Welcome to the University of Montana Family!

We are excited you chose to become a Grizzly! Here's some information to help you get started with your transition to campus. 

We recognize that as a transfer student, someone who has competed 12 semester credits at a college/university post-high school graduation, you may have already gone through an orientation and transition program.  You may even be one of th lucky ones and feel rather confident in this transition!  That's great.

We also know that colleges and universities can be very different, so ensuring you have access to the right information, resources, and peer support is of the utmost importance to us.

If you are not a transfer student, please visit our First-Year Student Transition page instead.

Transfer Students Beginning in the Spring

New Student Orientation

As noted below, we launched a brand new online and self-paced New Student Orientation.  Students beginning in Spring 2024 will get access to this program in November.

Spring Big Sky Experience (Optional)

January 17, 2024

Incoming transfer students at UM or the Missoula College are invited to attend a one-day in person program right before the spring semester begins.  Families are welcome to attend for some morning programming as well. 

Spring 2024 Big Sky Experience schedule of events

The official move-in day for students living in the residence halls is Tuesday, January 16, 2024 - keep an eye out for additional information from UM Housing on arrival and residence hall move-in.

Transfer Students Beginning in the Fall

New Student Orientation

All incoming students will complete this online, interactive and video-based orientation program to better prepare for their first semester at UM with us. Students can complete this program at their on pace, on their own time, and in the comfort of their own home!  It will take you approximately 1 hour to complete from start to finish, but you can pause and come back to it as many times as you would like.

This platform will include information about:

- Your Academic College and Resources
- Student and Campus Life
- Campus and Community Support
- Financial Matters
- Student Safety and Policies
- Bystander Interventions and Community Expectations
- and more!

Fall 2024 incoming students will get access to this platform in the summer.

 The Big Sky Experience - Optional for Transfer Students

August 19 - 23, 2024

Since you may already feel prepared and ready to go, this award-winning week of welcome is not required for you...but you are definitely invited!

This five-day program begins with residence hall move-in for those living with us, and also signals the start of residential meal plans.  In addition, it will provide an opportunity for students to meet their incoming peers, get to know the campus and Missoula community, and learn about what it means to be a student at the University of Montana.  Oh, and it'll be a whole lot of fun, too with evening Griz Welcome activities every night of the week.

Registration for the Big Sky Experience will not open until late summer.

If you are interested in attending this program, please contact Devin Carpenter, Director of New Student Success at orientation@mso.umt.edu 

Summer Session Students

Incoming students who wish to begin classes in the summer should plan on completing their Online New Student Orientation as early as possible, so they can meet with an academic advisor and register for classes on time.  You can find more information about UM Summer on their website.

Post-Baccalaureate Students

Post-baccalaureate students are not required to complete an orientation program. You are able to register for classes on your own, or contact an academic advisor for assistance.