Arrival Information

Travel Arrangements

International Student Orientation

Directions to Salt Lake City

Directions to the University of Utah 

Directions to University of Utah Student Housing

Directions to the A. Ray Olpin Student Union and Learning Abroad

Early Arrival

Airport Assistance

Travel Arrangements

It is strongly recommended that students do NOT make travel plans until they have received their official Acceptance Packet from Learning Abroad. It is also very important that students arrive before the date of the mandatory Learning Abroad and International Student Orientations. Please take this into consideration when making travel arrangements. Dates for the mandatory orientations are included in your Acceptance Packet. 

Before leaving home, you must fill out the questionnaire in your online application to notify the Exchange Team at the University of Utah of the exact date and time of your arrival. When making travel plans, you should allow enough time for both air and ground transportation in time to attend the MANDATORY orientations.

At a minimum, you want to arrive at least one day before the International Student Orientation to allow time to check into on-campus housing.

Arrival and Housing Check In

• Plan to arrive in Salt Lake City NO LATER than ONE WEEK BEFORE the start of classes in order to attend the Learning Abroad and ISSS Orientations.
• Students will be checking into their housing before the official move-in date. Students must request this from Housing & Residential Education (HRE) before arrival. Please review the webpage for Move In.
• Please contact Housing & Residential Education to notify them of your arrival and check in time, as well as for any other questions regarding checking in and other accommodations.
• Contact the University Guest House for accommodations if you plan to arrive before early check in.

 

Learning Abroad & International Student Orientation

One week before classes begin, the University of Utah offers orientation programs for all incoming international students. Incoming exchange students will be required to attend two orientations when they arrive at the University of Utah: one for Learning Abroad and one for International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS).

The Learning Abroad Orientation will cover the exchange agreement, J-1 Visa compliance, and billing along with registration concerns specific to Exchange Students. International Student Orientation is an introduction to the University of Utah, the USA higher education system, and the mandatory document check in. In addition, International Student Orientation contains optional information sessions, a resource fair, and a chance to meet an academic advisor. However, some of the sessions will not apply to Exchange Students.

Orientation Dates:

1. REQUIRED: Learning Abroad Exchange Orientation
1. Dates: TBD
2. Time: TBD
3. Building: TBD
2. REQUIRED: International Student Orientation
1. Date: Please visit the ISSS Orientation website here:  https://isss.utah.edu/orientation/index.php
2. Building: A. Ray Olpin Union   
3. Schedule: Learning Abroad will email you the schedule of optional and required events approximately a month before your departure

Learning Abroad and International Student Orientations are MANDATORY for all exchanges students. However, ALL STUDENTS MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE for the International Student Orientation separately. 

Approximately one month before departure students will receive a calendar of events via email from Learning Abroad that will outline both the mandatory and optional events for the week of orientation and the first week of classes.

Students should make their travel plans AFTER they have received information about the date and time of the Learning Abroad Orientation. 

Directions to Salt Lake City

All students should plan to arrive at the Salt Lake City International Airport.

Directions to the University of Utah 

Here is a map of the University of Utah. 

Salt Lake City International Airport has many ground transportation options; however the easiest way to travel from the airport to the University of Utah with heavy luggage is by shuttle or taxi.

Shuttle

You may make a reservation ahead of time with Express shuttle either online or by phone (1-800-397-0773). The Express shuttle costs around $18. When you arrive at the airport, check in at the Express shuttle desk in either Terminal 1 (across from baggage carousel 3), or Terminal 2 (across from baggage carousel 8).

Taxi

Taxi service is also available 24 hours a day. The cost is around $25. You can call a cab at the ground transportation information desk or outside of baggage claim at the taxi kiosk.

Trax or Bus

You may also take public transportation by using the Utah Transit Authority (UTA).

From the airport, you can take the light rail train called Trax which will take you to the University.

1. Board the Green Line (towards West Valley Central) at the airport.
2. At COURTHOUSE STATION transfer to the Red Line (towards the U. Medical Center).
3. Exit at the FORT DOUGLAS station on the Red Line.

The cost for a one-way ticket is around $2.50. Visit www.rideuta.com for route and schedule information. 

Directions to University of Utah Student Housing 

Here is a map of University of Utah housing. 

Once on campus, you may access the University of Utah free shuttle service. Student housing is located at the HERITAGE stop.  

All students should first go to the Peterson Heritage Center (PHC) to check into housing. The Peterson Heritage Center is located at 151 Connor Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84112. 

For more information on how to check into housing, visit the Accommodations section of the Incoming Exchange Student webpage. 

Students should plan to arrive at the University of Utah campus before 8:00pm to check into on-campus housing.

Directions to the A. Ray Olpin Student Union and Learning Abroad

Here is a map of the A. Ray Olpin Student Union.

International Student Orientation will be held in the A. Ray Olpin Student Union, which is also the location of Learning Abroad. The Learning Abroad office is located in Union 159.

From student housing, students can take the free campus shuttle at the HERITAGE stop to the UNION stop. The fastest shuttles to the Union are the the Blue and Orange lines. The front desk of the Peterson Heritage Center will be able to assist you with information about the shuttle.  

Students living on campus can also choose to walk to the Union, which takes approximately 15-20 minutes from the Peterson Heritage Center.  

Early Arrival

Students may request to move into University housing early at their own expense (if their visa permits early arrival and it is approved by Housing & Residential Education). Students must contact Housing & Residential Education and the Exchange Team at the University Utah in ADVANCE to arrange this option.

If housing is not available in time for your arrival, you may choose to reserve a hotel room at your own expense. Learning Abroad recommends the University Guest House, which is located on the University of Utah campus. Identify yourself as a University of Utah student at the time of your reservation in order to receive a discount. Please note that space is not guaranteed and that reservations should be made in advance.

Airport Assistance

Learning Abroad does NOT provide airport pick-up. However, we do offer airport assistance, depending on your arrival date and time. Learning Abroad schedules times when a member of the Exchanges Team will be at the airport to assist with arrival.

Airport assistance involves help with finding and using public transportation options available at the airport, which will involve some walking. Students will still be responsible for carrying their luggage and paying for their transportation from the airport. 

You will be able to see which airport assistance times are available for your term of arrival once you have been accepted to the exchange program. You must fill out the "Arrival in Salt Lake City" questionnaire in your online application and select which (if any) airport assistance time you would like to take advantage of. We will send more information regarding the meeting spot to those who have requested airport assistance closer to arrival. 

Contact the Exchange Team at exchanges@utah.edu if you have questions about airport assistance. If you are interested in airport assistance, you must notify us IN ADVANCE of your arrival.