Making Villanova Home

Scams and Fraud Awareness: It is critical for students relocating to the area to be aware of frauds and scams, especially as it relates to finding housing. Housing scams typically occur in online advertisements on sites such as craigslist.org. If the contact person requires that you send money for your room or apartment before you have visited the property, this could be a scam. Never send money or give our personal information or immigration details to anyone over the phone or online. If you must give money before arriving in the United States to hold the apartment, please take necessary precautions to ensure it is legitimate by checking the address on google maps and arrange a digital viewing via FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype, etc.

Learn more about avoiding rental scams.

Watch Part I of our Finding Housing video series!

Watch Part 2 of our Finding Housing video series!

Watch Part 3 of our Finding Housing video series!

Everything you need to know about parking and transportation at Villanova.

Villanova staff members introduce a variety of off-campus living resources: WATCH VIDEO

Visit Villanova's comprehensive Off-Campus Housing website featuring a roommate finder, nearby property listings, and much more!

• How to Ride the Regional Rail: WATCH VIDEO
• How to Ride the Trolley: WATCH VIDEO
• How to Ride the Bus: WATCH VIDEO
  
• How to Add Money to your SEPTA Key: WATCH VIDEO
• SEPTA Key Explained: WATCH VIDEO
• SEPTA Website

Depending on your visa type, you may be eligible to work on-campus while attending classes. Visit this website to learn more about on-campus job opportunities. For more information about employment as an international student, please meet with Hubert WhanTong.

The International House Philadelphia (IHP) is an organization in Philadelhpia that organizes regular events and outings for international students and scholars in the Philadelhpia area. IHP also produces this International Student & Scholar Guide, which covers important topics such as Housing, Money,  Health, Shopping, Transport, and more!

The International Student and Scholars Office is a critical resource for all international students at Villanova. All international students should make themselves familiar with the office's services and Mr. Hubert WhanTong, Director of International Students and Scholars.

WATCH this video to learn more about navigating living essentials in the Villanova area (where to shop, where to eat, how to get around, etc.!).

• Taxes: International graduate students are required to pay taxes and file tax forms for any on-campus job, graduate assistantship, or any other type of funds received from the University (such as a hardship fund or other scholarship). You may qualify for an exemption from federal taxes (not state) if your home country has a tax treaty with the United States. Please visit the IRS website to view which countries have tax treaties with the United States.
• US Tax Filing Obligations for International Students: Watch Video
• Money and  Banking for International Students.
  
• Watch this video hosted by an international graduate student at Villanova on money and banking in the United States.
  

International graduate students are required to attend several orientation and onboarding sessions to help acclimate yourself to life in the United States and Villanova:

1. The International Student and Scholars Office hosts a mandatory orientation session when you arrive on campus. The exact date and time of this program will be communicated to you directly by Hubert WhanTong.
2. The Grad Center hosted a Pre-Departure Virtual Orientation session on Tuesday, June 24. You can watch a recording of this session here.
3. The Grad Center hosts a virtual orientation for all incoming graduate and law students. This program was held on Wednesday, August 13 at 6pm EST.
   
4. The Grad Center hosts an all-day onboarding program for international graduate students. The date and time of the onboarding program for Fall 2025 is scheduled for Friday, September 5 from 8am - 4pm.

Please view a recording of the Pre-Departure Orientation Session for International Graduate Students. During this session, the Grad Center team presented on finding housing, preparing for your trip, getting around the Villanova area, health insurance, mobile, banking, and internet. The session ends with a robust student panel featuring five current international graduate students. 

• Budgeting in Real Life: WATCH VIDEO
• How to Make a Useful Budget: WATCH VIDEO
  
• Personal Finance Tips and Tricks: WATCH VIDEO
• Saving for an Emergency Fund: WATCH VIDEO
  

Learn more about campus banking at Villanova, and Villanova's preferred banking partner, JP Morgan Chase.

• Credit Scores vs. Credit Report: WATCH VIDEO
  
• How to Check Your Annual Credit Report for Free: WATCH VIDEO
• How to Check your Credit Score for Free: WATCH VIDEO 
• How to Start Building Credit from Scratch: WATCH VIDEO
• How to Build and Improve Credit: WATCH VIDEO

• Avoiding Rental Scams
  
• Payment App Scams
  
• Scams to Look for in 2023: WATCH VIDEO
  

• WATCH this video on Money and Banking in the U.S. hosted by a current VU international graduate student!
  

• How to Prepare Your Grad Student Tax Return
  
• Tax obligations for international students: WATCH VIDEO
• Understanding your withholding: WATCH VIDEO