New Student Requirements
Overview
Applicable, incoming students are required to submit health records to the University. Students can access electronic forms and printable PDFs for health record requirements on the Student Health Portal at https://sju.studenthealthportal.com/ and log in with your SJU credentials.
Health record requirements must be submitted by the deadline for the applicable entry term listed below:
Entry term | Fall | Spring | Summer |
Deadline | August 1 | December 1 | May 1 |
Failure to submit required health forms by the indicated deadline will result in a health hold preventing registration. Health holds can not be removed until the required health records are submitted.
*Note - The term 'Philadelphia student' refers to Hawk Hill and University City students.
Undergraduate Students
Incoming (new) undergraduate students who meet the following criteria are required to submit a Health Packet:
- Incoming freshman or undergraduate transfer student
- Degree-seeking and currently enrolled
- Full-time status
- Taking any in-person (on-ground) classes
*Health Packet requirements vary by campus location. Please refer to the drop-down menus below for the specific requirements for applicable undergraduate students.
Health Packet Requirements by Location
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Physical Examination Must be completed by a licensed healthcare provider.
Conducted within one year of the Health Packet due date.
Must be stamped by the Healthcare Provider, which includes the provider’s name, credentials, office info, signature, and exam date.
When completed, upload to the Student Health Portal via the Document Upload function.
Health Evaluation - Available to complete electronically under the 'Forms' section of the Student Health Portal.
Immunization Record Required immunizations Part 1: Upload a scan or photo of your official immunization record to the Student Health Portal via the Document Upload function.
- Part 2: Complete the electronic Philadelphia Immunization Record form under the 'Forms' section, logging your immunization dates.
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Immunization Record Required immunizations Part 1: Upload a scan or photo of your official immunization record to the Student Health Portal via the Document Upload function.
- Part 2: Complete the electronic Lancaster Immunization Record form under the 'Forms' section, logging your immunization dates.
International Students
All incoming (new) international students (undergraduate and graduate) must complete and submit the Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Questionnaire through the Student Health Portal.
New undergraduate international students, who meet the criteria outlined in the Undergraduate Student section above, must also submit a Health Packet in addition to the Tuberculosis (TB) Questionnaire.
Clinical & Experiential Learning
Some programs have additional health/ immunization requirements to clear students for clinical and/or experiential learning during the professional phase of their education. The Student Health Center does not manage health requirements for the professional phase of these programs. These programs include but are not limited to:
PharmD
MOT
DrOT
DPT
PA
Nursing
Students enrolled in programs with clinical and/or experiential learning should refer to their specific programs and clinical site coordinators to ensure they have met any additional program health requirements and have submitted those requirements to the appropriate program office/portal.
Important Note:
Failure to meet specific vaccination requirements of a clinical or experiential learning site may delay program completion.
Health Insurance Requirement
Good health is essential to academic success. Unexpected medical bills can threaten your ability to complete your education should you be uninsured or have inadequate coverage. In an effort to ensure students’ physical and financial health, eligible students are required to purchase or waive the University-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) each academic year. *Not applicable to Lancaster students at this time.
The SHIP is an ACA-compliant plan insured by UnitedHealthcare Student Resources (UHCSR) and includes access to United's national PPO network. Additional plan information can be found on the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) website.
Students who do not submit an approved waiver by the deadline will be automatically enrolled and charged for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Students intending to purchase the plan should submit the enrollment form to access their insurance benefits.
The following degree-seeking students from Hawk Hill and University City must maintain active health insurance while attending Saint Joseph’s University. *Not applicable to Lancaster students at this time.
HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT CRITERIA
| Undergraduate & Graduate | Registered for six or more credits | At least 50% of credits in person |
| International | Registered for one or more credits | At least 50% of credits in person |
| PhD & EdD | Registered for one or more credits | At least 50% of credits in person |
| Domestic student-athletes | Registered for six or more credits | No minimum in person credit requirement |
| International student-athletes | Registered for one or more credits | No minimum in person credit requirement |
SJU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) 2025-2026 waiver/enrollment portal is now OPEN. The deadline to waive is September 4, 2025.
For information about the health insurance plan, Qualifying Life Events (QLE), or to access your insurance card, please go to University Health Plans webpage. Students or a representative of the students who have questions about their waiver or waiver requirements may contact UHP at: 833-207-7508.
SHIP Highlights
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COST AND COVERAGE PERIODS
Annual Students
Newly Eligible Spring Students
Coverage Period
08/17/25 - 08/16/26
01/01/26 - 08/16/26
Cost
$2,850
$1,779
Waiver Deadline
9/4/25
01/23/26
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Eligible students who do not submit an approved waiver by the deadline will be automatically enrolled and charged for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Students should submit an enrollment form as soon as possible to avoid difficulties accessing their health insurance benefits.
Approximately four business days after the enrollment form is submitted, the student can access the insurance ID card via the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) website. If an enrollment or waiver form is not submitted by the deadline, students are enrolled in the SHIP retroactively to the policy effective date and are responsible for the insurance premium.
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Students with comparable health insurance may submit a waiver form by September 4, 2025 to opt-out. To be considered comparable, your plan must:
Be filed and approved in the US and compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Provide comprehensive, non-emergency benefits in the geographical area surrounding the school
Waiver forms may be reviewed, and if the plan does not meet the requirements, students will be notified that their waiver form is not accepted. Please refer to the waiver form for additional information about the waiver requirements and comparable plans.
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Students will be retroactively terminated and refunded (pending a claim review) if they do not attend classes or fall below the minimum credit limit or on-campus credit requirement within the initial 31 days of classes.
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Once the student meets eligibility for the first 31 days, the student remains enrolled for the entire policy period. Mid-year terminations are not permitted. However, if a student enrolled in annual coverage does not return to SJU for the spring semester, the student may request termination of the spring/summer coverage period by submitting the spring termination form by January 23, 2026.
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Students who waived the SHIP may not voluntarily enroll during the policy year. However, students may qualify for special enrollment rights if they have a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage. The qualifying life event enrollment form requires supporting documentation and payment and must be submitted within 31 days of losing other coverage.