International Students - F-1 Students

Housing

• On-Campus Housing

  There are many advantages to living on-campus. The convenience of living at UNF provides students with easy access to campus resources and the opportunity to meet new people and get involved in the UNF community.  UNF Housing offers a variety of residence halls to choose from. If you would like to live on campus be sure to complete a UNF Housing Contract early as space is limited. 

• Off-Campus Housing

  Securing off-campus housing is the sole responsibility of the student. Beware of rental scams when using online websites. Look out for red flags and do not pay any money before inspecting the accommodation.

  The following list of off-campus housing resources is for your information only and does not reflect an endorsement from the International Center or UNF:

  Apartment Complexes:

  •  The District on Kernan
  •  Frassati Newman Hall

  Online Housing Search:

  •  Apartment Guide
  •  Zillow
  •  UNF Roommate Search

Shopping

• Grocery Stores

   

  •  ALDI: 4444 Town Center Pkwy. 
  •  Publix: 4413 Town Center Pkwy. Ste. 100 
  •  Winn-Dixie: 11380 Beach Blvd. Ste. 6 

   

• Superstores

  These stores sell groceries and a variety of other items such as medicine, clothes, electronics, household items, etc.

   

  •  Target: 4567 River City Dr.  
  •  Walmart: 13490 Beach Blvd.  

   

• Restaurants & Food Delivery

   

  •  Yelp is a useful tool when searching for nearby restaurants and food delivery options.  

   

• Pharmacies/Drug Stores

   

  •  CVS: 4893 Town Center Pkwy. 
  •  Walgreens: 11430 Beach Blvd.  

   

• International Food Stores

   

  •  Kalyaan Market: 9365 Philips Hwy. Ste. 102 
  •  Kourosh International Market: 9551 Baymeadows Rd.  
  •  Caribbean Latino Asian Food Market: 10150 Beach Blvd.  
  •  Circle Japan: 12192 Beach Blvd. Ste. 1 
  •  Amar European Grocery Store: 8030 Philips Hwy.  

   

   

Cell Phone

• Phone Service Providers

   

  • T-Mobile: 10281 Midtown Pkwy. Ste. 113D1 
  •  AT&T: 4663 River City Dr. Ste. 101 
  •  Sprint: 10261 River Marsh Dr.  
  •  Verizon: 13534 Beach Blvd. Ste. 1 
  •  MetroPCS: 12041 Beach Blvd. Ste. 1 
  •  Best Buy: 4906 Town Center Pkwy.  

   

Buying Textbooks

• Required Textbooks

  You can check your course schedule via your student portal to see what textbooks are required for each of your classes. There are no requirements for students to buy their textbooks at a specific bookstore. The following is the process for finding course materials at the UNF Bookstore called “Shop by Author.”

   

  1. Sign in to myWings
  2. Click the "Registration" tab
  3. Scroll down to "Course Materials (Follett Discover)
  4. Select “My Materials List” at the bottom of the page to view your course list by author

  There are also various online bookstores where you can purchase or rent new and used textbooks. 

   

• Online Bookstores

   

  • Amazon
  •  Chegg

   

Transportation

• Osprey Connector

  The UNF “ Osprey Connector ” is the university’s shuttle system that provides transportation around campus and to the St. Johns Town Center. This is a free service available to all students.

  The Osprey connector has different routes:

  • The Campus Route starts at the Kernan Blvd. and First Coast Pkwy stop (next to Hicks Hall, Bldg. 53), continues to the stop at The Flats at UNF and stops at three locations in the campus core, then two stops at Lot 18 and back to the campus core for four stops before returning to the Kernan Blvd. location. Arrival time is about every 5 minutes during regular hours and approximately every 15 minutes during late night hours.  
  •  The Sunday Residence Hall Route starts at Kernan Blvd. (next to Hicks Hall, Bldg. 53), proceeds to The Flats, stops at the Fountains, and then proceeds to the Village and the Crossings before returning to Kernan Blvd.  
  •  The St. Johns Town Center Route starts on campus at the Library shuttle stop and makes one stop at the Town Center before returning to the Library stop. The drop-off and pick-up point at the Town Center is the same bus shelter used by JTA (Jacksonville Transportation Authority), located on Town Crossing Drive behind the Men’s Warehouse store.  

  These routes can be viewed through DoubleMap . For more information on routes and hours of operation, please visit the UNF Osprey Connector website . 

• Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)

   JTA is the public bus service for Jacksonville. You can view and download all bus route schedules.

   To and from St. Johns Town Center :

  Stand at the UNF bus stop (on the main road in front of the library) at :50 past the hour and within 10 minutes bus 8A will take you to Town Center. To return to UNF, stand at the Town Center bus stop (on Town Crossing Drive behind the Men’s Warehouse store) at the top of the hour. The bus fare is $1.50 (exact change only).

  Bus 8A Route

  Refer to JTA Trip Planning for more destinations in Jacksonville.

• Buying a Car

  If you decide to buy a car it’s important to do plenty of research beforehand. There are numerous online resources that provide helpful information about different vehicles. Check the Kelly Blue Book for information on the value of used cars and Consumer Reports to learn about the pros and cons of a particular cars model.

