This page contains information for new graduate students moving to Tuscaloosa. There is also a lot of useful information available from International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS), even if you aren’t an international student.

About Tuscaloosa

The City of Tuscaloosa is located in West Alabama on the Black Warrior River. Tuscaloosa’s population is ~100,000 people.

Getting to Tuscaloosa

The nearest international airport to Tuscaloosa is Birmingham International Airport, located ~60 miles from campus. The best way to travel between Tuscaloosa and the airport is by personal vehicle, shuttles, or taxis.

Campus Map

The Department of Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management is located on the 4th floor of Russell Hall. Russell Hall is on the corner of University Blvd (The Strip) and Hackberry Lane. View a map of the University.

UA Graduate School Orientation Resources

The UA graduate school has a number of resources for new students:

• Getting Started
• Graduate Orientation and Welcome (GROW)
• UA Graduate Student Association

Housing

Most graduate students typically live off-campus. Feel free to ask current students about housing. There are some apartments near campus while others are further away and provide shuttle service to the University. Please refer to the Transportation section below for details on apartment shuttles.

You can search for apartments and houses through UA’s off-campus housing website. Many rental apartments offer roommate matching. Typical rents for one bedroom in a shared apartment are between $500 – $600/month although there are cheaper and more expensive options available. Check if and what services/utilities are included with rent.

Please note that most apartment complexes require a one year lease. Please make sure to check lease duration, as well as move-in and move-out date, deposits, etc. For more information on housing, please visit the Housing & Utilities page.

Note: Renting an apartment for the first time will normally require advance payment of the first and last month rent or some other deposit. Please check with the leasing agent.

UA does have some on-campus furnished apartments for graduate students although availability is limited. Please see: https://housing.sa.ua.edu/halls/bryce-lawn/.

For international students, please check other resources available through the UA International Students Center.

Transportation Around Campus

The University provides shuttle services between many nearby apartment complexes and the main University bus terminal. Some other apartment complexes, which are further away, also provide shuttles to/from the University every half hour. For details, see

• the Crimson Ride’s apartment routes
• off-campus housing resources

Please check the hours of operation of the shuttle service. Some shuttles only run during working hours on weekdays (8 – 5 p.m. M-F). Evening labs, which graduate students often teach, will run later than that. Private (non-university-run) shuttles have been known to change their hours mid-semester, so some extra care in those cases may be warranted.

The University also provides an off-hours shuttle service called 348-Ride which operates within a 1-mile radius of the University. Please see the Crimson Ride website.

Local Transportation

Buses
Within the city, public transportation is limited and operated by the Tuscaloosa Transit Authority, which covers most of the city. This includes a free University shuttle from UA campus to downtown Tuscaloosa for UA students, faculty, and staff.

Taxis

Many taxi companies, as well as car-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, are available.

Trains

The Amtrak Crescent route which connects New York to New Orleans stops at Tuscaloosa twice a day (once for each direction). The trains are frequently delayed and hence should not be used if time is of the essence.

Budget and Expenses

PhD students may be supported either as a teaching assistant (TA), a research assistant (RA), or on a fellowship (or some combination) throughout their tenure, as long as they are making good progress towards their degree and are in good academic standing. If you received an assistantship, your offer letter should have stated your 9-month salary (if applicable). Graduate students in the department are offered opportunities to teach over the summer to earn additional income. Please note, not all students obtain summer support. So, students should keep in mind that their 9-month salary may need to be divided across 12 months of expenses.

When drawing up a budget, in addition to rent and transportation, remember to check what utilities and services are included in the rent. Utilities that you may have to pay for (if they are not already included in your rent) are:

• Electricity
• Gas (for a gas stove, gas water heater, or heating unit)
• Water/Trash
• Washer/Dryer (either in an apt or in a building)
• Internet/TV (some buildings either include them in the rent or you can buy a subsidized package from them).

In addition, please budget for

• Cell phone
• Renter’s insurance
• Car monthly payments, if applicable
• Car insurance payments (normally every six months), if applicable
• Parking permit rates if driving to University
• Grocery bills
• Miscellaneous

Please also see Off-Campus Resources for more information.

Initial Moving Expenses

Students should be aware that the greatest expenses will be incurred during their first few weeks. Students should prepare to bring money to cover their start-up expenses they will have upon arrival. For example, renting an apartment for the first time will normally require advance payment of the first and last month rent. There may be other application fees and security deposits as well. Other costs include utility deposits, groceries, furniture etc. Students should have available $2000 – $4000 for start-up expenses during your first weeks.

Alabama State ID or Driver’s license

If you are not a resident of another state, you may be required to get an Alabama ID within a certain time frame of your arrival in Tuscaloosa. This can either be an Alabama driver’s license or a non-driver’s state ID. For more details, please visit the Capstone International Center’s website and the following:

• Alabama Driver’s License Information (ALEA)
• Alabama Driver’s License: Document Requirements and Fees (ALEA)

If you are an international student and currently do not have a driver’s license try to get one in your home country and then apply for an international driver’s license. Eventually, you will need to get a driver’s license in Tuscaloosa. Without one your experience in the US will be quite restricted.

Please refer to the CIC website for information about obtaining a driver’s license.

Visa Information

Information on the visa process can be found at Applying for a student visa

The following page has information on preparing for interviews and possible field-related visa delays for administrative processing.

Information for International Students

Further information can be found at

• General details about life in Tuscaloosa
• Social Security Number
• Finances and banking
• Driver’s License

International & Multicultural Organizations: