Undergraduate Exchange Students

Patriot Pass is your online credential that allows you to access a variety of Mason online systems, such as Canvas (a web-based learning management systems that allows faculty to add resources for students).

Patriot Pass uses your NetID (also called your username) which is your personal online identifier. Your NetID is the portion of your Mason e-mail address in front of the @ symbol. For example, the Mason NetID for [email protected] would be jdoe. Your Mason NetID is not the same as your G Number. Your NetID along with a password that you create make up your Patriot Pass credentials.

To sign up for Patriot Pass, change your password, get a new password, or get more information, go to:

1. I want to sign up for Patriot Pass and get my NetID and password
   1. I know my G Number and Claim Code
   2. I don’t know my G Number and Claim Code
2. New Student
3. Your G Number (G#)
   1. Students: this will be given to you during the admissions process or New Student Orientation
   2. Employees: that will be given to you by your hiring department or by Human Resources during the orientation process
4. Your Claim Code
   1. Students: this is the six-digit code that was given to you by the administering department
5. Employees: this is the six-digit code given during the HR orientation process or by your hiring department.

** Your default claim code is your 6-digit birthdate in the format of mmddyy (month month day day year year).

To activate your Masonlive email account, go to:

1. https://password.gmu.edu/
2. Click on the link in step 5

Note: you need to activate your Patriot Pass before you can activate your Masonlive email account.

If you experience any trouble activating your Patriot Pass or Masonlive Account, please call the ITU Support Center at 703-993-8870 or email [email protected].

All Mason students born after December 31, 1956, must provide proof of compliance with immunization requirements mandated by the Commonwealth of Virginia and George Mason University.  

All students must fill out the Immunization Record Form and submit it to the Student Health Immunization Office by  Wednesday, January 15, 2025.  Students are encouraged to complete the five immunization requirements BEFORE they travel to the US. Students must submit a completed GMU Immunization Form signed by a health care provider. Students may upload the form to the patient portal along with any blood test reports and/or chest x-ray reports.

The five requirements are listed below:
1. Hepatitis B (shots or blood test report)
2. Measles, Mumps & Rubella (shots or blood test report)
3. Meningococcal (shot)
4. Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (shot)
5. Tuberculosis (skin test or Quantiferon blood test report) **If your home country is listed on p. 2 of the Immunization Record Form AND you have not lived in the US for the past five years, TB testing is required.  

Students can complete the five immunization requirements upon arrival at Mason, however, wait times for immunization appointments can be long. To learn more about the immunization requirements, and proof of immunization, or to print the Immunization form go to the Student Health Website.  

The deadline to submit the Immunization Record Form and supporting documents (labs and chest x-ray reports if completed) is Thursday, August 1, 2024.  We recommend you upload your completed form to the patient portal for review.   

For location and office hours, visit the Immunizations website.  

NOTE: Some students submit the Immunization Record form and supporting documents online to the patient portal and other students prefer to drop off their documents in person upon arrival at Mason. Once you have completed all the requirements, you will receive a secure message from the patient portal. The message will state if your records are complete or if more information is needed. 

The "New to Mason" guide is now available on the OIPS website!  Click on the links to learn more:

• All Mason students born after December 31, 1956,  must  provide proof of compliance with immunization requirements mandated by the Commonwealth of Virginia and George Mason University.  To learn about immunization requirements and translation resources, go to  Student Health Services  website or send an email to [email protected].  The immunizations forms should be submitted by the deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025.
• Drop off your immunization documents at the Immunization Office located in SUB I, room 2347/2348. 

Submit your Mason ID Photo at: https://orientation.gmu.edu/submit-your-mason-id-photo-2/

To register for classes, go to http://patriotweb.gmu.edu

Prior to orientation/course registration, we recommend you review the following information:

1. Review the Course Registration Guide

• The Course Registration Guide explains how to register and drop classes in Patriot Web (link: http://registrar.gmu.edu/topics/registration-guide/)
• You will log in to Patriot Web (link: http://patriotweb.gmu.edu) in order to register for classes

2. Review the rule "Full-Time Enrollment Requirement"

• Immigration regulations require international students in J-1 status to take a full course of study in the Fall and Spring. Undergraduate students MUST register for a minimum of 12 credits in Fall and Spring.
• Do not count any fully online courses towards your full-time status.  J-1 students can only register for a fully online course after registering for a minimum of 12 undergraduate or 9 graduate in-person courses.  Online courses are marked as "distance education" in the Course Catalog and the venue of the course is marked as "Online/Internet NET" or "TBA." Please note that online courses are different from hybrid courses.   In a hybrid course, the professor and students will meet both on-campus and online.  International students can take as many hybrid courses as they wish.

3. Download the Canvas Student App

• Download the Canvas Student App for iOS and Android.This Canvas course is designed to help you become familiar with the learning management system, Canvas, used for online and hybrid courses.
• Link: https://lms.gmu.edu/getting-started-students/

You must withdraw from courses during the drop/add period (Final day for Spring 2025:  Tuesday, September 16, 2025, for 50% refund).  If you fail to drop your classes, you are responsible for any fees incurred. In addition, contact the Student Health Insurance Office at [email protected] to cancel your health insurance.  If you fail to do so, you are responsible for any fees incurred (including late fees).

• George Mason University offers a variety of payment options (online, cash, check, credit card, payment installment plans).  To learn more about the payment methods, visit http://studentaccounts.gmu.edu/payment-information/
• George Mason has partnered with Flywire to streamline the tuition payment process for our international students. Flywire allows students to pay from any country and any bank. They also offer excellent foreign exchange rates, allowing you to pay in your home currency (in most cases) and save a significant amount of money, compared to traditional banks. You will be able to track the progress of your payment throughout the transfer process via a student dashboard and you will also be notified via email when your payment is received by Mason. If you need to make an international payment, please visit Flywire.

All new international students are required to check in with the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS). This is the key step to let Mason know you have arrived. Not doing so could cause problems with a variety of administrative requirements.

Things to bring to check-in:

• DS-2019
• Passport and Visa
• International Student Check-In Sheet

All new undergraduate students in J-1 status are required to attend the on-campus orientation on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Fairfax campus. Sessions include Immigration Compliance, the Honor Code, and Campus Resources. 

Welcome to Mason and we are very excited for you to be joining our dynamic international student community!

Questions? Email OIPS at [email protected] or the Global Education Office at [email protected]