Tufts University is home to a welcoming and multidimensional community. From day one, all students can explore new interests and creative outlets, forge lifelong relationships, and broaden their horizons. And from your peers to the dean, everyone here lives by the spirit of the university’s motto, Pax et Lux (“Peace and Light”) — working together as active global citizens who illuminate each other and the world.
Learn more about Tufts School of Engineering Graduate Programmes.
“At Tufts, international student ideas, voices, and talents are not only appreciated, but their presence is also integral to our very mission,” Director of the International Centre, Anna Garson, says. “We are committed to fostering and supporting globally-minded scholars who are prepared to face complex challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.”
Tufts is home to many international students, and every student benefits from support that helps them pursue their academic and professional goals while balancing other responsibilities.
The university’s International Centre plays a key role in this, offering tailored guidance for every stage of your Tufts journey. One-on-one advising sessions provide clarity on immigration protocols, visa documents, and the essentials of settling in as an international student in the US. Throughout the year, a series of workshops cover important topics such as maintaining F-1 and J-1 visa status, long-term options after practical training, and more.
“As an international student at Tufts, you will benefit from a wide range of supportive resources, including the programmes and services offered by the International Centre, while earning a world-class education with faculty and staff who also hail from across the globe,” Garson says.
The International Centre currently operates in a hybrid fashion, combining online advising with in-person services that take place in two offices at different locations: the Medford/Somerville Campus and the Boston Health Sciences Campus. Engineering students should visit the Medford/Somerville office for guidance regarding their international status.
International students joining the Intercultural Conversation Programme will be assigned an English-speaking student or staff member. Source: Tufts University
Even more support for international graduate students
A master’s or PhD is demanding by design. The intellectual rigour is higher, expectations sharper. Add in personal pressures — finances, family, and relocation — and the experience can feel overwhelming.
Tufts understands this. For international graduate students, it offers a comprehensive suite of support services that help students thrive academically and personally while adjusting to life in a new country.
First-year graduate students can sign up for the Intercultural Conversation Programme. This is a one-semester mentor-mentee programme where you will be paired with an English-speaking graduate student or staff member with whom you will meet regularly. Throughout the semester, the programme hosts social events where you can practise speaking English in informal settings, learn about American culture, and explore the surrounding area both on and off campus with your mentor.
The university’s social calendar is just as filled with opportunities to connect with the wider campus community. Whether you’re international or local, new to campus, or simply looking to expand your circle, everyone is welcome at events such as group picnics, community dinners, and outings to neighbourhood gems like the Davis Square Farmers Market. For those planning their next steps, workshops on job search strategies offer practical insights tailored to international students. It’s all part of a campus culture that values friendship, exchange, and the kind of conversations that last well beyond graduation.
The many student organisations here provide more ways to get involved. Hundreds of student organisations are available for all students.
03/31/2025 – Medford/Somerville, Mass. – Graham Leverick, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Ali Kavanaugh, first-year doctoral candidate in Chemical and Biological Engineering, pose for photos in the Leverick Lab, whose research explores battery technology, on March 31, 2025. (Alonso Nichols/Tufts University)
There’s always so much going on because Tufts knows that forums, socials, and clubs are crucial to graduate study. When people come together, they build something bigger than themselves. And when that flows into the classrooms and labs, that collaboration only leads to better learning.
Take the School of Engineering, for example. The school is home to over 800 graduate students and 100 faculty members who work together to develop innovative solutions and address important engineering challenges. For example, some are part of Professor Bree Aldridge’s study of a powerful AI-assisted method to uncover how TB treatments can best work together at the cellular level to speed better cures. Others are working with Associate Professor Nik Nair to reduce the chemical industry’s dependence on petroleum or designing floss pick systems that can be adapted to track a wide range of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer in Professor Sameer Sonkusale’s lab. Some even pursue work experience through the .
“International graduate students in the School of Engineering arrive with a strong sense of purpose and a clear drive to make the most of their experience,” student advisor Sofia Alfred says. “They engage deeply with their academics, seek out opportunities for growth, and build meaningful connections across Tufts’ campus.”
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