International Students

On May 18, Rutgers Global hosted a graduation ceremony for a special group of 10 graduating students—7 students from Afghanistan and 3 students from Gaza—who completed an exceptionally challenging journey to obtain their degrees from Rutgers University. As Vice President for Global Affairs Rick Garfunkel noted in his opening remarks, “The strength and resilience needed to reach this achievement is nothing short of astounding. And this is why we are gathered together today—to honor this journey.”

The Rutgers Global Student Volunteer Corps (SVC) is a vibrant group of Rutgers students who assist the Rutgers Global Programming & Events team each year in conceiving, planning, and executing fun and engaging campus events that serve to promote global awareness and cross-cultural understanding. The volunteers, who submit applications and interview with the team before being selected, help with all aspects of events, including planning, set-up, management, and more. These volunteers gain important benefits from joining the SVC, such as enhancing their intercultural communication skills, growing both personal and professional networks, learning how to work with teams, and gaining some excellent resume-building experience. 

Rutgers University-New Brunswick once again has been named a top producer for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, with 11 undergraduate and recent graduates receiving the grants in the 2025-2026 academic year. “Our students’ ongoing success in earning Fulbright grants illustrates once again the Rutgers edge,” said Rutgers President William F. Tate IV. “Again and again their grit and perseverance are matched by exceptional intellect and curiosity.”  

Manuela Gomez, a recent graduate of the M.A. program in Peace and Conflict Studies and an alumna of the Political Science program at Rutgers University–Newark, is forging a powerful path in international relations; one rooted in personal experience, global engagement, and a steadfast commitment to sustainable peace.

Originally from Colombia, Manuela grew up amid decades of armed conflict, witnessing the profound toll violence takes on communities and individuals. Those realities sparked her early interest in peacebuilding and motivated her to pursue academic work that could help illuminate global pathways to conflict resolution.

Rutgers University proudly welcomed over 1,500 new international students this fall during its three-day International Student Orientation (ISO), held August 25–27, 2025, at Jersey Mike’s Arena and across campus. Nearly 150 parents and family members also attended, many of whom first connected with Rutgers through admitted student events and pre-departure programs hosted this summer in India and China.

When Illia Kholiavin fled his war-torn Ukrainian hometown of Mariupol in 2022, he left behind the only life he’d ever known. After relocating first to Poland and then Sparta, N.J., with his mother and grandmother, he committed himself to learning English and finishing school. “What we experienced was brutal. It changed something in us,” he said. “You really understand that life is not infinite. You need to do something in your life before it ends.” On May 16, Kholiavin was inducted into Rutgers University’s prestigious Matthew Leydt Society along with 234 of his peers who ranked in the top 2% of Rutgers University-New Brunswick's and Rutgers Health's graduating Class of 2025.