Champlain College
Burlington, Vermont, United States

To explore downtown, just head down the hill toward the water—it's just a five-minute walk from campus.

Burlington Bike Path

Waterfront Park - You'll find the waterfront and community park graced with pristine shoreline as far as the eye can see and a magnificent boardwalk, built for strolling, biking, running, even snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter.

Church Street Marketplace - This is the epicenter of Burlington with cobblestone streets, unique stores, tea and coffee shops, and boutiques.

Lake Champlain Ferry

Battery Park - Find a spot to sit and watch a beautiful sunset over the Adirondack Mountain range.

Farmer's Market - Burlington and surrounding communities offer a great way to eliminate the middleman when it comes to getting local food direct from the source. The biggest one is the Burlington Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9 to 2 p.m. in City Hall Park during the summer and in the Burlington Auditorium in the winter. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has a webpage devoted to local agriculture and farmers markets around the state. 

Flynn Center of the Performing Arts

Burlington City Arts @ The BCA Center

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival

Burlington Marathon

Ranked #3 in the 'Top 10 Best Cities for Foodies" by CNBC, the food scene in Burlington prioritizes local foods. With many restaurants participating in the Vermont Fresh Network and getting their meat and produce from local farms, people can guarantee the quality of their meals. Also while you're here join one of the many CSA's; Champlain College participates with the Intervale Food Hub CSA, so you could even pick up your delivery right on campus! 

Ben & Jerry's - This iconic ice cream company is a Burlington original. The flagship Scoop Shop is on Church Street, although it began a few blocks over on St. Paul Street. (p.s. free cone day is on April 14!)

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Mr. Mikes Pizza - The go-to pizza joint for the college population of Burlington. Mr. Mikes features affordable slices, a pool table and arcade games in the back. Open late on weekends. 

Muddy Waters Coffee Company

The Daily Planet

Skinny Pancake

Dobra Tea

The Farmhouse Tap & Grill - Located right off of Church Street, The Farmhouse is one of the many restaurants supporting local foods. Now a part of the Farmhouse Group, check out the other restaurants associated with them: El Cortijo and the Guild. 

Vermont Pub & Brewery - The oldest craft brewery in Vermont is one of Burlington's popular destinations. Located in the heart of downtown, the VPB offers live music on Fridays and an extensive menu of traditional and local pub fare.  

Signal Kitchen

Various college teams and athletics

Boston - The capital of Massachusetts is also the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the Northeastern United States. The city is best known for baked beans, Fenway Park, the Boston Marathon, and other cultural events and experiences.  With music and food festivals to art exhibitions and sporting games, there's always something going on.

• Boston's top sights: Fenway Park, Boston Common, Boston Tea Party Ships & Musuem, Musuem of Fine Arts, Musuem of Science, Freedom Trail, Quincy Market, Whale Watching Cruises, Boston Public Garden
• Must try: Boston baked beans, Boston cream pie, clam chowder, frappes, lobster mac 'n cheese, lobster roll, traditional clambake

New York - The most populous city in the United States can be reached from Burlington by bus, train, or plane. Its iconic skyline and cultural diversity make it one of the most exciting cities in the US.

• New York's top sights: Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Empire State Building, Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Terminal, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Rockefeller Center, American Museum of Natural History, Bryant Park, the Museum of Modern Art
• Must try: New York-style pizza, New York bagel with cream cheese and lox, New York-style cheesecake, cronut, pastrami on rye, hot dogs and streetfood

Ottawa - The capital of Canada is in the east of southern Ontario, near the Quebec and U.S. borders. Declared the country's capital in 1857 by Queen Victoria, Ottawa's broad avenues and historic buildings make it fun to explore on foot.

Montreal, Quebec - About a 3 1/2 hour train ride from Burlington is the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada's second most populous city. Founded in 1642, it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-peaked hill around which the early city of Ville-Marie was built. The official language of the city - and the province of Quebec - is French, and the city city hosts major sporting, comedy, and cultural events throughout the year. It is also home to the Montreal Canadiens hockey team.

STUDENT SERVICES

Campus store 

Academic support 

Career success/advice 

Health & welbeing – medical clinic, counseling centre, Health & Wellness Program 

IT support 

Transportation & Parking services 

CLUBS & ACTIVITIES 

Academic clubs 

Art & entertainment clubs 

Sports, recreation, intramurals,  

Social & political clubs 

Student leadership, community involvement 

Student publications 

In three sentences: A small, beautiful campus overlooking Lake Champlain. Easy walk down to downtown Burlington and the waterfront. Programs tailored for career opportunities after graduation. 

What to do for fun: Burlington is the ultimate college town! Church Street is everyone's favorite downtown place to be, with various hole-in-the-wall eateries, the mall, street vendors and the park. the waterfront is gorgeous in both summer and winter, offering a spectacular view of Lake Champlain and Plattsburgh, New York. For the skiers and snowboarders, Champlain is within close range of mountains such as Sugarbush, Killington, Jay Peak and Stowe. Champlain also offers discounted season passes for its students; how does a $30 season pass to Sugarbush sound?

