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.

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
  • Exchange students do not pay tuition to the University of Missouri. For the exchange student application, you must provide proof of finances to account for the following estimated expenses:
    • Estimated living expenses
    • International student services fee
    • Mandatory health insurance
  • Review examples of accepted financial documentation