International Students

For the fall 2022 term, do I need to be in the United States, or can I be outside of the United States?

Unless designed as an online program, all programs at MCPHS require in-person coursework. Students are expected to arrive on campus no later than September 6 to participate in in-person classes. Please regularly check your MCPHS email for updates from the President, the Provost, and your academic departments regarding the return to campus.

If you are an F-1 international student and you cannot return to the United States to study for fall 2022, please contact your dean and email Immigration and International Support Services (IISS) at internationalservices@mcphs.edu as soon as possible.

I am outside of the United States and planning my return to the United States. What do I need to do?

If you are traveling to the United States by air and have questions about what testing and vaccination requirements you need to meet before boarding the plane, please check out the CDC Travel Assessment tool.

If you are an F-1 student, please review the additional immigration-related information provided by Immigration and International Support Services.

All students should regularly check their MCPHS email and the MCPHS website for updates regarding, among other things, requirements for individuals visiting campus.

What COVID-19 vaccines will MCPHS accept to meet the student vaccination requirement?

For students coming to campus, MCPHS accepts any vaccine recognized by either the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or the World Health Organization (WHO) EUA.

If you are an international student and your country makes available a COVID-19 vaccine other than the ones on this list, we still advise that the best vaccine is the first one you can get—you should get whichever vaccine is authorized in your country as soon as you can. If that means you have gotten a vaccine that is not approved under the WHO EUA, MCPHS will offer additional vaccine guidance to you as we get closer to the start of the fall semester. Please be advised that people in this category will likely be required to be revaccinated upon arrival in the United States.

Please note: You are not considered fully immunized until two weeks after receiving your final vaccine dose/booster.

For clinical rotations requiring vaccination, the following applies: MCPHS students must follow the guidance of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Those organizations have approved only three vaccines for EUA within the United States—Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. Therefore students who plan to participate in clinical rotations must have received one of those three vaccines. MCPHS will offer guidance on how to get one of those vaccines. 

Can I travel within the United States? Yes, you can travel in the United States. Please review the CDC guidelines before planning any type of travel. Please also check with the Transportation Security Administration, airlines, and train companies for further requirements.

As an international student, can I receive treatment at a hospital or with other healthcare providers during an emergency?

Yes. As an international student you can receive treatment at a hospital or with other healthcare providers for regular healthcare needs and during an emergency. Please call ahead to any healthcare location before arrival to get the most recent information about their intake processes.

If you are a student on the Boston campus, you can also reach out to Optum Student Health Services for healthcare needs.

Don’t forget to verify that you have valid health insurance to defray healthcare costs. If you are a new or continuing student at MCPHS with student health insurance and have questions about Blue Cross Blue Shield Student Health Insurance Benefits (coverage), contact University Health Plans at 800.437.6448 or visit them online.

What is multifactor authentication? Why is it important to me?

To access MCPHS technology off campus, you need to set up multifactor authentication (MFA). MFA is an extra layer of security that requires you not only to enter your password when logging into MCPHS websites but also to receive a phone call to verify that it is really you logging in. Some students have set up this process with their mobile phone number in the United States, and if you have, you will not be able to access your MCPHS accounts when you are outside of the United States. To avoid this problem, you should download the Authenticator app on your mobile device and follow these setup instructions.

What if an application I need for class is not working or is blocked?

If you have any technical difficulties, please email Information Systems at helpdesk@mcphs.edu.