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Greetings from International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)!
International students and scholars are valued members of the Western community.
ISSS supports students and scholars who journey from around the world to study and work at Western.
We welcome 150-200 international students from countries spanning the globe.
Meet an Advisor
The ISSS office is open for drop-in hours and also available for virtual appointments or via email.
In-person Meetings:
Weekly in-person drop in hours vary by quarter, but in-person appointments can be scheduled in advance using the link above.
The ISSS Office is in Miller Hall 212 Campus Map (MH on the map, beside Red Square. Our office is on the second floor)
Virtual Meetings:
Current and Prospective Students - schedule appointments on Zoom
General Contact
General email: ISSS@wwu.edu
Visit the After Hours Care page for after hours or weekend medical concerns.
Watch the YouTube Tour
Support International Students
Your donation goes directly to international students.
Campus Life & Activities
International students have many opportunities to engage with the university and the community through Associated Student clubs, outdoor activities, performances, and cultural events. Students can find events and clubs through the Western Involvement Network (WIN).
In addition, students can engage in sport clubs, fitness classes, aquatics, climbing wall, and intramural sports through the Student Recreation Center.
What is the International Buddy Program?
Western’s International Buddy Program is designed to help the new International students transition smoothly to Western’s campus and Bellingham, and to create opportunities make global friendships and share cultures. The program coordinators organize a number of group activities every quarter—most are free or low-cost!
Student Testimonials
Major: Communication Disorders.
I fell in love with Lakewood, Western’s facility on Lake Whatcom, and joined Western's sailing team. I had never sailed before but the team was willing to teach me. Today, they are the biggest family I have here in Bellingham.
Emily TsanMalaysia
Major: Cybersecurity
Many students in our program competed on the Collegiate Cyber Defense Club. We had fun and got experience with real-life applications. The competitions were in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory where we also got to meet big sponsors such as Boeing, Google, NSA, and the Department of Defense.
Ky TranVietnam