Favourite campus locations: the fireside lounge, housing the only working fireplace on campus, is a great place for students to relax in between classes and it is also the place for The Grind on Wednesday evenings. The Grind is our open mic night! students can sing, dance, read poetry, whatever they would like for an audience of respectful and open-minded peers.  

Fun traditions: free movie nights every other Thursday of each month! Students are shuttled by free taxi from campus to the local movie theatre where they are presented with a free movie pass to a film of their choice.

In order to apply you must meet the eligibility requirements.  

You may apply if you: 

• Are a student at one of Champlain College's exchange partners. You will need to contact your international office to find out if you are eligible. 
• Are nominated by your home institution. 
• Have proof of funds to cover the program. 
• Meet the English language requirements. 
• Have the required health insurance for study in the U.S. 
• Complete all forms/contracts by the deadlines assigned by Champlain College. 

If you are eligible to exchange at Champlain, request a nomination from Abertay.

Deadlines 

• Spring (January - May): Deadline is October 1 
• Fall (August - December): Deadline is April 1 

Once you have been nominated by your home institution, the Director of the Office of International Student Services (OISS) will reach out to you via email with instructions on how to apply.  

Generally, these documents are required to complete an exchange application for Champlain College: 

1. Completed Champlain College Exchange Application 
2. Copy of your current, valid passport's biographical page 
3. Proof of financial support 
4. Contract of Participation Form 
5. Proof of English Language Proficiency Form 
6. Statement of Health Insurance Coverage Form 
7. Copy of your transcript 

All documents should be scanned and sent directly to Jessa Karki, Director, Office of International Student Services at jkarki@champlain.edu. 

Additional Information 

Admitted Exchange Student Information 
Office of International Student Services - Immigration Information for J-1 students 

Forms Needed:

Visa & Certificate of Eligibility (DS2019 or I-20): The Director of International Student Services will send the acceptance letter and the appropriate Certificate of Eligibility (DS-2019 for J-1 visa or I-20 for F-1 visa). The Certificate of Eligibility should be processed in early May for fall enrollment or mid- November for spring semester admission. The Director of International Student Services will contact you if additional information is needed. 

Immunizations & Health Forms: All Champlain College students must provide proof of certain immunizations as required by the State of Vermont Public Health before they enter the classroom. This means all incoming international exchange students must show medical documents for certain vaccinations before they are allowed to attend Champlain College. These immunizations are expensive, so we encourage students to visit their physician in his/her home country. 

Health & Emergency Medical Insurance: All J-1 exchange visitors and their J-2 dependents must be covered by sickness and accident insurance for the duration of stay in the USA. This health and emergency medical insurance must comply with the Exchange Visitor Program regulations as mandated by the U.S. Department of State. Each exchange visitor and dependent must provide a letter to the Assistant Director of International Student Services prior to your arrival showing proof of insurance. The policy includes the following: 

Minimum health insurance coverage required: 

• Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness. 
• In case of death, repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000. 
• In case of serious injury, payment of expenses associated with the medical evaluation of the Exchange Visitor to his/her home country in the amount of $50,000. 
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness. 

Each international and exchange student will be automatically billed for Champlain College health insurance coverage. To waive this insurance, please send your policy first to the Director of International Student Services and if approved, you may submit an insurance waiver form to the Student Accounts Office. 

Upon application, Exchange and One-Semester students should select at least five courses of interest that are preapproved by his/her home institution. Every effort will be made to enroll you into these courses. You may add or change a course during International Orientation and during the first week of the semester. 

Champlain Mymail Account 

How to activate your account.  
Step 1-Activate  Champlain Account. Log into https://welcome.champlain.edu/showLogin.cc and follow instructions for "Account Activation".   

Step 2-Log into the Current Student Portal. Go to https://www.champlain.edu/current-students and log in using your firstname.lastname username and your newly created password.   

Step 3-Launch Web Advisor (view course schedule)   

After you activate your account, you will be able to view your class schedule, access your Champlain email account, obtain your housing assignment, and view transcripts and other academic records.    

FERPA - Consent to Release Educational Records 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a US federal law that affords parents the right to have access to their children's educational records, the right to seek to have them amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the education records. When a student turns 18 years old, or enters a post-secondary institution at any age, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parent to the student. Permission must be given by the eligible student to discuss or release certain information. 

Please fill your FERPA Form on-line at this link: https://www.champlain.edu/compass/academic-records-and-registration/ferpa-waiver 

Arrival 

It is advised to make your travel plans after you receive your student visa. Please fill in the International Student Arrival Form so that you can be picked up and brought to campus by the Director of the Office of International Student Services. 

