University of Nevada Las Vegas

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is located in the heart of Las Vegas, a quick 5-minute drive from the famous Las Vegas strip.

This metropolitan, commuter school hosts nearly 24,000 undergraduates and 1,500 international students every year. Leading the way for the hospitality field, UNLV has become a household name in the recent years. 

School’s Main Website | International / Exchange Student Website

GPA requirement:

3.0 GPA is required as a Freshman or international transfer student.

Language of instruction:

English is spoken throughout campus. However, you will find thousands of international students who speak a plethora of languages. 

Courses:

A thorough list of available classes can be found here

Check out their UNLV’s student portal!

There are plenty of resources to assist students with everything from writing in English to help with mathematics. These resources are built into your tuition so use them wisely and get your money’s worth. 

Course registration process:

All first year, Fall enrolled students must attend the New Students Orientation. At orientation, students will meet with advisors who will help them enroll in classes for the upcoming semester. While this is mandatory, students can let advisors know that they will not be present if circumstances arise. In this case, registration for classes will be completed online via the UNLV’s student portal.

Class enrollment is decided by amount of credits. i.e. Students holding enough credits to be considered a senior will have first access to available courses. Foreign language courses are offered in Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese, Latin, German, French, and more.

Attendance Policy:

Students who fail to show up for the first two classes of a course that meets multiple times a week, and students who fail to show up for the first class of a course that meets once a week are subject to being dropped from the class by the instructor. It is up to the student to read and understand the course syllabus, as each instructor has different rules for attendance. 

Campus map:

Selected facilities:

Lied Library

Lied Library is the biggest and busiest library on University of Nevada Las Vegas with the most resources, computers, and study spaces. 

Health and Wellness Center

The Health and Wellness Center is a fully equipped gym, with doctors’ offices, cafes, and even private workout rooms. Use of the gym, doctors’ offices and even the private workout rooms are free for students who have paid their tuition fees. 

Student Union 

The Student Union  houses computer and printing labs, and game rooms. UNLV’s student union is a mecca for everything from food to study/quiet areas, as well as game rooms. 

Food on campus:

The Student Union houses numerous fast food restaurants, smoothie cafes, and salad bars. There is a selection of restaurants spread around UNLV’s campus, but most are housed in the Student Union.

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

• A popular restaurant for students is Metro Pizza. This locally owned pizza restaurant serves up amazing pizzas, salads and breadsticks.
• Another popular place for students to grab lunch is the Jamba Juice. It offers hungry students delicious smoothies, wraps and other small snacks.
• The Dining Commons are mostly used by students who are living in the dormitory. Students who do not live in the dormitory have access to the dining commons but they must pay out of their own pocket to eat here.
• On campus, UNLV offers some great food chains, with everything from Einstein Bagels to Metro Pizza, and numerous coffee shops in between.

Campus transportation:

University Of Nevada Las Vegas​ is considered a commuter school whereby a large majority of students live off campus. While some may argue that it affects the overall “feel” of the student life experience, it is really up to you to get involved with extracurricular activities to truly gain the “college experience”! 

Orientation program:

New Student Orientation is required for all incoming Fall semester freshmen. This is an introduction to the resources available on campus as well as courses required. University of Nevada, Las Vegas Premiere is considered an amazing way for new students to meet at one of the biggest social events of the year. Clubs and organizations will be rallying members, football and cheerleading teams will be present, with even fireworks show and live music!

The Office of International Students and Scholars holds a mandatory two-day orientation program for all international students. Students have to register for this via MyUNLV.

Buddy program:

University of Nevada, Las Vegas has a buddy program that pairs international and American students. This way, students can learn from one another, and it eases the transition for international students.  

Student clubs:

Sororities and fraternities are a huge part of the clubs and organizations on University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s campus. There are also over 300 student organizations on campus including; Asian Film Drama Club, Boxing Team, Student Government and the Society for Collegiate Leadership & Achievement. Throughout the year, each club and organization will have different rules and regulations for when they accept new members.

For more information on student clubs, click here!

University events:

Homecoming is a major event every fall semester that allows multiple organizations across campus to raise money for different philanthropic causes. Football and basketball games are usually packed for most home games. This is an awesome place to meet friends, while enjoying a break from studying.

For more information, check here!

The Las Vegas strip is only a 5-minute drive away from University Of Nevada Las Vegas​​’s main campus. Some of the best shopping, restaurants and pools in the world are located on this one street. For students who do not want to head to the Strip, the surrounding area has many cheap bars and eateries geared towards college students. On weekdays and weekends these shops are usually busy until about 7 p.m.

For food:
Off campus students can find great food options on Maryland Parkway. Fast food, cafes, restaurants, and drive-thrus can be found here. This is the perfect spot for a quick bite to eat between classes. Some great food options are: Chipotle, Starbucks, Smash Burger, Einstein Bagels, In N Out Burger.

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

• Directly across the street from University Of Nevada Las Vegas​ - on Maryland Parkway is Yayo’s tacos- a popular place for tacos and drinks.
• Another fun stop is the PT’s Pub located on Tropicana and Maryland Parkway. This bar is a great spot to visit because it is just a 10 minutes’ walk away!

For nightlife and entertainment:

The best place for nightlife is definitely the Las Vegas strip. With hundreds of bars, clubs and restaurants, this is considered the entertainment capital of the world. Many bars and restaurants will also host nights dedicated to University Of Nevada Las Vegas​ students where drink vouchers and discounted food are usually offered.

For daily needs and groceries:

A 5 minutes’ walk across from University Of Nevada Las Vegas​ are major corner stores with snacks and drinks, and a giant shopping center called University Square that comes with a grocery store. The Vons grocery store on Maryland Parkway and Tropicana will serve any student’s needs.

Vons is the best choice for grocery stores because of its proximity to campus. The prices are also affordable and comparable to most grocery stores in Las Vegas.

For shopping:

The nearest mall is about a 10 minutes’ drive from University Of Nevada Las Vegas​'s main campus. The Boulevard Mall is located on Maryland Parkway and offers stores that are commonly found in America’s shopping malls. A few minutes up the street from this mall is the Fashion Show Mall. This mall is located on the Strip and has most designer brands as well as normal stores.

University Of Nevada Las Vegas​ is conveniently located about 8 minutes’ drive from the McCarran International Airport. Airport signs will direct drivers towards Tropicana Avenue. If students take Tropicana Avenue East, they will arrive at University Of Nevada Las Vegas​ in about 5 minutes.

• A taxi ride from McCarran to University Of Nevada Las Vegas​ costs $14 USD for a 5-minute ride.
• The bus ride from McCarran to University Of Nevada Las Vegas​ costs $2 USD for a 20-minute ride.

There is no train or metro system in Las Vegas.