International Students

The World is Welcome at Rhodes. Over our long history, international students from hundreds of global cities have made Memphis their college home.

• For the academic year 2024-2025, 133 students, 8% of the student population, are here as F-1 or J-1 students, Permanent Residents, or other visa categories. 
• Countries represented: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Australia, Romania, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Canada, Pakistan, China, Dominica, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, India, Iran, Ireland/UK, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Syria, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

Current graduates on OPT or STEM OPT: 28

Our students are receiving major-specific training at Fortune 500 corporations, such as FedEx, Google, AutoZone, and International Paper; at world-class medical centers such as St. Jude Children’s Medical Research Hospital and UT Health Sciences Center; and at Finance/Banking firms such as Earnst and Young and Goldman Sachs.  

Titles include: 

• Business Analyst
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Cloud Engineer
• Financial and Credit Analyst
• Neuroscience Research Assistant
• Software Engineer
• Technology Risk Assurance Staff
• Wealth Management Analyst

Employment opportunities, such as OPT and CPT, and academic internships are two of the main reasons our students thrive on and off campus. We also support international students studying abroad as frequently as our domestic students do, so as to take full advantage of the Rhodes College liberal arts education. Whether it’s support needed for essential services or for more individual needs, the Rhodes International Student Services team in the Buckman Center for Global Engagement is on hand to respond to any needs or questions:

• Airport pickups in the students' first semester, including exchange students
• Multi-day International Student Orientation
• Dedicated Rhodes Student Associate for International Students, plus a volunteer team of International Peer Advisors
• Advising about immigration and the maintenance of status
• CPT/OPT application support and ongoing post-completion and STEM OPT support up to three years after graduation
• Social Security Number application support 
• Volunteer drivers to SSA Office, bank account set up, and phone/SIM card stores
• Free access to Sprintax income tax software for F-1 students
• Events and shopping trips each semester
• English Language Support with Writing Labs and one-on-one tutoring from TEFL students
• Support letters upon request, such as for Tennessee Drivers' Licenses and family members' tourist visas for commencement
• Support during academic interruptions, such as for mandatory military duty
• Study abroad/away advising in context with international student status
• Referrals when needed, such as to Student Employment, Career Services, Financial Aid, and Residence Life
• Overall institutional regulatory compliance 

Student-run clubs and organizations like these contribute to vibrant dialog and discovery while supporting the cultural health of the College:

• African Students Association (ASA)
• Africana Women Supporting Ourselves and Maintaining Excellence (A.W.S.O.M.E.)
• All Students Interested in Asia (A.S.I.A.)
• Black Student Association
• French Club
• German Culture Club
• Hillel of Rhodes College
• International & Immigrant Students Association
• Latinx Student Association
• Medical Spanish Club
• Men of Distinction
• Middle Eastern Student Association (MESA)
• Muslim Student Association
• Russian Club
• Society of World Affairs Today
• South Asian Culture and Advocacy (SACA)

Ready to apply to Rhodes College?