Graduate & Professional Student Orientation Activities

Six new Pitt grad students pose with Panther mascot Roc during orientation picnic.

Welcome to the University of Pittsburgh! We are planning numerous events to orient our new graduate or professional students to Pitt and Pittsburgh. This website will help you navigate all the activities so you don't miss out on important information about resources and opportunities to engage with your peers from all of the 14 graduate schools. 

Student gathers information at a table during graduate student resource fair.
University-wide Orientation – August 18, 2026

Hosted by the Office of the Provost – Graduate Studies, all incoming graduate and professional students are invited to this University-wide Orientation event to meet key administrative and student leaders. The speakers will introduce you to Pitt and highlight services available to you. Attend the Resource Fair to talk to representatives from over 60 units available to support you. The event concludes with a welcome picnic featuring student organizations from across campus. 

Three students stand on deck looking across river while on international grad student orientation river cruise.
International Student Orientation - August 10, 2026

New Student Orientation — Graduate and Professional Students

August 10, 2026
3 – 4 p.m.  
120 Lawrence Hall

This REQUIRED OIS Orientation will be for all incoming international students and is where you will meet the OIS staff and learn the most important aspects of maintaining your status while studying at the University of Pittsburgh. Hail to Pitt!

Two social work grad students talk while walking along Cathedral lawn.
School- and Program-level Orientations (days and times vary)

Your school or program orientation will provide you information about your academic program and requirements including advising and registering for classes.

See more information about each school's new-student orientation schedule and related website links.

Three students sit and talk on lawn with Cathedral of Learning in background.
New Teaching Assistant Orientation - August 21, 2026

New Teaching Assistant Orientation

August 21, 2026
Noon
via  Zoom

The Fall 2026 NTAO training consists of a series of asynchronous sessions, administered as modules through the Canvas learning management system, and a half-day, synchronous training to be held via Zoom on Aug. 21, 2026, at noon.

Please note that successful participation in this half-day event requires completing a series of pre-workshop activities, which will be available at least a full week before the meeting.

To ensure access to all materials and information, students are expected to register no later than midnight, Aug. 14.

Students laugh while attempting to hold up falling tower blocks while playing Jenga at grad orientation picnic.
Build Your Pitt Community

Pitt Commons is an online platform that can help you to establish networking and mentoring relationships with other Pitt students, faculty, staff, alumni, and postdocs.

Visit Pitt Commons to learn more and sign up to join the community.