Housing 

The Office of Residential Life will make your room assignment and this information is located on your WebAdvisor account. Exchange students are typically assigned to a residence hall that remains open during the college breaks. All students are responsible for his/her bed linens and pillow. For your convenience you may order items for our dorm room ahead of time. Visit https://www.champlain.edu/current-students/residential-life/residential-life/great-services. Please notify the Director if you are ordering any items so we can make sure your package is delivered to your room upon your arrival. 

Check out the Residential Life Housing Schedule. 

Campus Mailing Address 

A college mailbox will be assigned to you after you arrive. These student mailboxes are located in the Center for Communication & Creative Media. Students can use the mailroom services to receive his/her mail, stamps or send packages. If you order bedding items online, please use this format for FedEx or UPS delivery.  

The format is: 

YOUR NAME 

Champlain College 

375 Maple Street 

Burlington, VT 05401 USA 

Orientations 

The fee for both International Orientation and New Student Orientation is $150.00 U.S. Dollars. To pay this fee, please go to this link: 

https://forms.champlain.edu/secure/internationalorientation/ 

Only pay once - if you pay for International Orientation, please do not pay for New Student Orientation (you have already paid - even though you might get an e-mail asking you to do so). 

Residence Halls at Champlain 

What are the residence halls at Champlain College like? We hear this question a lot from prospective students. They look and feel like homes—grand, stately mansions and ultra-modern apartments—all with breathtaking views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. They're halls that foster a sense of community, and they're situated just steps from classes, downtown Burlington, and all the places you'll need (and want) to be.  

All first-year students begin their college life in one of our 21 beautifully restored Victorian-era mansions that surround campus. Many students find their distinctive charms so appealing they choose to stick with mansion life for years. 

Returning and transfer students may also choose from among our contemporary suite-style residence halls on campus and in the surrounding Hill Section. Just a short walk—or free shuttle ride—from campus, our deluxe apartments at 194 St. Paul Street offer close proximity to the Church Street Marketplace and amazing waterfront views in downtown Burlington. Many of our transfer students choose Lakeview Hall, which features a convenient campus location and a welcoming transfer community. 

Living at Champlain 

Champlain's residence halls are designed for comfort, connectivity, and community. Each residence has both live-in professional staff and student Resident Assistants. Take our virtual tour and see for yourself that housing at Champlain isn't like housing everywhere else. You'll find a welcoming and supportive environment that builds friendships and puts you at the center of it all, with easy access to your classes, a workout at the gym, a study session at the library, a stroll along Lake Champlain, and a quick trip to Burlington's shops and restaurants or waterfront. 

Video & information of accommodations and options: https://www.champlain.edu/student-life/residence-halls 

Hotel options for students: https://www.champlain.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/visits-and-events/where-to-stay 

As an exchange student, you will have your tuition waived, but will need to factor in the costs of your visa, insurance, accommodations, etc. 

Champlain's residential campus is in the centre of Burlington-Vermont's largest city. Burlington International Airport (BTV), a ten minute drive from campus, has direct or  connecting or direct to all major U.S. cities. By car, Boston is 220 miles to the southeast; New York City is 285 miles to the south; and Montreal, Quebec, is 94 miles to the north. Local Amtrak offers passenger train routes with connections to Montreal, New York City and Washington, D.C. 

From Interstate 89

By car, take Exit 14W from Interstate 89 and proceed west on Main street over the hill toward downtown Burlington. Turn left onto South Willard Street (Route 7) at the first stoplight after heading down the hill. When you reach the first stop sign, take a right onto Maple Street. The Admissions Office is in the Roger H. Perry Hall building on your left, on the corner of South Willard and Maple.

From the South via Route 7

Driving from the South on Route 7: about a mile north of the I-189 interchange bear right around the small rotary and proceed up the hill, staying on Route 7 (which becomes South Willard Street). Make a left at the Stop sign on South Willard and Maple. The Admissions office is in the Roger H. Perry Hall building on your left, on the corner of South Willard and Maple.

From Burlington's Airport

The Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA) runs a regular city bus (#12) to and from the Airport for $1.25 (free for Champlain students with ID). Visit cctaride.org for details. The closest bus stop is at the corner of Main St and South Willard (right in front of the Champlain College gateway sign. Alternatively you could take a ten minute taxi ride to campus from the airport. Or you can rent a car from one of several rental companies located at the airport. Take Rte. 2 (Williston Road) west to the Interstate 89 overpass at this point Rte. 2 (Williston Road) becomes Main Street. Follow directions "From Interstate 89" above.

Public Transportation

Burlington is served by eight airlines (Delta, United, US Airways, JetBlue, Allegiant, American Airlines, Porter and Luxe Air) plus...

• Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA)
• Vermont Translines
• Megabus

Maps

• Campus
• Campus (with parking)
• Campus Accessibility
• Burlington
• Vermont/Northeast

Accommodations

Many major hotels are within a few minutes drive of campus. Go to our Burlington, Vermont accommodations page for a list.

For more information visit our FAQ page.