University of Florida International Center

What University of Florida International Center does

The University of Florida International Center (UFIC) is the central administrative unit within the University of Florida responsible for internationalization services, established in 1991 alongside the university's broader 1853 institutional history. The center is staffed by 46 personnel in Gainesville, Florida, and delivers four primary service lines: F-1 student visa sponsorship and SEVIS compliance, J-1 exchange visitor programming, outbound study abroad and global learning facilitation, and international research engagement for faculty. UFIC operates as a federally designated Principal Designated School Official and Responsible Officer, granting it exclusive in-house authority over international student and scholar visa processing for the institution.

UFIC's product surface extends beyond compliance into academic programming, including a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and virtual exchange catalog of more than 100 projects, partnerships with peer universities across Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, and a newly launched Global Engagement & Expertise Dashboard that centralizes faculty international activity and partnership data. Technology infrastructure is built on standard platforms including Canvas LMS and a Travel Registry system; the only disclosed fee-based element is a $11.26 per week CISI insurance pass-through charged to program participants. No commercial product, pricing model, or external customer revenue stream is disclosed.

UFIC's business model is institutional rather than commercial. The unit is funded through University of Florida operating budgets, state appropriations, and grants; it does not sell services to external customers and has no revenue mechanics in the conventional sense. Its customer base is bounded entirely by UF's internal population of students, faculty, visiting scholars, and staff, making concentration total by design. Programmatic growth is financed through institutional allocation and competitive grants, with reputational capital (APLU International Impact Award 2026, #3 Peace Corps Top Producer ranking) functioning as a lever for additional partnership and funding flow.

Name

University of Florida International Center

Legal name

University of Florida Board of Trustees

Website

https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1853

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The University of Florida International Center (UFIC) is the university's central internationalization office, serving UF's students, faculty, and scholars with F-1/J-1 visa sponsorship, study abroad, and international research engagement from Gainesville, Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inbound Exchange Hosting & Visiting Student Administration (EDAIABAK), International Student Academic & Personal Support (case management, referrals) (EDALANAE), Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL)

Keywords

• International student services
• Study abroad programs
• Exchange visitor programs
• Global research engagement
• Virtual exchange education

Headquarters

HQ city

Gainesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: As a university department, UFIC is funded through University of Florida institutional budgets and does not generate commercial revenue. Services are provided to UF students, faculty, and staff as part of the university's educational mission.
2. CISI International Health Insurance: Students participating in individually approved international travel are required to purchase CISI international health insurance through UFIC at $11.26 per week or $41.33 per month

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The University of Florida International Center is the central hub for all international activities at the University of Florida, providing direct services to students, faculty, and staff. Core offerings include F-1 international student visa support, J-1 exchange visitor program administration, study abroad program coordination, virtual exchange/COIL faculty development and student engagement, and international research engagement support. The center manages travel registration, mandatory CISI international health insurance enrollment, international institutional agreements, and Peace Corps preparation programming.

Product overview

The University of Florida International Center (UFIC) is a university administrative department providing international education services through multiple interconnected programs. The core services include F-1 International Student Services, J-1 Exchange Visitor Services, Study Abroad Services, and the Office for Global Research Engagement. The Office of Global Learning provides faculty development and Virtual Exchange/COIL programs connecting UF students with international partners. Key programs include the Peace Corps Prep Program, International Scholars Program, and various study abroad opportunities. The center also offers a Global Engagement & Expertise Dashboard for tracking international activities and International Travel Services including emergency support and insurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• #YouAreWelcomeHere: A campaign affirming U.S. institutions are diverse, friendly, safe, and committed to student development
• Global Gators

