Programs and Services

Students at a Distance

International students who have been admitted to George Mason University become part of our community even before arriving on campus, and the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) is available to provide assistance with pre-departure issues. OIPS is developing a set of web-based instructional and informational modules that we hope you will find valuable while you are an “international student at a distance.” We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to prepare in advance, and to arrive at Mason with some knowledge of what to expect and what is expected. This will help you to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and discomfort during your first few weeks at George Mason University and in the Fairfax community.

By federal regulation, F-1 students in the U.S. may only take one distance education course each semester, and very few exceptions are permitted. International students who have questions about distance education eligibility should contact an OIPS advisor for assistance.

Below please find the first in a series of discussions and lessons, by international students, for international students. We hope you find them useful.