECH DIPLOMAT PROGRAM
    As an international student, we invite you to meet one of our Florida Tech Diplomats. This group of volunteers will make your arrival on campus a warm and welcoming experience. The program consists of a variety of undergrads and grads from many countries who are willing to assist you in adjusting to a new culture. They have offered the use of their time and their knowledge of the Florida Tech community to help you during the orientation process.

    Our diplomats are available to e-mail you before you arrive on campus and help you with your arrival. They can answer your questions about travel and their experiences on and off campus as an international student. If you are interested in hearing from a diplomat, please e-mail your name; country of origin; and approximate date, time and port of entry arrival information to Cindy Dubey at cdubey@fit.edu at least one month ahead of your arrival.
  • INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP PROGRAM
    This program will pair you with a Florida Tech “host” who will introduce you to campus life and the community in your first year at the university. Florida Tech hosts are typically faculty and staff who will introduce you to Melbourne, invite you into their homes over the holidays, etc. We hope you will use this opportunity to form a new friendship at Florida Tech.

Back to Top

What to Bring

Florida’s climate is warm and humid. The average temperature in January ranges from 35º Fahrenheit (1.67C) to 80º Fahrenheit (26.7C), and the average temperature in July ranges from 70º Fahrenheit (21.1C) to 95º Fahrenheit (35C). It will sometimes get colder in the winter and much hotter in the summer. A medium-weight overcoat should keep you very warm in the winter, except on very cold days when you might also need a sweater. Plan to bring gloves, a raincoat and an umbrella because the average rainfall in Melbourne is 40 inches (1,016 mm) per year. Class dress is informal.

If you need to ship items to Florida Tech, please use the following address:

Florida Institute of Technology
Shipping and Receiving, Building 540
Hold for (enter your name and student number)
150 W. University Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32901-6975

If you take prescription medicine or wear glasses, bring a copy of your prescription along with you. Also bring copies of any medical records that are important, especially IMMUNIZATION records. All students are required to show proof of adequate immunization against childhood diseases of measles, mumps and rubella. If you do not have proof of adequate immunization against these diseases, you will be required to obtain the immunization here before you are permitted to register for classes. If you are married and joined by your family, also bring their immunization records.

Back to Top

Health Insurance

As there is no socialized or national system of health care in the United States and medical treatment is expensive, ALL international students are required to maintain full health insurance coverage throughout their course of study. Student health insurance is automatically billed to your student account each semester as a part of your tuition and fees, which means, you WILL be covered through Florida Tech’s student health insurance plan. Details of the plan may be downloaded from: http://auxservices.fit.edu/forms/files/FA-219StuMed.pdf

Some international students are officially sponsored by their home government or an agency which guarantees their health insurance fees as part of their contract with Florida Tech. Students in this category may be eligible to receive a WAIVER of the Florida Tech health insurance fee. Please visit the following Web site for further details about obtaining a health insurance waiver: http://www.fit.edu/isss/healthinsurance.php

Back to Top

Getting to Melbourne, Florida

Florida Tech does not provide transportation from the airports to the university.

Routing your flight to Melbourne International Airport is desired. Florida Tech is 10 minutes from the airport by car, and taxi cabs are available at the airport. If you arrive at Miami International Airport, you will be approximately three hours south of Melbourne by car. Transportation to Melbourne is available via commuter flight, Greyhound bus or rental car. You may also arrange for a friend to pick you up in Miami and drive you to Melbourne.

If you arrive at Orlando International Airport, you will be approximately one-and one-half hours west of Florida Tech by car. Transportation is available via the Cocoa Beach Shuttle to Melbourne—cost is approximately $35 for a one-way trip. You may rent a car or arrange for a friend to pick you up in Orlando and drive you to Melbourne. If you should need to stay overnight in a hotel in Melbourne, we suggest you ask to go to one of the following hotels:

Beachfront/Beachside properties:

  • Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza 1-877-2-CROWNE (321) 777-4100 or (877) 227-6963
  • Radisson Suites (321) 773-9260 or (800) 333-3333
  • Guest House International Inn (321) 779-9994
  • Windemere Inn by the Sea (321) 728-9334 or (800) 224-6853 (B & B)
  • Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront (321) 777-5000 or (800) HILTONS

Close to campus/Melbourne airport:

  • Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place (321) 768-0200 or (800) 445-8667
  • Suburban Lodge (321) 768-9777 or (800) 951-STAY
  • Wisteria Inn (321) 727-0717 or (888) 787-0717 (B & B)
  • Crane Creek Inn Waterfront (321) 768-6416 (B & B)

Close to I-95:

  • Holiday Inn Express (321) 724-2050 or (800) HOLIDAY
  • Hampton Inn (321) 956-6042 or (800) HAMPTON
  • Howard Johnson (321) 768-8439 or (800) 446-4656

Close to the mall/near campus:

  • Courtyard by Marriott (321) 724-6400 or (800) 321-2211

Back to Top

Where will you live in Melbourne

If you have completed a housing contract, your room will be waiting for you, provided you arrive on the mandatory report date indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019. To pick up the key for your room, you should report to the Office of Campus Services, located on the bottom floor of Evans Hall.

If you choose to live off-campus, there are several apartment complexes within walking distance of Florida Tech. In addition to the cost of monthly rent, you will need to plan to pay deposits for security (usually the same as one month’s rent), approximately $240 for electric service, $80 for a telephone deposit and $120 for water service. We suggest the following Web sites to help locate an apartment prior to your arrival: www.rent.com and www.apartmentguide.com.

Back to Top

We hope this information is helpful as you prepare to depart from your home country.