Dear Graduate Student,

Brown University Graduate School looks forward to welcoming you to campus.

We ask that you take the following steps:

1. Set up your Brown Account - please wait 2 days after accepting your offer of admission before activating your account. The account gives you access to electronic services, including a Brown email address. Beginning in early June (for fall starts) or early January (for spring starts) the Graduate School will send email exclusively to your Brown email address. For issues, see the IT Knowledgebases or contact the Office of Information Technology Service Center.

2. To activate, you will need your Brown ID number: 140782477

1. Enter your last name, date of birth, and the ID number.
2. Read and agree to the terms of use for your Brown account, and choose a password.
3. Read and agree to the terms of use for your Google account, and choose a password.
4. Your Brown username and email address will be listed on the last page - print this page or make a note of them.

After activation, we recommend you:

1. Add a mobile number to Banner. This allows you to reset your Brown password should you forget it, and also ensures you are notified should an emergency occur at Brown. To do this, log in to selfservice.brown.edu and click Personal Information.
2. Log in to your email. You can simply visit gmail.com and log in with your Brown email address; and you'll be prompted to log in with Brown single sign on.
3. Set up Two-Step Verification. The first time you log into a Brown service like Banner, you will be prompted to set up a means of verification, such as a phone number. You can log into MyAccount after setup to add additional devices or phone numbers. Read more about two-step verification at brown.edu/go/twostep
4. Note for international students: International numbers are acceptable and they should be entered with a + in front of the country code. If you don't plan to get a US cell phone once in the country, you can use the smartphone app (Duo Mobile) over wifi or without a connection.

Please provide a photo for your Brown Identification Card. The Brown Card is the official University identification card. The image should be a passport-style “head and shoulders” image. To submit your photo, log into the secure area of Banner, Applicant and Student section, and use the link for Brown ID Online Photo Submission. Upon arrival on campus, you can pick up your card during business hours at the Brown Card Office.

3. Read our online guide for admitted students. Find important dates and contacts and learn information about governance, campus resources and services, life at Brown, and living in the Providence area.

Sincerely,
The Deans and Staff of the Graduate School

​Dear Graduate Student,

I am pleased that you have accepted our offer of admission to the Brown University Graduate School. Congratulations on taking this step, and thank you for choosing Brown for your graduate studies.

At Brown, you will have access to leading scholars, teachers and researchers, as well as the Graduate School deans and staff. One of my top priorities as dean is finding regular opportunities to connect with students from across our many graduate programs. During the academic year, I hold weekly open hours for drop-in conversations about your ideas and interests, and you are always welcome to schedule an appointment with  me or another dean.

As you prepare for beginning graduate studies at Brown, below are a few initial resources to familiarize yourself with and notes about steps to take in the weeks and months ahead.

Preparing for Your Arrival

• Brown University Academic Code and Student Conduct Codes: Respectively, these documents outline Brown’s expectations for scholarly integrity and for the many interactions you’ll have as part of our academic community. You will receive instructions this summer to complete a mandatory online course regarding these codes.
• Health and well-being: Brown has a wide range of resources and standards in place to protect health and safety and ensure a positive experience for all students. All new students are required to complete the Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students course. Look for an email in July with instructions on how to complete this training before classes begin.
• Handbooks: In addition to your specific program’s handbook (which can be found on your program's website), please review the Graduate Studies Handbook to familiarize yourself with degree requirements and university policies.
• Brown Ever True: As you prepare for your studies, we encourage you to become familiar with the many resources of our vibrant University community. As this continues to be a period of healing for many in our community following the tragic events of Dec. 13, 2025, we are dedicated to Brown Ever True, a campus-wide recovery effort launched. Brown Ever True is a testament to our collective strength and commitment to one another.

Next Steps
Please retain your offer of admission. The offer represents the University's commitment to you. In the future, you may want to refer to it and this communication.

Again, congratulations on joining the Brown community. The Graduate School will be in touch with you several times before Orientation, and I look forward to welcoming you to campus.

Sincerely,

David P. Lindstrom
Dean of the Graduate School
Brown University

Dear Graduate Student,

Congratulations on your acceptance to Brown! The Graduate Student Council is thoroughly excited to meet you and welcome you to your new home in Providence. We hope that you will find everything you need here, and if not, don't hesitate to reach out as it is our official role as graduate student representatives to connect you with the appropriate resources.

To hopefully smooth the transition to Brown's community and Providence as much as possible, we are hosting a Housing Webinar on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 from 10-11:30 am EST.

As graduate students ourselves who went through the process of moving to Providence recently, both from out-of-state and out-of-the-country, we hope to be able to answer your questions and give you helpful tips about the housing market here. We will be answering frequently asked questions as well as fielding live questions from anyone tuning into the webinar.

Please sign up to attend the webinar. We will send instructions on joining the webinar to those who register. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the Graduate School website (should you not be able to attend). You may also submit questions in advance.

Additionally, we encourage you to get connected to the graduate community through our social media (Facebook | Instagram), website and our mailing lists.