Products and services

• F-1 International Student Services Provides F-1 visa support, immigration compliance, academic advising, OPT guidance, and cultural adjustment resources for international degree-seeking students at UF, delivered through Designated School Officials and the Primary Designated School Official.
• J-1 Exchange Visitor Services Administers the J-1 visa sponsorship program for international scholars and visitors at UF under a federally designated Responsible Officer, including insurance support and exchange visitor program compliance.
• Study Abroad Services Coordinates UF's study abroad portfolio including program selection, advising, contracts, travel registration, mandatory CISI health insurance, and pre-departure orientation for UF students participating in international academic experiences.
• Office of Global Learning (OGL) Supports faculty development in global learning, curriculum internationalization, and Virtual Exchange/COIL programming that connects UF students with international partners across multiple disciplines.
• Office for Global Research Engagement (OGRE) Connects UF faculty to international research collaborators, supports proposal development, advises on monitoring and evaluation strategies, identifies funding opportunities, and manages international research agreements and export-controls compliance.
• Peace Corps Prep Program A certificate program for UF undergraduates that builds international collaborative competencies through targeted sector coursework, hands-on experience, and professional development to prepare students for Peace Corps service.
• Virtual Exchange / COIL Virtual collaborative online international learning connecting UF classes with international partner institutions across multiple disciplines to enable international projects, assignments, and global perspective development without travel.
• International Travel Services Provides UF travelers with 24-hour emergency contact, international event monitoring, health and safety information, and mandatory CISI international health insurance including emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.
• International Agreements Manages UF's portfolio of international agreements and partnerships, including International Memoranda of Understanding and Reciprocal Student Exchange Agreements with universities worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,500+ international students supported annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Center for African StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle VI Center at UF promoting excellence in teaching and research on Africa. Collaborates with UFIC on international research engagement and global learning initiatives.
• Center for European StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle VI Center fostering language and cultural studies for European regions. Works with UFIC on international programming and research support.
• Center for Global Islamic StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUF center promoting understanding of global Islamic studies and cultures. Partners with UFIC on international education initiatives.
• Center for Latin-American StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle VI Center advancing knowledge about Latin America and the Caribbean. Collaborates with UFIC on Latin American research and study abroad programs.
• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor research university in Mexico; active partner in COIL/VE programs and Research Tutorials Abroad (RTA) program. UF-UNAM collaboration underway with bilingual team developing action plans.
• Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcuadorian university partner for RTA program including Tandayapa, Tiputini, and Galapagos research stations. Collaborates on international research opportunities.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC-Chile)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Chilean research university; collaborator in RTA program for Latin American research engagement.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChilean university partner for RTA program supporting international research tutorials in Latin America.
• Universidad Nacional Andrés Bello (UNAB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChilean university collaborator in RTA program for international research engagement.
• Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcuadorian university partner in RTA program for international research collaboration.
• Bridgewater State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S. university partner for virtual exchange in statistics/data science courses. Collaborated on data analysis and feedback exchange project.
• Newcastle UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partner for virtual exchange statistics collaboration with 67 students participating.
• Tecnológico de MonterreymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican university partner for data analysis virtual exchange; 199 students participated in collaborative statistical analysis project.
• Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente MártirmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish university partner with 5 students in data analysis and statistics virtual exchange collaboration.
• Redemption Higher Institute of Biomedical and Management Sciences (RHIBMS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCameroon university partner for global nursing exchange on maternal-child health perspectives; 149 students participated.
• University of CoventrymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partner for data-driven decision making virtual exchange; 14 students collaborated on sentiment analysis project.
• Taras Shevchenko National University of KyivmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkrainian university partner for data-driven decision making exchange; 9 students participated in cross-border collaboration.
• Shimane UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese university partner for cultural consulting virtual exchange; 10 students served as cultural consultants for samurai-inspired product design.
• Centro Universitário Christus (Unichristus)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian university partner for global health virtual exchange on dengue fever; 25 students collaborated on public health interventions.
• Universidad del NortemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian university partner for video storytelling exchange; 16 students collaborated on environmental storytelling projects.
• LinguameetingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird-party provider of native language coaches for telecollaborative language learning; supports Spanish language practice with coaches in Latin America and Spain.
• University of ValenciamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish university partner for Tandem UFLUV language exchange; 38 students collaborated on Spanish-English language practice.
• Universidad de CantabriamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish university partner for Tandem English-Spanish exchange program; 53 students participated in language tandems.
• FOUR PAWS InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational animal welfare organization; partner for virtual exchange in international shelter medicine with 31 students from veterinary program.
• Peace CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal international service organization; UF campus recruiter located at UFIC supports Peace Corps preparation and recruitment. UF ranked #3 nationally for Peace Corps volunteers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Texas at Austin International Office: UT Austin International Office coordinates international student services, study abroad, and global partnerships at a flagship public research university, mirroring UFIC's role at a state R1 institution.
• NYU Office of Global Services: NYU's Office of Global Services supports one of the largest international student populations in the U.S. with immigration, exchange visitor, and global programs—comparable in service-line breadth and complexity to UFIC.
• UC Davis Global Affairs: UC Davis Global Affairs unites international student services, study abroad, and global research support under a centralized office at a large public research university, directly paralleling UFIC's hub model.
• Michigan State University Office for International Students and Scholars: MSU OISS provides immigration advising and global programming at a large land-grant research university, structurally aligned with UFIC's mission and service profile.
• USC Office of International Services: USC OIS handles F-1/J-1 immigration compliance and international student support at a major private research university; comparable in function though narrower in scope than UFIC's comprehensive hub model.
• Stanford University Bechtel International Center: Stanford's centralized international center serves F-1/J-1 students and scholars with advising, immigration compliance, and global programs across a major research university. Most structurally similar to UFIC at a peer-tier R1 university.
• Cornell University Office of Global Learning: Cornell's Office of Global Learning coordinates faculty development, curriculum internationalization, and Virtual Exchange/COIL, overlapping directly with UFIC's Office of Global Learning (OGL) function.
• Boston University International Students and Scholars Office: BU ISSO administers F-1/J-1 visa services and exchange programs at a major private research university with a sizeable international population—functionally overlapping with UFIC.
• University of Michigan International Center: Michigan's International Center offers comprehensive F-1/J-1 services, study abroad, and international partnership support at a top public research university—operationally identical scope to UFIC.
• UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars: UCLA's Dashew Center provides immigration services, exchange visitor administration, and study abroad support at a large public research university, making it a direct functional analog to UFIC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/globalgators
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChWz7gNutGh1JDm_GnmxT0g
• Facebookfacebook.com/UFInternationalCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/ufic
• Instagraminstagram.com/globalgators

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Florida International Center