"Just like there are two sides of the same coin, the UI’s smaller number of international students could lead you to greater opportunities as a unique person who stands out. Be willing to accept new things and say yes to every opportunity that comes your way, because it will guide you to greater opportunities. If you can do it at Iowa, you will for sure become a global leader!”

When the plan to return to his homeland in Nigeria was interrupted by COVID-19, Ya’u Adamu decided to join the University of Iowa to start his doctoral studies in interdisciplinary human toxicology, which has been a great experience for him in many ways. Learn more about Ya’u.

After completing a bachelor's degree in dental surgery and a master's degree in health administration from Bangalore, India, Khyathi Gadag chose to apply to the University of Iowa after conducting comprehensive research on the university’s rankings, principles, and community. Learn more about Khyathi.

Trained as a chemical engineer both in India and in the United States, A. K. Parameswaran (MBA ‘89) entered the University of Iowa MBA program in 1987 with a prestigious scholarship. Currently holding an executive management position in India’s agricultural industry, Parameswaran says he has used what he learned from the Iowa MBA almost every day in his career over the past three decades.

Among more than 2,000 international students from over 100 countries and territories, Ifeoma Anyaoha, a graduate student in business analytics and finance from Nigeria, is set apart by her role as a Life in Iowa program assistant. 

Established in Fall 2020 by the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), the iPeer Mentorship Program (iPeer) pairs new international students (mentees) with returning international students (mentors). As the only peer-to-peer mentorship program designed for international students on campus, iPeer aims to provide support to new international students for their transition in the first semester and personal development, as well as to empower them to become leaders on campus.

Despite being an international student on paper, Pareen Mhatre, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering and minoring in business administration, lists Iowa City as her hometown.

Ebenezer (“Eben”) Aidoo, PhD student in the UI Department of Communication Studies, had several admissions offers from other graduate programs, but chose the University of Iowa “…because of the outstanding teaching and learning resources available for graduate students, reasonable cost of living, stellar health insurance package for graduate teaching and research assistants, and the vibrant academic community in Iowa City.”

Hao Zhou, a third-year MFA student in film and video production, recently added a Student Academy Award to the list of film awards and nominations he has received over the years. As the University of Iowa’s first recipient of this honor, he won the Gold Medal award in the category of Alternative/Experimental for his film Frozen Out. He submitted Frozen Out for a 2022 Oscar nomination for Best Live Action Short Film and will learn soon whether it is selected.

Born and raised in Brazil, Gustavo Campos is a fourth-year finance student from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business who will start his career at the London office of Jefferies Group LLC, an American multinational independent investment bank and financial services company, after graduation in May 2022. He will be working as a sales and trading analyst in the emerging markets desk. Gustavo says he was drawn to this career path by a combination of extracurricular activities, internships, and the fact that he was born and raised in an emerging country.

Over 170 meals were served to University of Iowa students and members of the surrounding community during a special Thanksgiving meal event on Monday, November 22. 

International Programs, the Center for Diversity and Enrichment, and the Office of the Dean of Students are partnering to host a special Thanksgiving meal for UI students and community members on Monday, November 22. For students who stay on campus during Fall Break week, the meal offers an opportunity for them to celebrate Thanksgiving, eat with other students and community members, and join in community with each other.