Sincerely,

2026 Executive Board of the Graduate Student Council

Kevin LoGiudice, President
Nikita Redkar, Vice President of Advocacy
Aysun Akhundlu, Chair of Nominations
George Tollefson and Laurel Thorne, Co-chairs of Social Events
Sofia Verba, Chair of Student Life
Nazanin Ahmadi, Treasurer
Ambree Robinson, Chair of Communications
Jasmine Warren, Chair of Master's Advocacy
Kruti Savani, Chair of International Advocacy
Dominique Walker, Chair of Technology
Jean J. Jerome, Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
MJ Ahmadi, Chair of Education

Dear Graduate Student,

Welcome to Brown University's Graduate School! We're excited to have you join our vibrant intellectual community this fall.

Brown’s Graduate Student Orientations

Please mark your calendar for the following events:

All-Student Graduate Orientation (mandatory for all students)

• Dates: September 1 – Thursday, September 3, 2026
• Format: In-person or livestream (Zoom) options available
• Concludes with Resource Fair on Thursday

International Graduate Student Orientation (mandatory for international students only)

• Dates: August 26-27, 2026
• Format: In-person or livestream (Zoom) options available

Graduate Student of Color Orientation (optional)

• Dates: August 30-31, 2026
• Format: In-person only

What to Expect

These orientations will help you:

• Connect with fellow graduate students across programs
• Understand Brown's academic culture and expectations
• Access essential Graduate School and University resources

Deadline

Registration for all orientations is required by June 15, 2026. You will be required to login using the same credentials as you used to complete your application.

Additional Information

• Schedules for All-Student and International Orientation will be posted on the Graduate School website by early June and will be updated in the BrownU App by mid-August.
• Your fellow graduate students are organizing social and community-building events from August 26 – September 7. Registration will open on the Brown Events Calendar in early August, and we'll send a reminder.
• Don't forget to attend your departmental orientation for academic advising and program-specific requirements.
• If you haven’t already done so, consider signing up for the Incoming Student Housing Webinar, tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6, 2026 from 10-11:30 am EST, hosted by the Graduate Student Council.

We look forward to seeing you this fall!

Sincerely,
Brown University Graduate School Deans and Staff

The Summer English Program is Now Accepting Participants for the 2026 Cohort!

Dear Graduate Student,

Starting graduate school in an English-speaking country and a new academic environment where the dominant language spoken is not your primary language can feel exciting and overwhelming. Many international and multilingual students come to Brown with strong academic preparation, rich linguistic and cultural experiences, and important ideas to contribute, yet find themselves having to navigate unfamiliar expectations that are rarely made fully visible. For example, how do you speak up in class when you are still adjusting to new discussion styles? How do you participate in conversations, build connections, and express your ideas with confidence when so much of the “how” seems unwritten?

The Summer English Language Program through Brown’s Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning is designed with these real questions in mind. Throughout the two-week pre-orientation program, participants will explore key communicative situations that often shape early graduate student experiences, including writing emails, making small talk, participating in academic discussions in classrooms and research group meetings, building relationships with academic advisors, giving academic presentations, and writing with sources. The program helps make visible some of the hidden curriculum of graduate study at Brown that can affect how students participate, connect, and feel a sense of belonging. In a supportive and  low-stakes environment, participants will have opportunities to practice both social and academic English, receive direct and individualized feedback from English Language Support, connect with campus staff and university resources, and build community with other graduate students from a wide range of disciplines.

What past participants shared

• “Thank you for organizing this wonderful English language program, which covered a broad range of topics related to English useful for navigating graduate student life at Brown. Apart from the useful materials presented in class, I especially appreciate the low-stakes environment this program cultivated, where we did not need to worry about making mistakes and gradually built up skills and confidence in English speaking.”
  –Anonymous Participant, Summer 2025
• “Thank you for your preparation and dedication to this program. This program truly helped me a lot getting used to a totally new environment in Providence and Brown.”
  –Anonymous Participant, Summer 2024
• “Thank you very much for this wonderful experience. This is my first time coming to the US and I felt really happy and involved during my first few weeks here. I couldn't imagine what it would be like if I didn't know anyone and about anything, whether at Brown or the US culture. Those things helped me tremendously.”
  –Anonymous Participant, Summer 2023

Schedule and Application

The 2026 program will take place August 10th to August 21st and will be delivered in person with a maximum capacity of 25 students. There are no program fees for participation. Materials and fees for any site visits will be provided. Participants should plan to secure their own housing and any transportation to and from the program site prior to the program start date.

Master’s and Ph.D. students in any discipline who are beginning their academic programs on campus in Summer or Fall 2026 can use can apply by 11:59 pm EST, June 1, 2026. Accepted participants will be sent an invitation email by June 5. Invitees will be asked to confirm their participation in the program via email by 11:59 pm EST, June 10, 2026. If you are unable to access the Google Form or if you have any questions, please contact Dr. Joy Shuyuan Liu, Assistant Director of English Language Support, at joy_s_liu@brown.edu.

Dear Graduate Student,

You're invited to join a Virtual Graduate Student Meet and Greet on Tuesday, June 23 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. ET. This session is intended to facilitate connections with your fellow graduate student community before Orientation and will not be recorded. We will also share pro tips and suggestions when searching for housing or ways to socialize while at Brown.

Register

If you're looking to share contact information with other students to find a study buddy, future friend, or roommate, please submit the 'Meet and Greet with Your Fellow Graduate Community' form.
 
Please note that the form is only accessible through your Brown email. If you choose to submit the form, afterwards you will receive a confirmation email with the link to access the sheet of others student responses. 

We look forward to connecting with you!

Sincerely,
Brown University Graduate School and the Division of Master's and Professional Programs