Brandeis International Business School
The Spring 2021 semester will begin on Monday, February 1.
Each program at Brandeis International Business School will be offered in a hybrid format, with all courses available to be taken fully remotely, if necessary. The extent to which in-person activities are offered will be dictated by health and university guidelines. All students will have the ability to take their entire course load online if they so choose. The Brandeis campus will remain open to International Business School students residing in the area.
Below you will find a helpful list of frequently asked questions. This page will be updated regularly to reflect the latest information available.
As Provost Lynch M. Lynch wrote in her Spring 2021 announcement, Brandeis University remains focused on delivering an outstanding education while maintaining the health and safety of the Brandeis community. On behalf of the faculty and staff at the International Business School, we are here to support you and are committed to your success.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Graddy
Dean
Fred and Rita Richman Distinguished Professor in Economics
We regret that we cannot welcome prospective students to our Admissions Office at this time. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, we feel that this is the best decision for the health and safety of our community.
We encourage you to schedule a Zoom, Skype or phone call with a member of the Admissions team until we can welcome visitors to campus again.
Each program at the International Business School will be offered in a hybrid format, with all courses available to be taken fully remotely, if necessary. The extent to which in-person activities are offered will be dictated by health and university guidelines. All students will have the ability to take their entire course load online if they so choose. The Brandeis campus will remain open to International Business School students residing in the area, in accordance with health and university guidelines.
Our usual courses will be offered in the spring with only a few exceptions. All courses will be taught by our excellent faculty and will feature a high level of student interaction.
Program advising is currently underway. Our Program Advisors will continue reaching out to students throughout the fall regarding their spring schedule.
Yes. Students can take up to nine credits as a part-time student. These credits will be applied toward your degree. Part-time students have full access to university resources including advising, career coaching, club membership and events, speaker series, library services and databases. For international students with questions about Visa, CPT and OPT eligibility, please speak with your ISSO advisor for the most current guidance.
We encourage students to begin the visa application process as soon as they submit their Enrollment Form and deposit. Doing so allows international students to begin the Visa Information/Declaration of Finance (VIDOF) process, which is necessary to generate an I-20. Please be aware that there are parts of the world in which consulates may be closed or may not be offering visa services at this time, and we anticipate students may encounter delays in visa processing. We recommend students complete the VIDOF process as soon as they are able so that when consulates re-open, they are prepared. If students are currently attending a U.S. school and have F-1 status, they should be able to transfer their visa sponsorship from their current school to Brandeis. If students are currently attending a U.S. school and have a different immigration status, we encourage you to contact the International Students and Scholars Office at isso@brandeis.edu to discuss the options.
We encourage students to secure housing by January 1 or January 15 given that classes begin on February 1. We encourage students and housing partners to clearly communicate payment agreements as it relates to securing housing arrangements and flexibility around move-in dates. As you begin to plan for your housing, you may find this short video on the housing process helpful.
If you have questions about your off-campus housing search, please contact Steven Weglinski at weglinski@brandeis.edu. It is our hope that we can work together as a community to meet each other's needs during this unique and difficult time.
The most up-to-date information can be found on the International Students and Scholars Office’s COVID-19 FAQ webpage. We encourage students to reach out to their ISSO advisors to ask questions specific to their case.
Yes, students can study completely online outside of the United States in Spring 2021. If international students in the MSBA and MSF programs are unable to enter the country to begin their coursework in Spring 2021, they will have the option to extend their program graduation date to Summer 2022, thus providing an opportunity for a full-time internship during their program. For international students with questions about Visa, CPT and OPT eligibility, please speak with your ISSO advisor for the most current guidance.
Updates about health insurance and immunizations will be posted to the Brandeis Health Center website. Here, you can also find COVID-19 updates.
All students must enroll in the qualifying School Health Plan (SHP) or waive the plan and report their own comparable health insurance coverage each year, as required by Massachusetts regulations.
All international students who will be in the U.S. will be automatically enrolled in the qualifying school plan. International students who will not be in the U.S. will not be required to secure health insurance.
Questions about the plan can be directed to UHP at info@universityhealthplans.com.
Each program at the International Business School will be offered in a hybrid format, with all courses available to be taken fully remotely, if necessary. The extent to which in-person activities are offered will be dictated by health and university guidelines. All students will have the ability to take their entire course load online if they so choose. The Brandeis campus will remain open to International Business School students residing in the area, in accordance with health and university guidelines.
Our usual courses will be offered in the spring with only a few exceptions. All courses will be taught by our excellent faculty and will feature a high level of student interaction.
Yes. Students can switch their status to part-time. For international students, switching to a part-time status could have an impact on their visa status and CPT and OPT eligibility. Students should speak with their ISSO advisor to discuss their academic plans.
The most up-to-date information can be found on the International Students and Scholars Office’s COVID-19 FAQ webpage. Students may also reach out to their ISSO advisor to ask questions specific to their case.
Yes. You can complete your course from abroad, study remotely only, and receive your diploma without returning to the United States. For international students with questions about Visa, CPT and OPT eligibility, please speak with your ISSO advisor for the most current guidance.
Students may request a leave of absence for up to one year by submitting this form by the first day of classes (February 1). If you have a scholarship, the scholarship will still apply when you return within the one-year period. Details on leave of absences can be found in the Provisional University Bulletin. For international students, a leave of absence could have an impact on your visa status and CPT and OPT eligibility. Students should speak with their ISSO advisor for more information.
All current students may apply to one of our dual degree programs. Upon graduation, dual degree students will receive two degrees after completing fewer credits than if the degrees were completed separately. Your graduation date will be extended to allow time to complete the dual degree. Our current dual degree programs are MBA/MSBA, MBA/MSF and MA/MSBA.
Tuition at the International Business School for the 2020-2021 academic year will remain at the same level as the 2019-2020 academic year. This is consistent with Brandeis University's decision not to increase graduate or undergraduate tuition rates. The revised tuition rate at the International Business School is now 3.5 percent less than the anticipated and previously posted tuition for 2020-2021.
We are aware of the fact that the coronavirus pandemic has created hardships for many families. Thanks to our generous supporters, we have created a Student Success Fund at the International Business School for continuing students with financial need. Students should speak with their program advisor for more information.
All courses in the spring will be taught by our faculty, including world-renowned researchers and successful practitioners. Staff at both the Office of Academic Affairs and Student Experience and Career Strategies and Engagement Center will be providing their usual high level of support. We are excited to provide a high-touch virtual experience for students this spring, with additional on-campus programming for students residing locally.
Students will have events, programs and services available to them throughout the spring semester. The Office of Academic Affairs and Student Experience and the Career Strategies and Engagement Center will continue providing robust academic and career support services. Staff at the International Business School are also developing a meaningful slate of additional programming that will be held both virtually and on-campus for students who reside locally.
All on-campus programming will be held in accordance with health and university guidelines. Student leaders and clubs will also continue hosting virtual social events, competitions and guest-speaker series throughout the semester. We encourage you to connect with us through Facebook and Instagram. Please continue to read our weekly newsletters and let us know if you have any ideas to share.