How to Choose a Program

Study abroad can be a big investment, both financially and emotionally, so it is important to select a program that fits your academic needs. If you haven't done so already, we recommend examining your degree audit to identify all remaining graduation requirements.

Your overall degree plan

After conducting research on what courses are offered at each institution you are considering, you should ask yourself:

• Does this program offer coursework that will satisfy my graduation requirements?
• Does this program allow me to stay on track to graduation?

If you are unsure of your answers to these questions, discuss your options with your global education and academic advisors. They can help you identify a good term to go abroad and determine what courses abroad will be equivalent to SDSU courses.

Consider how well a program actually fits into your overall degree plan. It is extremely important to begin academic planning early, so you have the most flexibility of requirements to fulfill while studying abroad.

Exploring areas of study

Some students choose to study abroad program partly to explore a potential major or minor subject area or gain a different perspective on a topic. If you choose this route, then it is even more important to have clear goals and not lose a term.

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A longer program (semester or academic year) may be proportionally cheaper than a summer program when all costs are considered, and keeping in mind financial aid is generally only available for fall and spring semesters. These programs also often afford more course choice allowing you to more easily fulfill required coursework.

When comparing costs, examine various program types and the budget sheets on individual program pages.

Global Education Advisors can assist you with understanding costs and financially planning out your internnational experience.

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SDSU has study abroad options that greatly range in duration, from as short as a week to as long as a year. We encourage students to think carefully about what length will best fit accomplishing their goals for an international program. A very high percentage of study abroad participants report that they wish they had gone for a longer term!

Please take these considerations into account when you consider long versus short study abroad:

Long Term

(semester or academic year)

• Time goes by VERY quickly while abroad!
• Good way to immerse yourself in a new culture
• Good way to explore host country & travel
• Great way to improve your language skills
• May be proportionally more affordable when financial aid is included
• Enroll at foreign institution & fulfill SDSU requirements
• Make lifelong friendships and network

Short Term

(summer, spring/winter break)

• Best if your academic program does not accommodate a longer stay
• Gives you initial exposure to a new culture and language
• Can enroll in specific SDSU catalog course (faculty-led programs)
• Generally focused on a particular topic or theme

Get help

If you are unsure whether a long- or short-term program is your best fit, visit with a Global Education Advisor to discuss your needs.

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It is important that you first reflect on your own individuality and reasoning for studying abroad prior to searching for programs. You should begin by considering how an international program will support your academic, professional, and personal objectives.

We encourage you to view studying abroad as an integral step to achieving your long-term goals rather than an ancillary activity engaged in while you’re in college. You will be investing considerable time and resources, so be sure that you get a good return on that investment.

Explore these links to information that can help you clarify your study abroad goals:

Study Abroad Reasoning

The following questions are crucial to ponder before you begin weighing specific study abroad programs. Think about your answers and consider how they serve your aspirations.

Why are you seeking a study abroad experience?

• Gain a global perspective
• Improve my foreign language skills
• Internationalize my résumé
• Explore my family roots or ethnic heritage
• Other?

What is attractive to you about living and studying in another country?

• Gaining appreciation and awareness of different cultures
• Making international friends
• Challenging myself to adapt to a new environment
• Other?

Long-Term Goals

As you consider your reasons for wanting to study abroad, you should also contemplate your goals in life, at least as you think of them now. You are currently attending university and have perhaps selected major and minor fields of study as preparation for life post-graduation, so . . .

• What will be your professional direction after you graduate?
• Do you plan to apply to graduate schools, teach, volunteer, or find a job in the private or non-profit sectors?
• How will you apply your international experience in your chosen profession?

Don't worry if you don’t have all the answers to questions like these. But do be aware that you'll be in a better position to make informed choices about studying abroad after considering your future goals.

Identifying Program Attributes

Once you have a grasp on your reasoning for studying abroad and long-term goals, you should begin identifying program and host destination attributes. The following list is by no means comprehensive, but should be useful in selecting a program abroad that will meet your needs.

Attributes

Geographic Interests

• Are you interested in a region of the world or a specific country?
• What scale of place are you looking for? (Urban, suburban, rural?)
• Are there any events or trends in the world today that you want to learn more about?

