So, you're officially a Cougar! You’ve worked hard to get here, and your academic career at the University of Houston is about to start.

The mission of New Student Orientation (NSO) at the University of Houston is to facilitate the successful transition of new students, transfers and supporters by fostering opportunities for academic, social and cultural engagement through intentional, student-centered programming.

Orientation is a mandatory two-day experience for freshmen and one-day experience for transfer students where you'll get to meet fellow new Coogs, current student leaders, faculty and staff. During orientation, you’ll get connected with the UH community and learn about services that are here to help you succeed. You’ll also meet with your academic college advising staff to register for classes!

The orientation experience will inspire your Cougar Pride and set you up for success at UH. Go Coogs!

Summer and fall 2025 orientation information will be posted in March. Admitted students should monitor their email for instructions on orientation registration dates.

Your Orientation Process

Pre-Orientation Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of orientation and how do I register?
The cost for freshman orientation is $150. The cost for transfer orientation is $75. Payment for orientation is due before you can view and select an orientation date. 

How do I remove the orientation holds on my account?

• Pre-Orientation

• New Student/Transfer Orientation

• Orientation Advising

The Pre-Orientation hold will be removed when you complete the Pre-Orientation Modules. Make sure you have pop-up blockers disabled:

The New Student/Transfer Orientation and Orientation Advising holds will be removed from your account when you attend orientation. 

How do I change my major before attending orientation?
If you are concerned about your major choice, review the Change of Major information. The deadline to submit your change of major request is two weeks prior to your registered orientation date.

Do you offer a fee waiver for orientation?
UH does not offer fee waivers for orientation, however, you may be eligible for a fee deferment. A fee deferment will add the orientation fee to your tuition and fee bill instead of requiring you to pay before registering for orientation. This allows you to pay for orientation once you receive your financial aid package by the tuition and fee bill deadline.

If you are eligible for a fee deferment, the orientation registration system will automatically defer payment to your first semester of enrollment.

Students who do not have a FAFSA on file cannot qualify for a fee deferment.

Payment is due by the tuition and fee bill deadline. Any student who attends orientation will be required to pay the orientation fee, whether the fee was deferred or the student attended a previous orientation from another term. Financial aid can only be used to pay certain charges and may not cover the orientation fee. Additionally, the orientation fee payment is still required if the student does not enroll in the University after attending orientation. If payment is not made, a financial delinquency hold will be placed on the student’s account.

Where can I park?
Follow these instructions to park in the University Gateway Garage. Gates for this garage will be open for orientation attendees only. A parking ticket will not be validated if you park in a garage that is not the University Gateway Garage. 

Where to Park

What if I need special accommodation?
Email orientation@uh.edu at least one week prior to your orientation date if you need assistance during your orientation.

Can my family or supporters attend orientation and how do I add them?
Yes! If you have family or supporters who want to support you in your transition to UH, encourage them to register for the Family & Supporter Orientation. The cost for Family & Supporter Orientation is detailed on the page linked below. Some portions of orientation programming are planned for you and your supporter to experience together while other sessions are just for you and will separate you from your supporter.

Learn more about Family & Supporter Orientation

Can I bring my friend/sibling/family member with me to orientation?
Parents and guardians are welcome at all orientations and, if attending, will follow a separate schedule of events. Because of the nature of the program, it is not appropriate for anyone except parents/guardians or spouses to attend as a supporter. Friends or siblings are not allowed to accompany you. Supporters under 18 will not be able to attend the Family & Supporter Orientation without a parent or guardian. The exception would be an older sibling who is acting in a guardian capacity; however, in this case, the sibling would attend the Family & Supporter Orientation and would not be with you during any time parents and students are not ordinarily together.

Policies

Exemptions from Completing Orientation

All incoming students to UH must attend an orientation session. Only students meeting one of the criteria below are eligible to request an exemption:

1. Student has paid for and attended a New Student Orientation within the last 12 months.
2. Student will be non-degree seeking AND is not planning to transition to a degree-seeking student.
3. Student has been admitted as a post-baccalaureate student in the College of Education, College of Nursing or in Undergraduate Student Success (Exploratory Studies and BSIS majors). 

Students who meet any of the above criteria can complete an exemption form, which will be made available when orientation registration opens. Staff will verify the exemption and, if the criteria is met, remove both holds within 24 - 48 business hours. If exemption criteria is not met, the student will be notified within 24 - 48 business hours.

Accommodation to Attend Online Self-Paced Orientation

All incoming students to UH must attend an in-person orientation session. However, if you meet one of the criteria below, you can receive an accommodation to attend an asynchronous Online Self-Paced Orientation:

1. Student will be completing a UH Extend online-only degree program.
2. Student has a documented medical condition spanning the entirety of the offered orientation dates, which prevents them from attending any in-person orientation dates.
3. Student’s permanent address is more than 300+ miles from the UH main campus.
4. Student will be traveling during the entirety of the offered orientation dates, which prevents them from attending any in-person orientation date. Examples may include a mission trip or studying abroad.
   • Acceptable forms of documentation include: a confirmed airline ticket, train ticket, road trip documentation information, etc. spanning the dates of all orientation sessions.
5. Student is or will be serving military orders during the entirety of the offered orientation dates, which prevents them from attending any in-person orientation date.

Students who meet any of the above criteria can submit a Virtual Orientation Accommodation form to complete an online self-paced orientation when orientation registration opens. UH reserves the right to deny a student’s request for Online Self-Paced Orientation without sufficient documentation of need.

Fee Deferment

UH does not offer fee waivers for orientation, however, you may be eligible for a fee deferment. A fee deferment will add the orientation fee to your tuition and fee bill instead of requiring you to pay before registering for orientation. This allows you to pay for orientation once you receive your financial aid package by the tuition and fee bill deadline.

If you are eligible for a fee deferment, the orientation registration system will automatically defer payment to your first semester of enrollment.

Students who do not have a FAFSA on file cannot qualify for a fee deferment.

Payment is due by the tuition and fee bill deadline. Any student who attends orientation will be required to pay the orientation fee, whether the fee was deferred or the student attended a previous orientation from another term. Financial aid can only be used to pay certain charges and may not cover the orientation fee. Additionally, the orientation fee payment is still required if the student does not enroll in the University after attending orientation. If payment is not made, a financial delinquency hold will be placed on the student’s account.

Orientation Fees and Refunds

The orientation fee is due at the time of registration. 

All orientation fees for both students and family and supporters are non-refundable.

Accessibility

All videos are closed-captioned for students with accessibility needs. If you need further assistance or have questions about the orientation experience, don’t hesitate to contact us at orientation@uh.edu.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns related to orientation that weren't answered above, please contact us at orientation@uh.edu. We look forward to seeing you!

Meet the O-Team

The Orientation Team (O-Team for short) are your new best friends. Think of them as a family made up of a diverse and unique group of current UH students who serve as leaders across campus. They'll work with you and your family to introduce you to UH, and all the academic, social and cultural aspects of becoming a Cougar.

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