Louisiana State University Information Sheet for International Partner Universities and International Students Institution International Relations Office Office Address Telephone Number, Fax and E-mail Louisiana State University Academic Programs Abroad 103 Hatcher Hall Baton Rouge, LA 70803 225-578-6801 (phone) 225-578-6806 (fax) studyabroad@lsu.edu Website Office Hours Director/Dean/Coordinator Office Incoming Student Mobility Officer (Name, Post and Contacts) Outgoing Student Mobility Officer (Name, Post and Contacts) Housing Service http://international.lsu.edu/apa/ Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Dr. Harald Leder Mrs. Floriane Vice International Coordinator fvice@lsu.edu Mrs. Floriane Vice International Coordinator fvice@lsu.edu LSU Residential Life https://sites01.lsu.edu/wp/reslife/
Application Procedure An undergraduate or graduate study abroad application An official transcript from the home institution (An official English translation is required if transcripts are not in English) A TOEFL score or IELTS score meeting our minimum requirements (Our minimum TOEFL requirements are 550 (paper), 213 (computer) and 79 (internet). Our minimum IELTS requirement is 6.5) An academic reference letter A copy of the passport s identification page Applications can be found on our website: http://international.lsu.edu/apa/international/incoming/ Undergraduate applicants: Student or home university may submit the application by mail or email. The home university must send supporting documents by mail or by email only as long as the email comes from the home university and not from the student. Graduate applicants: Student or home university may submit the application by mail or email. The home university must send supporting documents by mail only, as these documents will not be accepted from the student and they will not be accepted by email. Application Deadlines Our application deadline is March 3 rd for the Fall semester and October 1st for the Spring semester Language requirements A TOEFL score or IELTS score meeting our minimum requirements (Our minimum TOEFL requirements are 550 (paper), 213 (computer) and 79 (internet). Our minimum IELTS requirement is 6.5) Educational language for foreign students Courses are taught in English. There are two English Composition courses offered for International students every semester. Areas of study Agriculture, Art and Design, Business, Coast and Environment, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Mass Communication, Music and Dramatic Arts, Science Students must meet the university s prerequisite
Courses requirements Course Offerings: http://appl003.lsu.edu/booklet2.nsf/mainframeset Academic Year/Term Dates 2014-2015: Fall semester: classes begin August 25, 2014 end December 13, 2014 Spring Semester: classes begin January 14, 2015 end May 9, 2015 International student orientations: Fall: August 14-15, 2014 Spring: January 7, 2015 Credit and Grading System Letter grades, US credit system Transcript Availability Course Registration Scholarships or Financial Support to Exchange Students Students are responsible for requesting their transcript to be sent to their home university after the semester is complete. For more information see: http://sites01.lsu.edu/wp/registraroffice/studentservices/transcript-request/ Online. Information will be sent directly to the student None
Medical Coverage/Insurance International students are automatically charged each semester for the Basic Plan of LSU s health insurance upon their arrival on campus unless they receive a waiver by providing proof of alternate acceptable insurance coverage to the International Student Office (ISO) prior to the semester's deadline. The price of LSU s health insurance is $640 per semester as of August of 2013. Airport pick-up service LSU International Cultural Center (ICC) will arrange a pick up from the Baton Rouge airport for first time arriving students. Students should inform Academic Programs Abroad (exchanges@lsu.edu) of when and where they will be arriving. Welcome Services International students will have two main orientations to attend. The first is an International Student Orientation hosted by International Services. At this orientation, they will receive important information regarding their immigration status and campus services. It is held approximately 10 days before classes begin. The next day, students will attend an orientation for International exchange students only hosted by the office of Academic Programs Abroad. This orientation will cover important academic information (e.g. course registration, maintaining exchange availability), daily life (e.g. how to open a bank account), as well as health and safety, laws in the U.S., and activities in LSU, Baton Rouge and Louisiana.
Students can choose to live either in dorms on campus, in apartments on campus, or in apartments off campus On campus housing: www.lsu.edu/housing If the student choses to live on campus, they should apply for housing as soon as they receive their acceptance packet from LSU. Accommodation Off campus housing: http://offcampushousing.lsu.edu/ http://www.lsu.edu/icc - click on "Services" to find a roommate. If the student decides to live off-campus, they will be responsible for locating their own housing, since Academic Programs Abroad does not assist with housing searches. They will likely be responsible for providing their own furnishings, although many apartments come furnished, and may also be responsible for electricity, telephone service, and cable service. They should try to find lodging near campus or near a campus bus line to allow them to easily get to class. On campus housing ranges in cost from $2,800-$4,360 per semester. Off campus housing can range from $300-$1,200 per person per month. Costs of Living Meal plans are offered at the two student cafeterias on campus. Meal plans are available for exchange students but not required. LSU Dining Meal Plans are semester-based and designed to offer students convenience, flexibility and affordability. Students can chose from several packages ranging $720-$2,000. An average lunch in a meal plan costs $8. Students use their student identification card, known as the Tiger Card, to access their meal plan. The cost of textbooks can range from $400-$800 per semester. Estimated Personal Expenses: $955 per semester.
Geography LSU is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a city with a population of 230,000. The metropolitan area, known as Greater Baton Rouge, has a population of 802,000 people. New Orleans is about a 1.5 hour drive from campus. Climate Louisiana has very hot and humid summers and mild winters, with temperatures usually as high as 96 F and only dropping down to 30 F. Population About 230,000 in the city and 802,000 including the surrounding areas. Interesting Facts The state of Louisiana was a French settlement over four hundred years ago. When settlers first came to what is now as Baton Rouge they set up a settlement that had a red stick in the town center. Baton Rouge is French for Red Stick. It is home to Southern hospitality and great cajun food. Cajuns are a group of people in Southern Louisiana whose ancestors come from a place called Acadia, Nova Scotia. Their food and culture remain a vital part of South Louisiana. About the University LSU was founded in 1853 and is the largest university in Louisiana with over 26,000 students, 1,500 of which are international students and 150 are exchange students. LSU s beautiful campus is on 2,000 acres of land in south Baton Rouge and partly borders the Mississippi River. In the 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions of U.S. News & World Report s America s Best Colleges, LSU is ranked in the first tier for Best National Universities. LSU s business college, The E. J. Ourso College of Business, was ranked in the Top 50 of the internationally known Top Business Schools in 2009 by Eduniversal. Also in 2009, the LSU Robert S. Reich School of Landscape Architecture was ranked among the top 5 schools in the nation by DesignIntelligence, the leading journal of the design professions. It marks the fifth consecutive year LSU ranks among the top 5.
Societies and Sports facilities LSU is home to the LSU Tigers and sporting events are a vital part of the LSU community. The football stadium, Tiger Stadium, has a capacity of 92,400 people, making it the seventh-largest on-campus stadium in the nation. Aside from the vibrant athletic culture, there are many other ways to get involved on campus. With opportunities ranging from service and leadership programs to intramurals and club sports to Greek councils and Student Government and over 400 student organizations, you can surely find your place, too. This link shows you ways to get involved: http://www.lsu.edu/departments/campuslife/html/about_camp us_life.html Top 3 Things to see and do 1.) Experience an LSU football game if you re here during the fall or a baseball game if you re here during spring. 2.) Take a trip to New Orleans for one of their many festivals or celebrations, especially Mardi Gras if you re here during the spring! It s about a 1.5 hour drive or you can take a bus starting at $5. 3.) Experience local Cajun food and music, both of which can only be found in South Louisiana.