Academic

• What degree requirements would you like to satisfy by going abroad?
• Do you have another interest or a complementary subject area that you want to focus on?
• Do you want to study one topic intensively or take a variety of courses?
• Do you have the language skills to take courses taught in the local language?

Career Path

• How important is an internship or conducting research to you?
• What type of experience will improve your graduate school applications or make your resumé stand out?

Learning Style

• Do you learn better in the classroom or in the field?
• Do you like independent or guided learning?
• Are you able to adapt to different styles of learning?

Other

• Do you want to study abroad more than once?
• How immersed in the culture do you want to be?

Prioritize

After brainstorming ideas of program attributes, try to rank those characteristics according to their priority to you.

Identify Challenges

It is equally important to consider any challenges to studying abroad.

Priorities and Challenges

Identify priorities

After brainstorming ideas of program attributes, try to rank those characteristics according to their priority to you. What aspects of a study abroad experience are the most important to you?

Highly ranked factors are often:

• Geographic location
• Affordability
• Academic offerings

Try to remain flexible because there may be programs that fit some, but not all of your priorities. Be open to the possibility there are multiple places in which you will prosper and succeed.

Identify challenges

It is equally important to consider any challenges to studying abroad. Generally, there are so many programs available that at least one will fit each student’s situation, so do not be discouraged. Any potential barriers that you identify should be incorporated into your goals statement. What will you need to overcome any challenges?

Commonly identified challenges include:

• Financial resources
• Family situation
• Job obligations
• Social, academic, or athletic commitments
• Physical and/or learning disabilities

Write a Goals Statement

After considering your study abroad reasoning, long-term goals, program attributes, and priorities and challenges, try to compose a brief statement (1 or 2 sentences) that combines everything into a personalized guide for examining potential programs.

• Your statement should be brief in order to be most effective for narrowing down possibilities.
• Bring this statement with you when you meet with an Education Abroad Advisor.

Sample statements

Here are a few examples of program search goal statements:

“I plan to apply to graduate school in Marine Biology, so I am looking for a program in Australia to take sciences courses and conduct research.”

“I aim to be an internationally competent social worker who has experience relating to diverse groups and am flexible with any destination, but would like to have a service-learning experience.”

“I want to be a bilingual nurse who can easily communicate with patients in Spanish, so I am looking for an intensive Spanish program in Latin America which will also allow me to also fulfill general education graduation requirements.”

“I am a Mechanical Engineering major and want to work for an international firm upon graduation, so I am looking for a program to take engineering courses taught in English.”

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SDSU Exchange programs are reciprocal partnerships with foreign universities allowing students to study at the other university and pay home tuition and fees. Participants generally enroll in regular classes (taught in English or host language) and integrate into mainstream campus life.

SDSU students will pay their normal tuition and fees and earn resident credits generally on a credit/no credit (pass/fail) basis. Financial Aid is applicable and operates as normal.

• Search for SDSU Exchange programs in the Aztecs Abroad database.

SDSU Exchange programs are a great match for many students because:

• You can take courses taught in English or develop your advanced foreign language skills.
• You can enroll in courses abroad that will count towards your major, minor or other degree requirements.
• You can afford it! Exchange students pay regular SDSU tuition plus the cost of living abroad.
• You can gain genuine cultural immersion and experience life among locals.

Application procedure

You must apply to the Study Abroad office first through the Aztecs Abroad database. View priority application deadlines in the program brochures in Aztecs Abroad. It will take between 2 and 4 weeks for you to receive a response from the SDSU Study Abroad office concerning your nomination. If you are nominated, we will instruct you about how to apply to the partner university.

Eligibility requirements

• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 is required. Some programs may have higher GPA requirements. (Meeting the minimum GPA does not mean automatic nomination by SDSU.)
• One strong faculty recommendation and, if necessary, strong language proficiency report
• Demonstrate seriousness of purpose and clear reasons for selecting a particular study abroad program
• Must be enrolled at SDSU the semester prior to program start date
• Must not be on Academic or Disciplinary probationary status during the semester or summer abroad

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CSU international Programs are reciprocal partnerships between the California State University (CSU) system and foreign universities allowing CSU students to study at a partner university for a semester or a full academic year only.

Participants generally enroll in regular classes (taught in English or host language) and integrate into mainstream campus life. However, "learn language" programs are also available for those primarily interested in language and culture.

