Campus View Student Housing is required for all first-quarter international students unless (a) the student qualifies for a specific exemption or (b) there are no available rooms in Campus View.  Apply to Campus View Student Housing.  If you believe you qualify for an exemption, please complete this form. If Campus View Student Housing is unavailable, international students will need to arrange other housing options in the local area.

Once you have your visa in hand, it’s time to make your flight arrangements. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Airport Code: SEA), located in SeaTac, Washington, is a short distance from Highline College.

International students may enter the US up to 30 days prior to their program start date. The “Earliest Admission Date” is printed on the I-20 and on our Important Dates chart. 

Once you have booked your flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), please report your flight details. If you plan your flight for the Campus View Move-In Day, our staff may be able to greet you at the airport!

Highline’s International Student Programs staff now offers transportation from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Campus View for those students who are arriving during designated times on Campus View Move-In Day. More details are sent via email to admitted students closer to their program start date.

Residents of Campus View Student Housing who arrive outside the designated pick-up times and dates can be reimbursed for their travel costs (up to $50) from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Campus View. Please save the receipt from your taxi or rideshare service and submit that to us for your reimbursement. This information is subject to change.

To arrange transportation services in advance to any local destination, please refer to this guide. 

Have all of your travel documents in your carry-on bag.

Travel Documents:

• Passport, Visa
• I-20 and Acceptance Letter
• U.S. Address
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination (in English), if available*

*Proof of vaccination is not currently required for travel to, or services in, the United States, but you may need it if you wish to obtain future vaccinations/boosters.

For general information about traveling internationally, see https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/traveling-as-an-international-student.  

If you have any urgent issues when you arrive, please call the International Student Programs (ISP) office at +1 (206) 592-3725. If your arrival time is outside of normal business hours, please call Highline College Public Safety at +1 (206) 592-3218.

At Highline College, all students use two accounts on a regular basis:

• Your ctcLink account is used to enroll and pay for classes and access student records. You will receive ctclink activation instructions in the “student folder” created for you by the ISP Admissions team. 
• Your myHighline account provides access to online resources and tools, such as student email, Canvas and Google Drive. The ITS Department (helpdesk@highline.edu) will send you an email with instructions on how to activate your account shortly after you are admitted. 

We recommend that students activate both accounts as soon as possible after admission. Be sure to record your username and password in a safe place! You will use both frequently starting in Orientation Week. If you have any difficulty with account activation, please contact welcometeam@highline.edu. 

You have met the admission requirements for Highline, but now we need to see what classes you are ready to take! 

English: 

All new Highline students must receive English placement before they can begin enrolling in any classes. Your English placement is entered into ctclink as a “Milestone.” 

• If you applied to Highline using a TOEFL or IELTS score, we will use that for your English placement – no further testing needed!
• Other students will be asked to take one of two English placement tests, depending on your admission application materials. 

Math: 

Most Highline degrees require students to take at least one math and one science course. 

• If you are a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) major, we will ask you to take a math placement test before your first quarter.
• If you are a non-STEM major, you can wait to take the test until your first quarter of enrollment.

Contact our staff (at welcometeam@highline.edu) with questions regarding testing. We will provide you with detailed information about what tests you need to take, and how to take them. Please include your full name and your ctclink ID number (found on your acceptance letter) whenever you email Highline staff.

The ISP Advising Team is here to support you and want to ensure you have a successful transition to Highline College. We will help you understand the requirements for your academic program and use the ctclink system to enroll yourself in classes that fulfill both your academic requirements and your F-1 status requirements. 

Enrollment opens approximately 12 weeks before the fall quarter, and approximately 6 weeks prior to other quarters. These dates are indicated on Highline’s Dates and Deadlines page, as well as on the international student acceptance letter.  During the enrollment period, advisors are available for individual appointments both in-person and through Zoom. 

To request an advising appointment, please email WelcomeTeam@highline.edu with the following information: 

• Name
• ctcLink ID number
• Major
• Type of Appointment (in-person or Zoom)
• Dates/Times (Seattle Time) that you are available. 

If you are not in the Seattle area, please use this time zone converter. We typically offer appointments starting 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Please note that we cannot schedule same-day appointments. 

Are you transferring in from another US college or university? If so, please begin the Transcript Evaluation Process right away!

• Step 1: Order an official transcript from your previous school(s) and have that mailed (or sent electronically) to Highline. This is different from any unofficial transcripts that you may have provided to the ISP Admissions team as part of your application.
• Step 2: Fill out the Evaluation Request Form.

We recommend doing that request form at the same time that you order the transcript. The evaluation will not begin until both the transcript and the form are received. Important:  Highline’s transfer evaluation processing time can take up to 10-14 weeks. 

For more information about the process, including Highline’s mailing address, visit the Transcript Evaluation page. 

If you have college or university credits from a school that is outside of the United States, please review the process for International Transcript Evaluation.

Once you enroll in classes, you will see a total amount due. The amount includes Tuition and other Fees, including Medical Insurance. 

Tuition:

Tuition must be paid for each study quarter, and students have the option to pay all at once or participate in a payment plan. Tuition deadlines are typically two weeks before the first day of classes. Read more about tuition payment options for international students.

Medical Insurance:

Medical insurance is required for all eligible F-1 status students. The insurance fee will automatically be added to your tuition and fees total at the time of enrollment. If you believe you may be exempt from this requirement, please read about the insurance waiver process.

Highline College uses a service called LewerMark. Review the Medical Insurance page for more information about LewerMark insurance, including the current costs per quarter.

Scholarship:

We offer a New Student Scholarship for international students who are taking classes at Highline College for the first time.

All new international students are required to attend in-person orientation. Typically, orientation week includes two full-day workshops and a third day of social activities. The orientation start day is listed on the acceptance letter (and also our Important Dates page). New students are sent a detailed calendar 1-2 weeks before the scheduled orientation start date. 

During Orientation, you will learn a lot of useful information and start making friends with other new and current Highline students.

Orientation Week typically includes presentations about:

• US government regulations
• Medical insurance
• Campus resources
• Class Selection and Enrollment
• Safety
• …and much more!

There will also be opportunities for students to meet with advisors during the week. We also plan fun activities for students to relax and get to know each other!

After arriving in the United States, students will also be asked to complete some check-in tasks, such as updating your ctclink profile and submitting your I-94.