Sponsored Students

Sponsored Student Information

The OU International Student Services office provides specialized services to students who are funded by governments, international agencies, corporations, and other entities. Approximately 30 sponsoring agencies currently fund more than 200 international sponsored students who are enrolled at OU.

Services to Sponsored Students

OU International Student Services has a designated Sponsored Student Programs Coordinator who provides a variety of support services to sponsored international students.

Among other services, this includes:

Supports and resolves immigration-related issues on behalf of sponsored students
Works with other offices on campus to resolve any issues concerning sponsored students

The Sponsored Student Programs Coordinator also provides resources to sponsored students at OU which include:

Phone, fax, and copy machine privileges for all sponsor-related business
Consultation and referral to on-campus resources for assistance with academic tutoring, counseling, improving study habits, test-taking strategies, writing assistance, dispute resolution, stress management, cultural integration, and other issues
Referrals for involvement with on-campus leadership activities
Direct communication with sponsored students by in-person meetings, e-mail, phone, fax or express mail
Review of issues of concern with students, whether personal, financial, immigration issues, health issues or other
Liaising between student, academic department and sponsor

Services to Sponsors

OU provides a variety of services and resources to sponsors. Among other services, the OU ISS office:

Develops and administers contracts with sponsors to support their students at OU
Notifies sponsoring agency of student arrival on campus, registration and enrollment, housing placement and other pertinent information
Oversees student progress toward achieving sponsor’s academic objectives
Provides transcripts to sponsors each semester showing current and past enrollment
Provides third-party billing services, student reimbursements, student and sponsor account monitoring, and liaising to university business offices
Receives representatives from sponsoring agencies and arranges campus visits by coordinating meetings with students’ academic advisors and departments on campus
Coordinates with academic advisors to ensure departmental compliance with sponsor objectives
Facilitates disbursement of stipends and/or other sponsor funds
Notifies the sponsor or sponsoring agency if the student leaves campus because they have finished their program, are transferring to another school, or other circumstances.

Health Insurance Waiver Information

The health insurance waiver request, if approved, will allow students who already have a health insurance policy from their sponsor to opt out of the required OU health insurance policy and charges. Students need to submit the online waiver request. More information, including insurance requirements for F-1 and J-1 students and the waiver process, can be found here.