SDSU students will pay average CSU fees and earn resident credits. Letter grades earned will be factored into GPA upon return. Financial Aid is applicable and operates as normal.

Students must submit both the preliminary application in Aztecs Abroad and the main application through the CSU Office of International Programs. All applicants will have a campus interview to discuss their application and goals for participation.

CSU international Programs are a great match for many students because:

• You can take courses taught in English or develop your advanced foreign language skills
• You live abroad for a semester or a whole academic year and gain a deeper understanding
• You can enroll in courses abroad that will count towards your major, minor or other degree requirements.
• You can afford it! Exchange students pay average CSU tuition plus the cost of living abroad.
• You can gain genuine cultural immersion and experience life of locals.

Transfer students may participate in the program their first year at SDSU as transfer student from a California community college.

Please view the CSU-IP campus priority deadline in the Aztecs Abroad database. The Aztecs Abroad priority deadline is set by the SDSU Study Abroad office; application may be accepted later up to the CSU-IP deadline.

Eligibility requirements

• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 is required (certain programs may have higher GPA requirements). Meeting the minimum GPA does not mean automatic nomination by the CSU.

For more information

• Visit the CSU IP website

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ISEP (International Student Exchange Program) ISEP is a non-profit network of universities to which SDSU is a member, which provides SDSU students additional study abroad program options. ISEP offers diverse program structures in a variety of destinations unavailable in other program types. On the ISEP Exchange track students pay regular SDSU tuition and fees while on the ISEP Direct track students pay fees to the ISEP organization.

• Financial Aid is applicable.

Participants generally enroll in regular classes (taught in English or host language) and integrate into mainstream campus life. However, "learn language" programs are also available for those primarily interested in language and culture.

Students must submit both the preliminary application in Aztecs Abroad and the main application through the ISEP website. It takes up to approximately 8 weeks to receive a response from ISEP concerning placement. Applicants are able to rank up to 10 programs in the ISEP online application.

ISEP programs are a great match for many students because:

• You can take courses taught in English or develop your advanced foreign language skills.
• You can enroll in courses abroad that will count towards your major, minor or other degree requirements.
• You can afford it! Exchange students pay regular SDSU tuition plus the cost of living abroad, and financial aid is applicable.
• You can gain genuine cultural immersion and experience life of locals.

Eligibility Requirements

• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 is required (certain programs may have higher GPA requirements). Meeting the minimum GPA does not mean automatic placement by ISEP.
• One strong faculty recommendation and, if necessary, strong language proficiency report.
• Demonstrate seriousness of purpose and clear reasons for selecting a particular study abroad program
• Students must be enrolled at SDSU the semester prior to program start dates
• Not be on Academic or Disciplinary probationary status during the semester or summer abroad

ISEP offers 2 types of programs:

1. ISEP Exchange

Each outbound participant pays the cost of an academic term (tuition, housing and meals) at the home institution, for every student sent abroad, the institution receives one in return. ISEP facilitates the exchanges between our members world wide and manages the exchange balances.

• Pay tuition, room & board package price to SDSU
• Earn resident credits
• ISEP Exchange applications for priority consideration are listed in the Aztecs Abroad database

2. ISEP Direct

Fee-paid study-abroad programs at member institutions, open to all ISEP-Direct and ISEP-Exchange member institutions; participants pay a fee to ISEP, which covers the host institution’s program cost.

• Pay tuition, room & board package price to ISEP
• Earn transfer credits
• ISEP Direct applications for priority consideration are listed in the Aztecs Abroad database

For more information

• Visit the ISEP website.

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All Faculty-Led study abroad programs are short-term (generally 1.5 to 6 weeks), taught and led a SDSU professor and available to both SDSU students and general public. Most programs have between 15 to 30 students and run during the summer, but there are also many winter and spring-break options. The faculty leader is the program is a main point of contact.

Program fees vary by program, but all grant resident credits.

Faculty-Led programs are a great match for many students because

• You can gain initial exposure to a new culture and possibly language
• You can enroll in specific SDSU catalog course (faculty-led programs)
• Most programs are generally focused on a particular topic or theme
• Some academic programs may not easily accommodate a longer stay overseas

Eligibility requirements

• GPA and language eligibility requirements vary.

For more information

• All Faculty-led programs can be viewed in the Aztecs Abroad database.

