FAQs

The Study Abroad Office is committed to preparing and supporting students in studying abroad. We encourage parents to talk with their students throughout the study abroad process, to gain relevant information from them, and to maintain contact with their students while abroad, as the FERPA Act prevents SFSU Abroad from sharing specific details.   

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records. In accordance with FERPA, students 18 years of age or older have the right to their academic records and schools may not release any personal information without consent. Under FERPA, SF State Abroad and the university may NOT release any student information listed below:  

• Contact information while abroad  
• Student's program status or program   
• Grades and transcripts  
• Course and/or schedule information  
• Medical information  
• Housing  

For additional information on FERPA, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's webpage.  

• You can go abroad as soon as your sophomore year (or 24+ units prior to participating) for lower division general education (GE) requirements. 
• If you would like to go abroad for your major or minor, you will be looking to go abroad during your junior or senior year (or 55+ units prior to participating). 
• Planning early is more important that when you go abroad.  
• Remember, you can go abroad more than once, up to 4 semesters. 

No, you can only apply to one study abroad program but you may list a second-choice within the same application for the same program type. The database will only allow you to submit one application per term. 

All of our programs are SFSU Study Abroad. Within SFSU Abroad, there are two types of study abroad programs: CSU IP and SFSU Exchange. On both, you can use your Financial Aid, earn resident credit and pay the same tuition. There are very few differences between the two and the only difference is the administrative process and which app to complete. 

• You must complete two applications to be considered for a CSU IP program. First, apply to the CSU IP portal for your program. Additionally, you must complete a short intake form on the SFSU Study Abroad Database.  
• It is not required to speak to any advisor to apply for any CSU IP program. However, if you have any questions the SFSU Study Abroad team is happy to speak with you during advising hours and/or via email at studyabroad@sfsu.edu. You may also sign up for advising with CSU IP’s advising team. 

You must complete one application on the Study Abroad Database. 

You may only submit one application per term. If you would like a second-choice, please indicate in your first choice application your second choice program. You cannot apply to both CSU IP and SFSU Exchange. 

Yes, your financial aid goes with you when you study abroad. Any accepted loans, grants, or scholarships (study abroad or non-study abroad) are applicable. 

Yes, you may take one online course while abroad per semester. Please make sure that one online course you are taking at SFSU is not available at your host institution. The units for this online class is on top of the full-time units required of your abroad. 

All students may request to take one class credit/ no credit while studying abroad. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the course can be taken for credit if it is trying to fulfill the requirement. Students may not take more than one credit / no credit without special permission from SFSU Abroad. 

SFSU students may study abroad for up to 2 years or 4 semesters! 

Yes, SFSU students can study abroad for up to two years or 4 semesters. This can be done with the same programs or different programs. 

Yes! Students can go abroad during their final semester, as long as they are a student at SFSU. Students are encouraged to pay extra attention to their degree requirements when selecting a program in order to complete their degree. After identifying a program, students should meet with their academic advisor early in the process to go over potential study abroad courses. 

With early and careful planning, students are able to stay on track and sometimes even make faster degree progress by studying abroad. Talk to an SFSU Abroad advisor to begin planning today!