CSUSM students have a wide array of Study Abroad options available, from programs of a few weeks to a full academic year. Students may study at an international study center with visiting students, or may enroll at a foreign university with local students. Explore your options and come visit the Office of Global Education to delve into our comprehensive resource center for Study Abroad. You can also talk with the Study Abroad advisor, who can help answer your questions about enrollment, credits, financial aid, and more.
CSU International Programs (Year) International Student Exchange Program
For complete information about these programs, see the Study Abroad Advisor in the Global Education Office, EL Building 588.
We are very sorry to announce that we anticipate all Summer 2020 Study Abroad related travel to be canceled. See the full announcement for details. For more updates in regard to the COVID-19 incident, please visit the CSUSM Incident Response page.
CSUSM has exchange agreements with universities abroad that allow its students to attend those universities for a semester or academic year and earn resident credit toward graduation. Students pay their same tuition and may use the full benefit of their financial aid to participate in these exchange programs.
Most exchanges are university-wide and allow students in any major to attend a partner university. However, some agreements are specific to a particular major, such as business administration. Currently, CSU San Marcos has the following exchange programs for undergraduate students:
If you are a CSU San Marcos student interested in studying at one of these universities, learn more about exchange opportunities from the Study Abroad Advisor in the Office of Global Education, EL Building 588.
If you are a student at a university that has an exchange agreement with CSU San Marcos or receives students from the CSU International Programs, please contact your international education office to determine whether you are eligible for an exchange.
As a CSU San Marcos student you have an extraordinary opportunity to participate in a system-wide study abroad program operated by the CSU Office of International Programs. CSU International Programs (IP) participants earn resident academic credit at CSU San Marcos while they pursue full-time study at a host university or study center abroad. International Programs serves the needs of students by offering study in over 100 academic majors in 70 recognized universities across 18 countries. All CSU International Programs are a full academic year in length.
Students are responsible for all personal expenses, including room, board and costs of transportation to the study center (all costs vary by country and university). To view costs and expenses for the 2017-18 academic enrollment year, visit CSU International Programs.
As a CSU San Marcos student, you are eligible to receive and utilize your full financial to support your study abroad work. There are a number of additional scholarships you could also apply for to defray some of the cost. See our Financial Aid page for further details.
CSU International programs are located in:
For most programs, the minimum GPA requirement is 2.75, but a few require a 3.0. In addition, there may be language or other course requirements.
The application deadline for most CSU International Programs is January 15 for travel commencing the following fall (the exceptions are the programs in the Southern Hemisphere, which have September 1 deadlines with courses beginning the following January). Although the primary application is available online via the program pages, supplemental documents such as academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and passport photocopies will need to be submitted in person to the IP Coordinator in the CSUSM Office of Global Education, EL Building 588.
For complete information about CSU International Programs, come to the Office of Global Education and speak with our IP Coordinator.
California State University San Marcos is a proud member of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) — a network of over 300 post-secondary institutions in 50 countries cooperating to provide affordable international educational experiences for a diverse student population. ISEP members and affiliates are institutions of higher education that are regionally accredited (U.S. institutions) or recognized by their government or ministry of education (non-U.S. institutions).
As a partner and member institution of ISEP, CSUSM students are able to take advantage of the opportunities for international study offered through ISEP.
1) ISEP-Exchange: CSUSM students participating in an ISEP exchange pay a program fee that is based on CSUSM resident tuition and fees, housing and meals, and receive those benefits at their host university. View the most recent ISEP Exchange estimated cost sheet.
2) ISEP-Direct: CSUSM students pay a fee to ISEP which covers the host institution's program costs. Please refer to the specific location and univesity abroad for the ISEP fee.
3) ISEP January/Summer: Please refer to the ISEP January/summer programs page for information about the many short-term programs available. CSUSM students pay a fee to ISEP which covers the host institution's program costs. Please refer to the specific location and univesity abroad for this fee
Make an appointment with a Study Abroad Advisor. The study abroad office will be your primary contact with ISEP and will advise you on all aspects of the program. To schedule an appointment call (760) 750-4090 or come in to the Office of Global Education, EL Building 588.
The application is now completely online and can be accessed by creating a unique login/password via the How to Apply tab. The Office of Global Education can assist you in uploading additional documentation such as transcripts, a passport photocopy, letter of recommendation, language proficiency etc.
Make an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss your academic plan and how study abroad courses may fit in your schedule. Your academic advisor will be able to help you determine whether or not your plan of study will meet major or graduation requirements. You will need to carefully research courses on the host institution's website and complete a Course Request List for each school on your Host Site Request List. Once you have been placed, you will receive more specific course information and schedules.
Among the many programs with the "Fulbright" name, is one that supports U.S. students interested in studying or doing research abroad. Applicants must have Bachelor's degrees at the time they do the program, but can apply as seniors. Master's and Doctoral degree students are also eligible. The application deadline is in mid-October of each year for the following academic year, but students are encouraged to begin planning their projects as early as possible.
Complete information about the program can be found at the U.S. Student Program website.
In addition to the study abroad options offered by CSU San Marcos, ISEP and the CSU International Programs, there are also businesses for study abroad available to facilitate study abroad for CSUSM students. The Office of Global Education maintains an extensive library of brochures and reference books describing these programs. There are a number of excellent websites that you can also access for study abroad information. Some sites list a range of study abroad options while others promote a particular set of programs.
Students can use these powerful web databases to search worldwide learning opportunities. There are options to enter various search criteria such as location, duration, course of study, and dates to produce a list of program options offered through multiple providers.
There are numerous organizations that provide a variety of programs to supplement those offered by universities. The organizations listed below are a sample of long established study abroad program providers. The programs offered by these providers will also appear in a directory search.
