Incoming Exchange Program
Manhattan College welcomes students from the One La Salle network and from the College's partner schools abroad to study in Riverdale for a semester and experience everything Manhattan has to offer.
Manhattan College provides students a beautiful campus with close-knit community and easy access to New York City. Our excellent location offers a unique and safe way to experience one of the world’s greatest cities and all it has to give. Students are invited and expected to become involved on campus while studying at MC and to participate in efforts to build a global Lasallian community as well as individual international awareness. Students are encouraged to participate in a wide range of campus activities that include intramural sports, student clubs, and a broad variety of social events and opportunities to engage in volunteer work.
Read on for more information about studying at Manhattan College as an exchange student!
General Information
Location: Riverdale, New York City. Located about 10 miles north of midtown Manhattan, our campus is a five-minute walk from the #1 subway line and a 40-minute subway ride to Times Square.
Contact for incoming exchange students: Alexandra DeStefano, Assistant Director of Study Abroad: studyabroad@manhattan.edu
Provisional 2022-2023 semester dates (includes final exam period):
- Fall semester: August 29 - December 17, 2022
- Spring semester: January 18 - May 13, 2023
Application Process
Students must first be nominated by their home university and then must submit the following application documents to Manhattan College:
- Manhattan College application form (Online)
- Color copy of valid passport
- Official transcript of academic results from home university
- Language proficiency exam certificate
- Cover letter regarding motivation for study at Manhattan College
Once students are admitted to study on exchange at Manhattan College, they will need to additionally submit:
- Copy of International Health Insurance plan that meets the J-1 visa requirements (see the "Health Insurance" section below for more information on this)
- Insurance compliance form (form will be provided to admitted students)
- Manhattan College Medical Forms (forms will be provided to admitted students)
English Language Proficiency Requirement
Incoming exchange students are required to submit the results of an English Proficiency Test as part of their application. Students can take any of the below accepted language proficiency exams and must receive the minimum score (or higher) indicated below:
- TOEFL minimum score of 80
- IELTS minimum score of 6.5
- TOEIC minimum score of 730
- Duolingo English Test minimum score of 105
Equivalent results from alternative English language proficiency exams will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Application Deadlines
- For Fall semester or academic year (August start): April 30
- For Spring semester (January start): October 31
Academic Information
Manhattan College encompasses five Schools:
- The O'Malley School of Business
- School of Education & Health
- School of Engineering (includes Chemical, Civil & Environmental, Electrical & Computer, and Mechanical Engineering)
- School of Liberal Arts (includes such areas of study as Communication, International Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Visual & Performing Arts)
- School of Science
All undergraduate (Bachelor’s) academic programs are open to both One La Salle applicants and applicants from Manhattan College's exchange partners. Eligibility for specific programs will be determined based on the applicant’s academic background and qualifications. The language of instruction for all programs is English.
Housing Information
Incoming exchange students are required to reside on-campus for the duration of their time at Manhattan College. The Room & Board fee includes the cost of living on-campus and a meal plan that covers the cost of eating at the on-campus dining hall and cafes. Students will be placed into one of five residence halls in double- or triple-occupancy rooms.
Fees
Fees for the 2022-2023 academic year will be available in April 2022 and this section will be updated accordingly at that time. In the meantime, please see below for the incoming exchange student fees for the 2021-22 year:
- Room and Board Fee: US$8,950 per semester
- Includes housing in a shared room on campus and all meals at the on-campus dining hall
- Comprehensive Fee: US$730 per semester
- Includes all remaining fees such as the Information Services Fee and Campus Health Center Fee
- Residency Security Deposit: US$300
- This security deposit is refunded after the end of the term less any room damages assessed
- Total for One Semester of study at MC: US$9,980
- This total includes the US$300 residency security deposit, which is refunded after the end of the term less any room damages assessed. The remaining US$9,680 is nonrefundable.
Students are asked to submit an initial deposit of US$400 when they are officially accepted to the exchange program in order to secure their place at MC. This enollment deposit goes towards the student's Room and Board Fee. The remainder of the fees are typically due about one month before the semester begins.
Additional Expenses
In addition to the fees listed above, the following are estimated additional expenses for which incoming exchange students are responsible and for which they should budget:
- Visa fees: US$220 I-901 fee + US$160 machine readable visa fee
- Round-trip flights to New York City: varies depending on the student's home location; can range from US$400-US$1200
- Books & supplies: about US$600 per semester
- In-country transportation: about US$450 per semester
- Miscellaneous expenses: about US$600 per semester
Note that these expenses are not directly billed by Manhattan College; rather, they are additional costs that incoming students can expect to have over the course of their time in the United States.
Health Insurance
While non-matriculated exchange students are not eligible to purchase the Manhattan College Student Health Insurance Plan (MC-SHIP), exchange students are required to purchase or show proof of adequate insurance coverage for student visa purposes. You are strongly encouraged to consider policies that will provide comprehensive coverage for medical coverage while in the United States (injury, illness, hospitalization, outpatient care, emergency services, prescription drug coverage, laboratory services, mental health care, wellness services, chronic disease treatment, accident and personal liability, medical evacuation and repatriation expenses) as well as coverage for all travel arrangements (cancellations, curtailment, lost baggage, lost passport/documents, delayed departure). In order to stay compliant with your visa, your plan must cover at least US$100,000 for accidental/illness, US$25,000 repatriation, and have a deductible of US$500 or less.
Visa
All incoming students must apply for a J1 exchange visitor visa in the "Student (College/University)" category prior to arrival in the United States. This visa will allow program participants to legally enter the United States and to study there for the duration of their program. Students will be provided with the paperwork and documentation they will need to apply for this visa once they are officially accepted to the program.
Although this page has been written and reviewed carefully, all responsibility for verifying the current accuracy of the information it contains rests with the reader. All listed information, requirements, values, and fees are subject to change.