  The DMV has provided a useful guide to buying a car.

  You must register your vehicle and purchase automobile insurance . It is required by law. 

Applying for a Driver’s License

• Driver’s License

  To acquire a driver’s license, you must apply for one at the Florida Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To do so, you can make an appointment online but have to go in person to apply for a driver’s license. You will need to provide the following documents:

  • Passport
  • I-20
  •  I-94 card/electronic
  • Proof of address (e.g. housing contract, lease agreement, utility bill)
  •  Letter  issued by the International Center (serves as second proof of address)
  • Social Security Card*

  *If you are ineligible for a Social Security Number you must provide a letter form the Social Security Administration indicating that you were never issued one. 

  Please check the requirements for obtaining a Florida driver’s license before visiting the DMV office. The nearest DMV office is the TaxCollector’s office located at 12220 Atlantic Blvd. Suite 102.

Applying for a Florida Identification Card

• Florida Identification Card

  If you do not need a driver’s license, but would like another form of identification, you can apply for a Florida ID card. You are required to apply in person at a local DMV office. To do so, you can make an appointment online. You will need to provide the following documents:

  • Passport
  • I-20
  •  I-94 card/electronic
  • Proof of address (e.g. housing contract, lease agreement, utility bill)
  •  Letter  issued by the International Center (serves as second proof of address)
  • Social Security Card*

  *If you are ineligible for a Social Security Number you must provide a letter form the Social Security Administration indicating that you were never issued one. 

  The nearest DMV office is the TaxCollector’s office located at 12220 Atlantic Blvd. Suite 102.

Opening a Bank Account

• Bank Account

  There are many banks in the area that offer several types of savings and checking accounts. Many banks have checking and/or savings accounts designed specifically for college students.

  The following is a list of nearby banks where you can open an account:

  •  SunTrust: Nearest ATM at 4489 Town Center Pkwy, Jacksonville FL 32246 
  •  Wells Fargo: Nearest ATM at UNF Campus 
  •  Chase: Nearest ATM at UNF Campus 
  •  Bank of America: Nearest ATM at UNF Campus 
  •  BBVA Compass: Nearest ATM at 10060 Skinner Lake Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32246 

   In order to open a bank account, you should bring the following documents: 

  •  Passport 
  •  I-20 
  •  I-94 card/electronic 
  •  Personal Information (address, email, phone number) 

   

Schools and Childcare

• Public Schools

  The public schools that your children will attend are determined by the location of your housing in Jacksonville. Exceptions are based on individual circumstances. Immunization records are required to enroll children in Florida public schools. School transcripts are also helpful (though not required) for placement of children into appropriate grade levels. For details regarding the public school schedule for registration and classes, contact Duval County Public Schools or call 904 390 2082.

• Private Schools

  There are also several private schools located in Jacksonville for your children to attend. These are schools that are not funded by the Federal, State, or local government and are often operated by religious organizations. As they do not receive funding from the government, they are not required to follow educational regulations and are free to establish their own guidelines. Each school will have unique requirements for admittance and tuition payments. It is important to note that private schools often cost substantially more than public schools. 

• Childcare

  UNF offers childcare for UNF students, faculty, and staff through the University Child Development Research Center. This service is not free. There is often a waiting list for placement, based on the date of application. Additionally, there are numerous qualified childcare facilities in the Jacksonville area. A licensed childcare facility must be a well- managed, accountable organization with adequate supervision that provides a safe and healthy environment and activities geared toward specific age groups.

Campus Resources

• On campus resources

   

  •  One-Stop Student Services,Bldg. 53, Suite 1700, provides a single point of communication for issues ranging from academic records to registration.
  •  Student Academic Success Services (SASS), Bldg. 2, Suite 2200, offers academic coaching and tutoring in several subjects. Tutoring appointments are available in person and online.  
  •  Writing Center, Bldg. 4, Room 2501, offers targeted tutoring and workshops to support writing across many disciplines.
  •  Student Health Services (SHS), Bldg. 39A, Room 2098, provides students with a variety of medical care services. Services are by appointment only.
  •  Counseling Center, Bldg. 2, Room 2300, provides numerous mental health services to the university community in a confidential and supportive environment.  
  •  Departmentof Diversity Initiatives (DDI), Bldg. 2, Suite 2100, comprises units that promote diversity and inclusion at UNF. DDI includes the Women’s Center, the Intercultural Center for Peace, the Interfaith Center, the Student Alliance for Inclusion and Diversity, and the Victim Advocacy Program.
  •  LGBT Resource Center, Bldg. 58E, Room 1111, provides education and resources for the entire campus community with a commitment to advocacy, equality, respect, and support for LGBT students, faculty, and staff.
  •  Disability Resource Center (DRC), Bldg. 57, Room 1500, works to ensure that all students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities at UNF.  
  •  Club Alliance, Bldg. 58E, Suite 3003, there are over 200 clubs on campus. You can get involved by searching for a club that caters to your interest by viewing the Club List.