(updated as of 04/10/2026)

Howdy! – Once again, congratulations on your acceptance to Rice University!

We can’t wait to meet you (virtually and in person), learn about you, and help you have a successful Rice chapter of your life!

You will receive Homebase updates between now and start of the fall semester. You will have several virtual meetings and informational sessions throughout the summer with us, and a mandatory orientation session in August. You will also attend a mandatory check-in session when you arrive in the U.S.

Graduate International Orientation (GIO)

Graduate International Orientation (GIO) is a mandatory orientation program for all new international graduate and graduate exchange students. Students will review immigration regulations, graduate specific policies, and programs geared specifically to support the international graduate population.

August 13, 2026

These sessions will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Houston time (CDT). Graduate students are required to arrive in Houston and attend the sessions. The details will be emailed to students’ Rice email address closer to the GIO.

Any student unable to attend due to visa delays must notify OISS in advance and schedule a make-up session.

*Please note that MBA has a special session designed for MBA international students that will take place during the international immersion week. Since the GIO covers broader topics, we encourage MBA students to attend the GIO if their schedules permit.

GIO Events

We have organized the following events to meet with our new international students in-person on campus after you complete the Graduate International Orientation (GIO) is a half-day orientation beginning the morning of August 13th. Attendance in GIO session is mandatory. You will receive information concerning GIO in May 2026.

August 13, 2026

Detailed schedule to come

Stay tuned for the email with details!

Graduate Meet & Greet

We will be happy to meet all our newly admitted graduate international students, welcome you to Rice, introduce you to your Rice student status, explain your next steps, and answer your questions.

These sessions will be held virtually throughout the summer from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Houston time (CDT). The invitations with details will be emailed to students’ Rice email address closer to the events.

Immigration Check-in

All graduate international students are required to complete an immigration check-in. Please see https://oiss.rice.edu/orientation for the information.

If you have further questions, please contact us at oiss@rice.edu.