The Visiting International Partnership Student (VIPS) program was established to provide places at our university for students from our exchange partner institutions who are not able to secure one of the limited number of exchange positions available.
As a VIPS, you would pay non-resident tuition and fees. Our nonresident tuition is variable and calculated based on the year a student has started at our university and the School/College at CU Boulder in which the student is enrolled. As a VIPS, we are able to offer you the opportunity to pay nonresident tuition at the rate based on when you started at your university which would give you a somewhat lower rate than you would pay as a new degree student here.
In order to gain admission as a VIPS student, you will first need to get approval from the Exchange Program Coordinator at your home university. Then you will need to complete the online application materials for CU Boulder and submit them to your Exchange Program Coordinator at your home university. Do not send your documents directly to CU Boulder.
A basic VIPS application includes the items listed below and should be submitted using the online application.
- CU Boulder VIPS Application Form - Indicate the college and the department into which you would like to be admitted. We cannot accept students into Education, Music or Law. If you want to take courses in the College of Business and Administration, you must currently be a business student at your home university.
- Academic Plan Form - List the courses you would like to study. Please understand that there is no guarantee that you will get the courses you list or that the courses will be offered for during your semester here.
- Transcripts - showing all university-level work completed.
- Financial Statement - We need this information in order to certify for the U.S. Consulate that you will be able to support yourself while you are in the U.S.A. The financial form outlines the expenses of the Exchange Program. You will be responsible for all expenses, including tution and fees, living expenses, and books and supplies. You must include documentation of support for your expenses such as a bank statement. Our non-resident tuition is variable and is normally calculated based on when a student begins study here. Please note that as a VIPS student, your CU Boulder tuition will be calculated based on the year you started at your home university, giving you a slight break on tuition costs here.
- A copy of your Passport Biodata page (the page with your picture) - If you do not have a passport, then just submit a copy of the Biodata page as soon as possible. Do not wait until you have a passport before submitting all other application pieces.
- Eligibility and English Language Proficiency - See the Exchange Student Eligibility page for student eligibility requirements to attend CU Boulder, including required English language proficiency scores.
Your Exchange Student Coordinator will send your completed application to CU Boulder. Once you are accepted by CU Boulder, we will send to your coordinator all of your acceptance materials, instructions for registration of courses, visa documents, and housing information.