International Scholars Office (ISchO)

Every year, over 2000 international scholars (visiting researchers, professors, and lecturers) and accompanying family members are affiliated with the MIT community. In 2012 - 2013, for example, this extraordinary group of individuals represented 90 different countries and engaged in research and teaching activities in 77 different MIT departments, laboratories, and centers.

The mission of the International Scholars Office (ISchO) is to facilitate the arrival and appointment of international visitors, who are invited to campus to teach, conduct research, observe, and collaborate. ISchO encourages and supports the exchange of scholars and strives to ease the transition of foreign nationals into the campus community. Weekly orientations are given for incoming international scholars and family members. Just prior to fall and spring semesters, “new international faculty” orientations are given for incoming tenure-track faculty members. ISchO provides resources, information, and programming on a wide range of family, work, cultural exchange, visa, and travel topics relevant to the international scholar population. Numerous trainings on working with the ISchO, visa processing, and academic appointments are also held throughout the year for department, laboratory, and center administrators. ISchO also engages in advocacy efforts to protect international educational exchange, prevent burdensome federal regulations, and clarify and improve related procedures.