Study at Mizzou

Exchange program

Exchange students are international students who come to the University of Missouri for a semester or academic year from one of our reciprocal exchange partner universities. Exchange students usually come to MU on J-1 student visas and pay tuition at their home universities.

As an exchange student, you will take regular MU courses alongside American and other international students.

Why Mizzou?

Mizzou is home to world-class academics, an iconic campus and a vibrant student community that combine into one unforgettable experience. Whether you are here for one semester or an academic year, discover the excitement that only becoming a Mizzou Tiger can bring.

  • About Mizzou: Picture yourself as a Tiger! Watch our episode of “The College Tour” from Amazon Studios for an inside look at life at Mizzou.
  • Student life: Make Mizzou your home away from home. With more than 700 student clubs and organizations for every imaginable interest and over 60 club and intramural sports teams, it’s easy to explore your passions or try something new.
  • Columbia, Missouri: The excitement doesn’t stop where campus does. Mizzou’s campus ends and a bustling downtown begins — packed with shops, entertainment venues and restaurants. Columbia, or CoMo as we call it, is also home to parks and trails fit for anyone who loves the outdoors.
  • Unique opportunities: Our land grant status brings emphases in agriculture, mechanical arts and engineering. As a proud member of the Association of American Universities, we’re at the forefront of research in medicine, law, journalism and business.

Learn more about what Mizzou has to offer in the international student brochure.

Exchange partner information

Name of university: University of Missouri (Mizzou)

Address: 230 Jesse Hall, Columbia, MO, USA 56211

University website: missouri.edu

Study Abroad office website: international.missouri.edu/studyabroad

Academic calendar:

Language: English-taught courses

Contact for inbound exchange:

Available fields of study: Business, computing, education, engineering, information technology, liberal arts and humanities, and physical and social sciences. Find all available fields of study on the academic programs website.

Available courses: Course offering may vary by semester, find current course offerings on the Office of the Registrar website.

Required language proficiency: Various English language exams are accepted. Score requirements for each exam can be found on the International Admissions website.

Online application procedure: A student must be nominated by their university coordinator to exchanges@missouri.edu.

Nomination deadlines:

  • March 1: fall semester, academic year
  • October 1: spring semester

Student orientation: Held in-person on campus, typically the week before classes begin.

Program fee: Students are responsible for paying:

  • Housing
  • Dining
  • SEVIS fees
  • Insurance
  • Any bookstore charges

Find estimated expenses on the program guide.

Visa: Mandatory for all exchange students to obtain a J-1 visa to study at Mizzou.

Insurance: Mandatory for all exchange students and will be charged to their Mizzou student accounts. Learn more about insurance requirements.

Arrival in the U.S.: Transportation is offered at no cost from Columbia Regional Airport (COU) if students arrive on official arrival days before orientation.

Accommodation: On-campus housing is recommended. Learn more about housing and meal plan options.

Download a copy of our exchange partner fact sheet.

Application process

To apply to MU as an exchange student, your home institution must officially nominate you for acceptance before you can apply to MU. Contact us by email at exchanges@missouri.edu with any questions.

Step 1: Apply online

You must obtain the link to the online application from the international or study abroad office at your home institution.

Step 2: Submit supporting documents

After you complete your online application, you will receive an email asking you to submit the following supporting documents. All supporting documents should be scanned and attached as PDFs to an email sent to exchanges@missouri.edu.

  • Copy of your passport biographical page
  • Official academic transcripts
  • Proof of English language proficiency
    • See more information about establishing your English proficiency on the International Admissions website
    • Not required for students from predominantly English-speaking countries who speak English as their first language
  • Financial support documentation