New International Student Orientation (Center for Global Engagement)
At the CGE’s New International Student Orientation, you will learn about FSU’s campus resources, maintaining your immigration status, succeeding as a student at Florida State University, and living in Tallahassee. You will meet other new international students and learn important information to help you make friends and have a successful start at FSU.
This orientation is in addition to the CGE Arrival Confirmation, which you should do when you first arrive at FSU.
Note: The CGE New International Student Orientation is in addition to the FSU academic undergraduate orientations. Contact FSU’s New Student and Family Programs office for more information about these orientation programs that are required for enrollment in classes.
Spring 2027 New International Student Orientation (Required)
January 4, 2027: REQUIRED in-person CGE International Student Orientation for all new international students, including those transferring their immigration status from another U.S. institution and those who have recently changed their immigration status to F-1. Where: The Globe Building (110 S. Woodward Ave.), When: Check in starts at 1:30 p.m. Register by following these instructions:
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Login to Nole Start with your FSU credentials.
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Scroll down the page and click on the Newly Admitted Students link.
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Complete and submit the Orientation Registration form after completing all previously listed required forms under the Newly Admitted Students link.
January 5, 2027: REQUIRED in-person New Nole Orientation for undergraduates (Bachelors) only.
Where: Student Union. When: Check-in starts at 7:30am. To register for New Nole, you must email orientation@fsu.edu as this session is currently reserved for international students who are outside the U.S. If you are in the U.S. in the fall, you should be able to sign up for New Nole sessions in November and December in the admissions portal.
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You will meet with an academic advisor during the New Nole Orientation and will need to register for courses immediately thereafter. (Students transferring from the FSU campus in the Republic of Panama may already have some course registration completed before New Nole orientation).
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You must ensure that you have resolved all course registration holds before the January 5 New Nole orientation.
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Classes begin on January 6 and first-day class attendance is required.
Note that separate registration for each of the above orientations is required. Attendance will be recorded throughout each and course registration holds will be placed for those who do not check in and check out of the orientations as required. You will not be able to register for classes until your orientation holds (and any other registration holds you may have) are resolved. Do not schedule housing move-in, academic advisor appointments, immunization appointments, or other obligations during either of the required orientation sessions.
Graduate students (Masters and Doctoral) - Check with your admitting academic department regarding their orientation schedule. If separate advising appointments are being conducted with each student, ensure that your academic advising appointment does not conflict with the required CGE international student orientation.
Students who have assistantships must complete their CGE arrival confirmation, apply for a Social Security number/schedule the Social Security appointment, and meet with their hiring department in-person to complete an I-9 form (between 8am and 5pm) before 12/11/2026 or on 1/4/2027 to receive their first paycheck by 1/22/2027. Otherwise, the first paycheck will be issued on 2/05/2027.
Students with school-aged children: Leon County Schools, grades Kindergarten through 12th, begin classes on January 5, 2027. Schools outside the public school system may begin on a different day.
Check with your admitting academic department for the date of your academic orientation, your SPEAK test date if you will be teaching, and the Center for Advancement of Teaching training deadline. Academic department orientations are important in properly planning your course schedule, because it is not always possible to discern which courses are offered only once a year and/or which must be taken in a certain sequence. Some programs, like Film Production, strictly require your in-person attendance at a several day orientation program.