Arrival Information

Students should read ALL materials sent to them at the time of admission, plan to attend pre-arrival orientations on Zoom and plan to attend a new student check-in with ISSS as soon as they arrive in Albuquerque.

Airport Arrival

Transportation

The University is 4 miles or 6.5 kilometers from the Albuquerque Sunport (airport).

If you will not be picked up, taxis and Uber from the airport to UNM and to hotels near campus are relatively inexpensive (less than $20). Download the Uber or Lyft apps before you arrive in the US if you can.

Bus #50 goes from the airport to the UNM campus in 10 minutes. Ask the bus driver to let you off at UNM (the intersection of Yale and Central Avenues).

Students moving in to campus housing will need to get to the SRC Commons Building (Building #89 on the UNM Central Campus Map. If you are moving in to campus housing, make sure you arrive during move-in hours (check housing.unm.edu or email housing@unm.edu).

ISI Airport Pickup

International Students Inc. (ISI), a non-UNM, community Christian volunteer organization offers free airport pick-up and a temporary home-stay with a local family. ISI is a Christian Organization, but there is no obligation to participate in any religious activities. If you are interested in airport pick-up or the home-stay opportunity offered by ISI please contact them at: ISIABQ@isionline.org or request services on their website.

You must contact ISI two weeks in advance of your arrival for the best chance of getting a home-stay placement.  Please report to GEO if you feel any pressure from ISI volunteers to participate in religious activities.

Contacting Students From Your Country

UNM student groups will sometimes provide airport pick-up and/or temporary home-stays for new students. You can contact students from your home country through one of the country/culture group representatives on the website. This website is taken down in June and July, so please reference it now to see if there is a group from your country and take note of the contact information.

Groups from previous years are listed below. You can try contacting these groups to reach students from your country before you arrive to find out more about UNM and students from your country/culture/religion on campus. However, please be aware that some student groups are not actively reading email during the summer months.

  • African Students Association of UNM: asau@unm.edu
  • Bangladeshi Student Association: bsaunm@unm.edu
  • Brazilian Club: brazil@unm.edu
  • Chinese Students and Scholars Association:huynguyen10@unm.edu
  • Iranian Student Association: irsa@unm.edu
  • Japanese Language and Culture Club japanese@unm.edu 
  • Korean Student Association: ksa@unm.edu
  • Korea Club: unmkorea@gmail.com
  • Mexican Student Association: mexsa@unm.edu
  • Nepali Student Association: nsa@unm.edu
  • Pakistani Student Association:sshafique@unm.edu

If your country is not represented here and you want to contact other students from your country, please email: iadvisor@unm.edu and we can ask students from your country if they can contact you.

Temporary Homestay

ISI Homestay

International Students Inc. (ISI), a non-UNM, community Christian volunteer organization offers free airport pick-up and a temporary home-stay with a local family. ISI is a Christian Organization, but there is no obligation to participate in any religious activities. If you are interested in airport pick-up or the home-stay opportunity offered by ISI please contact them at: ISIABQ@isionline.org or request services on their website.

You must contact ISI two weeks in advance of your arrival for the best chance of getting a home-stay placement.  Please report to GEO if you feel any pressure from ISI volunteers to participate in religious activities.

Hotels near UNM

MotelAddress/ TelephoneOne nightWeekly rateOther
UNM and DowntownApproximate rates; tax and other fees not includedApproximate rates; tax and other fees not included
Crossroads Motel1001 Central Ave NE, 87106 (0.5 mile west of UNM) 505-242-2757Single bed: $42 Double beds: $49Single bed: $190 Double beds: $222Must be over 18 years of age or older
Downtown Imperial Inn701 Central Ave NE 87102 (0.5 miles west from UNM) 505-247-4081Single bed: $42 Double beds: $52Single bed: $195 Double beds: $235Free Wi-Fi, access to microwave and refrigerator
University Lodge Motel3711 Central Ave NE 87108 (0.5 mile west from UNM) 505-266-7663Single bed: $37 Double beds: $55Single bed: $185 Double beds: $192Wi-Fi, microwave, refrigerator
The Mother Road Hostel1012 Central Ave SW 87102 (2 miles from UNM, bus route 66 and 766) 505-247-1813Dormitory Room: $25  Private Room: $30Not availableWi-Fi, must call for availability
Near AirportApproximate ratesApproximate rates
Comfort Inn1801 Yale Blvd SE 87106 (1.4 miles from UNM, bus route 50) 505-242-0036Single bed: $76 Double beds: $80Single bed: $452 Double beds: $475Free breakfast, Wi-Fi, must be 19 years of age or older
Ramada Inn2300 Yale Blvd Ave SE (1 block south of Gibson, bus route 50) 505-243-2244Single bed: $74 Double beds: $79Must call for availabilityFree breakfast, Wi-Fi, shuttle service to UNM

What To Bring From Home

Documents

You should copy all of your important documents before you come to the US and leave copies with family or friends at home in case you need someone to send these to you. 

 

You should plan to bring the following with you (do not pack these documents in your luggage!):

  • Passport with entry visa
  • I-20 or DS-2019 form (may be enclosed in an envelope that the US Consulate has given you)
  • Proof of finances to support your stay in the US (if you have an assistantship you should bring the department’s offer letter)
  • Credit card and ATM/Debit Card
  • Transcripts
  • International and home country driver’s licenses
  • Certified original copies of your birth certificate (may be necessary for a driver’s permit or state ID)

NOTE: Remember, you must bring the originals of these documents with you to the US. It is recommended that you also bring certified copies of any national identification card.

 

Medical Information

You should bring:

  • Copies of records listing all your prior immunizations including any COVID vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella [MMR] is required). You may need to provide these if there is an outbreak or for future travel.
  • Prescriptions for any regular medications (plus several months’ worth of these medications)
  • Get extra eyeglasses if you need them – these are expensive in the US and are usually not covered by insurance
  • Get your dental work done – dentistry in the US is expensive and not covered by insurance
  • Buy an emergency travel insurance policy to cover you for medical emergencies before any US health insurance starts (If you are not sure when your health insurance starts buy it until the first of the month after classes begin).

Financial Information

Have access to enough money to cover your first semester of tuition, fees, books, and at least three months of living expenses. You must pay your first semester tuition 30 days after registration. 

You should arrive with access to approximately $5,000 via an ATM card to cover initial costs. For your protection, do not carry more than $1000 in cash.