Arriving and Living on Campus

We look forward to your arrival on the UNT campus. The following information will answer many of your immediate questions concerning your stay at UNT. Please contact our office if you have other questions prior to approval.

  1. When should I arrive at UNT?
  2. What kind of orientation will I receive?
  3. Where can I send mail/packages/luggage?
  4. How should I bring money to Texas?
  5. What should I wear at UNT?
  6. Should I plan to travel during holidays?
When should I arrive at UNT?

We advise you to get airline reservations far in advance to avoid difficulties.  We especially recommend direct flights from the home country to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), as there are fewer problems with delays, etc.  For British students, direct flights are available from London/Gatwick, but good connections through Chicago are also available from Glasgow and Manchester.  French students may wish to come direct from Paris.  German students can fly direct from Frankfurt.  Japanese students can come direct from Tokyo.  We do recommend that students avoid flights that go through New York City/JFK International before coming to Dallas because of frequent delays and problems.

Fall arrival days are Saturday and Sunday, the week prior to scheduled orientation.  Please arrange if possible to arrive on Sunday.  Students arriving at DFW International Airport on Saturday and Sunday between 1:00 and 6:00 p.m. will be met outside the arrival gate within an hour of the flight's arrival and taken to UNT.  If you wish to be picked up on Saturday or Sunday, please notify the Study Abroad Center by August 1 by mail, telephone or fax.

The spring arrival date is the Wednesday before classes begin.  If you wish to be picked up at the airport, please notify the Study Abroad Center by January by mail, telephone or fax.

Fall students should not arrive before Saturday, as the residence halls do not open until Sunday.  If you do arrive before Saturday, you should contact the Airport Shuttle at (1-940) 565-9936 one week in advance of arrival.  Give the shuttle the following information: airline, flight number, and time of arrival.  The shuttle will notify you of the pickup locations at the DFW Airport.  The approximate cost is $55 in cash (U.S. dollars) to the shuttle driver for the trip to the UNT campus.  It is customary in the U.S.A. to give an additional 10-15% gratuity.  Taxi fare from DFW is about $50-70.

Students arriving before Sunday should also plan to stay in a local hotel until the residence halls open.  UNT halls open on Sunday at 10:00 A.M.  The Royal Hotel Suites (940-383-2007) is near campus and charges about $35 (plus tax) for a single room per day, or $45 (plus tax) for a double room.

Fall students must not arrive after Orientation Week has started on Monday at 8:00 a.m.

Spring students must not arrive after Wednesday for orientation.

What kind of orientation will I receive?

The exchange student orientation will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Monday and end on Friday. During this week we will give you a tour of the campus and Denton, take you shopping, help you open a bank account, get a long-distance telephone card, a post office box (about $15 per semester), a student ID card, and register for your classes and sort out any problems that may occur. This week is very important for all exchange students!

Where can I send mail/packages/luggage?

You may initially send all mail and small packages via a shipping company to the Study Abroad Center. After you rent a post office box, you can receive mail in your own name. If you wish to send large package or luggage in advance, send to:

Study Abroad Center
University Of North Texas
Highland Street at Avenue A
Kendall Hall 115
Denton, TX 76203-1067 USA

Students usually carry all the luggage they need and buy items here as needed.

How should I bring money to Texas?

For students paying their accommodations directly at UNT, we recommend at least $1000 in U.S. dollar travelers' checks, as they can be replaced if lost or stolen and can be used immediately upon arrival to pay for housing, food, and personal expenses. The remainder of funds should be brought in a bank draft or check payable to yourself. This bank draft can be deposited when opening a bank account in Denton. Note that you cannot withdraw funds from a new account made with a bank draft for two to four weeks.

You will be able to choose a savings account or a checking account and get an ATM (automated teller machine) withdrawal card. Wells Fargo Bank of Denton has a branch and an ATM in the Students Union Building.

What should I wear at UNT?

Plan to wear very light clothing upon arrival in Texas during August. The daily temperature is usually between 95 and 100 Fahrenheit (35-38 Celsius)! Most students wear shorts, t-shirts, sandals, and sunglasses during the hot days. Good walking shoes are a must as you will walk a lot on campus. The autumn months are warm, but cooler in October and November. December through March are colder and you will need warm clothing (sweaters, coats, etc.). It warms up again in the spring months and is in the 80's and 90's by May.

Should I plan to travel during holidays?

Absolutely! Texas is centrally located in the United States, so students often travel to the East or West coasts (or both) during their stay at UNT. Students frequently enjoy Spring Break on the "Texas Riviera" at Padre Island on the Gulf of Mexico. Some students even return home during the holidays. A local travel agency help you plan any trips you wish to take.

Students often stay with roommates or friends over holidays as well.