New students

1. Locate your Campus Wide Identification Number (CWID), also called your A-number, on your admission letter. This unique identifier should be included in all communication with the university to ensure a smoother process when addressing your questions. If your A-number is not included in your admission letter, contact admission@id.iit.edu for assistance.
2. Pay a $500 (USD) deposit by clicking the “Intent to Enroll Form” on your Application Status Page. This deposit is required to secure your spot and allow you to proceed with the next enrollment steps. The deposit will be applied toward your first tuition payment and is due no later than April 15, 2025.

Please contact ID directly at admissions@id.iit.edu if you experience any difficulties with your deposit.

After completing your $500 deposit, specific steps for securing your visa will become available on your Application Status Page. The first step is to collect your support documents and the I-20 form. We cannot issue an I-20 form until we’ve received and verified all required support documents via the Application Status Page, including:

1. A Financial Affidavit of Responsibility Form signed by the student and any personal sponsors
2. Proof of Funds (bank letters, bank statements, award letters, etc.)
3. Copy of the identification page of your unexpired passport

Please note: Additional documents are required for students with dependents and for transfer-in students.

The Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) requires all F-1 and J-1 students to show proof of financial support for their first year of each program of university study in the United States.

When calculating your expenses, remember that Student (F) or Exchange (J) visa holders are not authorized to work off campus as a means of support during their first two consecutive semesters at the Institute of Design.

For your I-20 or other visa-related documents, the Master of Design (MDes) program is classified as “Human Computer Interaction” with the CIP code 30.3101.

We recommend requesting two copies of each official document—one to submit and one to keep for yourself—as you will likely need original copies when applying for a visa with the United States Consulate or Embassy.

After completing the checklist items on your Application Status Page, your Student Email Account will be created. Your username and temporary password will be emailed to the email address you used during application approximately 7-10 business days after your deposit is received.

You can access your student email account through the Illinois Tech Portal. All further communications with the Institute of Design and Illinois Tech should be conducted through your student email account.

Before the start of your first semester, you will need to complete your immunization requirements. See this page at Illinois Tech for the latest instructions: immunization requirements.

Fall 2025 semester:

• Orientation starts the week of August 11, 2025
• Classes start on August 18, 2025

Spring 2026 semester:

• Orientation starts the week of January 12, 2026
• Classes start on January 20, 2026

You can see the full academic calendar for Illinois Tech here.