Cornell China Programs

New student health requirements: Fall 2025

Welcome, new students in Cornell's Cornell-Tsinghua FMBA/MBA and Cornell-Peking MMH/MBA programs!

Cornell Health in Ithaca, NY manages Cornell's new student health requirements process. All students attending in-person classes on a U.S.-based Cornell campus must meet the university's health requirements to comply with state and federal laws, and meet public health guidelines. 

Submitting your new student health information

Submission deadline: June 11, 2025 

Please plan ahead to submit your proof of required immunizations by the deadline. 

The information you provide to Cornell Health is confidential. Health care records provided through our patient portal are accessible only to Cornell Health.

Required immunizations

Immunizations to receive in China before the Requirements deadline

You must provide official documentation demonstrating that you have received the following immunizations required by New York State and Cornell University. Medical, school, and military records are accepted, and must be provided in English. 

You may also have your health care provider complete an Immunization Documentation form (pdf) that you can submit as official documentation.

Measles/Mumps/Rubella

You must have either:

1. Combination vaccine: two doses of live vaccine administered on or after the first birthday
      - OR -
2. Individual immunizations:

  • MEASLES: two doses of live vaccine administered on or after the first birthday; or protective-antibody titer positive result; or physician-diagnosed history of disease
  • MUMPS: two doses of live vaccine administered on or after the first birthday; or protective-antibody titer positive result; or physician-diagnosed history of disease
  • RUBELLA: one dose of live vaccine; or protective-antibody titer positive result (NOTE: previous clinical diagnosis of Rubella is not acceptable proof)

Meningococcal vaccination / waiver

You must have one of the following:

  1. Meningococcal conjugate (ACWY) vaccination (within 5 years)
  2. Meningococcal B vaccine, and complete the series
  3. Meningococcal Vaccination Waiver form (pdf) submitted through myCornellHealth

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

You must have one of the following:

  1. Vaccine (2 doses of live vaccine administered on or after the 1st birthday, at least 28 days apart)
  2. Physician-diagnosed illness
  3. Positive protective antibody titer
  4. If you were born in the U.S. before 1980, the Varicella requirement does not apply

If you are unable to receive these required immunizations, see what to do if you can't meet your requirements.

Immunization to receive at Cornell Health when you arrive in Ithaca 

Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)

Because the Tdap vaccine is not available in China, students can receive it at Cornell Health when they arrive in Ithaca. The cost to receive the Tdap vaccine at Cornell Health is $104.

Before your arrival in Ithaca, please contact Cornell Health’s Requirements Office for help scheduling an immunization appointment. 

Submission instructions

STEP 1: Obtain your immunizations records. 

Gather or request your official immunization records for submission to Cornell Health.

  • Medical, school, and military records are accepted.
  • Documentation must be translated into English (by your health care provider, or by you.)
  • You may also have your health care provider complete an Immunization Documentation form (pdf) that you can submit as official documentation.

STEP 2: If you do not have records of the required immunizations, schedule an appointment with a health care provider to receive your immunizations.

Be sure to get official documentation of the immunizations you receive to submit to Cornell Health.

  • Documentation must be translated into English (by your health care provider, or by you).
  • You may also have your health care provider complete an Immunization Documentation form (pdf) that you can submit as official documentation.
  • If you are unable to receive your required immunizations from your health care provider, you must contact Cornell Health before the submission deadline to make a plan to meet your requirements when you get to campus (charges will apply). See what to do if you can't meet your requirements.

STEP 3: Submit your information by the deadline.

Log in to myCornellHealth to submit your health information and documentation of required immunizations. 

  • Log in to myCornellHealth > Requires an activated Cornell NetID and Two-Step Login; please allow two working days after you activate your NetID for Cornell Health to receive your information from the Registrar.
  • Once you log in, you will be asked to provide your emergency contact information.
  • Then go to “Clearances & Requirements" in the menu bar:
    • Complete and submit the "Health History" form and two "Privacy and Consents" forms.
    • Enter information and upload official documentation for each immunization listed (EXCEPTIONS: If "Tdap" or "TB Risk Screen" is listed, you may ignore those).
    • If you are unable to upload records, you may fax them to 607-255-0269, or mail them to: Cornell Health / ATTN: Requirements Office / 110 Ho Plaza / Ithaca, NY 14853-3101.

STEP 4: Watch for follow-up messages from Cornell Health.

Cornell Health may take several weeks to review your information, due to high volume.  

  • If you are missing anything, or your materials do not meet Cornell's requirements, we will send an email to your Cornell address directing you to log in to myCornellHealth to retrieve a secure message about what is missing from your information and/or documentation, and how to come into compliance.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

What to do if you can't meet your requirements 

If you are unable to meet your requirements in China because you lack access to required immunizations and/or a health care provider, you must contact Cornell Health’s Requirements Office before the Requirements submission deadline to consult with staff and make a plan for receiving your required immunizations as soon as you get to campus (charges will apply). 

If you contact Cornell Health and make a plan for meeting your requirements, you will not be considered "out of compliance" with Cornell's health requirements. 

If you have an immunization appointment with your health care provider in China scheduled after the Requirements deadline, send proof of your appointment to Cornell Health: log in to myCornellHealth and go to Messages > New Message > Send a message or attachment to Immunization Requirements. (Please note that failure to attend this appointment and provide proof that you received your required immunizations will result in a hold being placed on your registration.)

Consequences of noncompliance with Cornell's health requirements

  • July 9, 2025: Noncompliant students will have a hold placed on their status, making them ineligible to make changes to their class enrollment until they meet their requirements.
  • August 7, 2025: Noncompliant students will have an additional add/drop hold placed on their status until they meet their requirements.
  • September 11, 2025: Noncompliant students will be withdrawn from the university with no opportunity to re-enroll for the fall 2025 term. 

Medical and religious exemptions

Students seeking a medication or religious exemption to Cornell’s immunization requirements must apply for any such exemption before their Requirements deadline. See information about how to apply for a medical or religious exemption.

Contact Cornell Health's Requirements Office

If you have questions, please refer to our Health Requirements FAQ.

If you wish to contact our Requirements Office, you may do so in one of the following ways:

  • Send a secure message through our patient portal: Log in to myCornellHealth using your Cornell NetID and password, and go to Messages > New Message > Send a message or attachment to Immunization Requirements.
  • Call us during business hours: 607-255-4364 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time).
  • Beginning July 1, you may also schedule an online (Zoom) consultation appointment: Log into myCornellHealth and select Appointments > Schedule an appointment > New Student Health Requirements consultation.

Please do NOT email us. Note that per HIPAA privacy law, we are unable to communicate about private health information by email (read about our confidentiality practices).