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SDSU has reviewed and approved many study abroad programs run by various organizations. These programs are considered complementary to other program types such as SDSU Exchange, CSU-IP and ISEP. The program structures of these approved programs vary substantially, but many offer courses taught in English and intensive language tracks.

All approved programs are listed in the Aztecs Abroad database and can be located by various search parameters such as provider, country, region, and field of study.

Program details

• Widest variety of program offerings, but more expensive than SDSU programs
• Advising and application process through program provider (only preliminary advising from the SDSU Study Abroad office)
• Pay fees directly to program provider
• Financial aid applicable with SDSU approval prior to departure
• Transfer credit, but still applicable toward SDSU graduation with major advisor approval
• View the campus priority deadline for each program in the Aztecs Abroad database

Eligibility requirements

• Students must be enrolled at SDSU the semester prior to program start dates
• GPA and language eligibility requirements vary by program

For more information

• Visit the Partner Programs section of the Aztecs Abroad database for more information and application instructions.

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International internships are working positions arranged for students, often as part of a credit-bearing study abroad program. SDSU also has approved certain internship providers that will assist students in being placed in an internship abroad that fits their skills and interests.

Why Intern Abroad?

International internships offer a range of academic, professional and personal learning outcomes for students. Increasingly employers are interested in hiring individuals with demonstrated cross-cultural skills and a proven record of professional experience in their field.

• Explore your career path and understand professional practices in another country
• Develop valuable competencies through hands-on work experience
• Boost your resumé and gain a competitive edge in the job market
• Work in an English-speaking company or perfect your foreign language skills
• Connect with and develop an international network of professional contacts in your field
• Earn academic credit that counts towards your major, minor or other degree requirements

Who Should Intern Abroad?

Internships are valuable for all students and majors, and we encourage you to explore the range of internship opportunities available. Students that are a good fit for an internship program are those who:

• Are flexible, adaptable, proactive and adventurous
• Want to actively engage in meaningful professional development abroad
• Are interested in learning about different cultures and work environments

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Volunteering abroad is a work or service-based learning opportunity that may be attractive to students who wish to respond to the needs of an organization or community. Students can learn through contributing to community development activities.

Volunteer programs are valuable for students who are interested in:

• Making meaningful contact with local people
• Using what they learn in the classroom to help their host community
• Meeting the genuine needs of the region visited
• Engaging fully in the host culture

Volunteer experiences are very diverse with regards to structure and are available on exchange programs, independent programs, and faculty-led programs.

Programs are offered during the fall, spring, and summer terms.

For more information

• Select "Volunteer Abroad" in the Aztecs Abroad database to see the full range of options.

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If a program is not found in the Aztecs Abroad database, then it is considered an non-approved or non-SDSU program.

Application steps

Students should complete the following steps if they plan to participate in a non-approved program:

1. Complete the Travel Registration process in the Aztecs Abroad database.

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Virtual programs bring the world to you! Spend a semester, summer or winter term virtually exploring the world via exciting global academic experiences or virtual international internships.

Advantages

No Flight or Travel Required - No passport yet? No problem. Participation in a virtual program experience allows you to explore the world and seek cultural engagement without the costs and logistics of international travel. (You can still be prepared for travel later by applying for a US passport via the SDSU Passport Office.)

Affordability - Save a lot of money! A virtual experience allows program organizers the opportunity to focus on building innovative and engaging global academic content for the virtual participant without addressing travel or room & board needs, so overall costs are lower and the experience more accessible.

Health & Safety - Virtual experiences offer opportunities to stay healthy and safe at home while engaging globally.

Choice and Flexibility - Mix and match courses, and if desired simultaneously enroll at multiple foreign institutions, or combine study with a remote internship or service-learning experience

Virtual Study Abroad

Take anywhere from 1 to 6 online courses from up to 3 universities around the world for academic credit

Virtual International Internships

Complete a part-time or full-time internship with an international company or organization

Virtual International Volunteer Programs

Enhance your résumé while contributing to the work of an international organization from wherever you are

Want To Learn More?

Explore the full range of virtual international programs in the Aztecs Abroad database.

Complete the online advising phase to prepare to meet with a Global Education Advisor.

Email our team at [email protected] and we can help you to arrange an appointment.

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