Semester and Year Programs

Spending a semester or a whole academic year abroad can be an enriching and transformative experience.

Advantages of a semester or year abroad:

  • 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 than short-term by paying normal SDSU tuition, receiving financial aid and considering the higher cost of living in San Diego
  • Make lifelong friendships and network for better competitiveness

SDSU Exchange programs

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.

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.

CSU International Programs (CSUIP) Exchange programs

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.

ISEP programs

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.

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.

ISEP offers two program subcategories:

ISEP Exchange

Pay tuition as normal plus room & board package fee to SDSU
Earn resident credits

ISEP Direct

Pay tuition, room & board package price to ISEP
Earn transfer credits

Partner Programs

  • Earn transfer credit, but that credit is still applicable toward SDSU graduation requirements with academic advisor approval
  • Students cannot fulfill Explorations (upper-division) General Education requirements
  • Dedicated resident director or on-site staff
  • Pay tuition and fees directly to program provider; generally more than SDSU cost of attendance
  • Only federal financial aid (Pell Grant, federal loans, etc.) applicable
  • Organized excursions/field trips and extracurricular activities in host city included

Direct Enroll programs

  • Earn transfer credit, but that credit is still applicable toward SDSU graduation requirements with academic advisor approval
  • Students cannot fulfill Explorations (upper-division) General Education requirements
  • Pay tuition and fees directly to host university or institution
  • Only federal financial aid (Pell Grant, loans, etc) applicable