Education Abroad
Prospective Study AbrOtters
We recommend that you plan to study abroad/away in your sophomore or junior year at CSUMB.
We suggest starting the planning process a year in advance. This timeframe allows ample time for effective planning and ensures a smooth application process.
Studying abroad/away in your last semester at CSUMB will delay your graduation and can potentially interfere with participating in CSUMB’s commencement ceremony. Additionally, capstone classes (typically taken in the last semester) cannot be taken abroad/away. For these reasons, we do not recommend that you study abroad/away in your last semester.
- Attend a weekly Education Abroad 101 session by registering in MyRaft.
- Explore program options and research course offerings.
- Review our program offerings, focusing on each program's course list, costs, and application deadlines.
- Research courses at the host university/program that align with your academic goals, ensuring they fulfill GE, major, minor, or elective requirements.
- Confirm the availability of enough courses for you to take at least 12 CSUMB units per semester if you choose a direct exchange, national student exchange, or fee-paying study abroad program and 15 units if you select a CSUIP program.
The process of applying depends on the program that you choose. Please use this link to see the steps for applying for a Direct Exchange program or a Fee-paying Study Abroad program. For CSU International Programs, please use this link. The steps to apply for National Student Exchange can be found here. Please use the steps on this link for short-term programs (winter/summer).
GPA requirements vary by program. However, the minimum GPA required to participate is a 2.5. This minimum GPA requirement is subject to change. Students must also be in good standing at CSUMB (both the Code of Conduct and academic integrity).
You can utilize financial aid if you participate in Direct Exchange, CSU International Programs, or National Student Exchange programs. You must be enrolled in 6 units or more to utilize financial aid for short-term programs.
Undocumented students may be able to study abroad, but it is important to speak to the Immigrant Legal Defense and the CSUMB Education Abroad Advisor as early as possible. Students with DACA status may study abroad with advance parole citing "educational purposes" such as semester abroad programs. This will require planning, applying for advance parole, and awareness of potential risks.
You may be able to utilize veteran’s benefits while studying abroad. We recommend that you connect with the CSUMB Student Veteran Services office to discuss your study abroad eligibility.
International students are eligible to study abroad. You must work with the CSUMB International Programs office to ensure compliance with your F-1 visa requirements.
Yes! You do not need to know another language to participate.
You should plan not to work while you are abroad. This is due to various factors, such as visa restrictions and regulations, as well as the potential stress that comes with juggling work responsibilities in a foreign country.
Current CSUMB students can make an appointment with the Education Abroad Advisor in MyRaft.
Program Options
- Direct Exchange Programs: These are international programs at Universities that CSUMB has direct exchange agreements with.
- CSU International Programs (CSUIP): CSU International Programs are programs administered through the CSU Chancellor’s Office in Long Beach, and available to all students across the 23 CSUs.
- National Student Exchange Programs (NSE): These are exchange programs throughout the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Fee-Paying Study Abroad Programs: These programs require students to pay tuition, fees, and housing directly to their host institution. Although financial aid isn’t available for these programs, many students find the benefits—including academic and professional growth and personal development—make the investment worthwhile.
- Short-term Programs (Summer/Winter): These are programs offered over the summer and winter terms.
California State University International Programs (CSUIP) consist of systemwide study abroad programs coordinated by the CSU Chancellor’s Office. They are available to all CSU students. Direct exchange programs are study abroad programs that exist with CSUMB’s international partners and are available only to CSUMB students. CSUMB not only sends students to these institutions, but we receive their students in a semester or yearlong exchange agreement.
When choosing a program, you should consider your personal, academic, and professional goals. Are you interested in a particular region of the world or a specific country? Do you want to focus on completing coursework in your major? Do you want to acquire or improve your skills in another language? How important is graduating on time? What does your budget look like? All of these questions will help you identify a program that best fits your needs.
Housing options depend on the program that you choose. You can see housing options for each program in our Airtable database under “Housing.”
Academics
- Step 1: Identify your program of choice
- Pay attention to the course list, costs, and application deadline.
- Step 2: Review your program’s course list
- Step 3: Start a Google Document in which you list the courses that you would like to take, along with their descriptions and course syllabi.
- If you are unable to find descriptions and/or syllabi, please email the Education Abroad Advisor.
- Step 4: Make an appointment with your CSUMB Academic Advisor and/or your Minor Advisor if you are taking minor courses.
- Note: you may need to meet with multiple advisors/departments to get courses approved.
- Step 5: When you meet with your academic advisor(s), fill out the Education Abroad Academic Approval Form. Your academic advisor(s) need to sign off on every course.
- Step 6: Send to the Education Abroad Advisor for signature.
The number of units you are required to take while abroad/away depends on what program you are participating in. Unit requirements are as follows:
- The equivalent of 12 CSUMB units per semester for direct exchange and fee-paying study abroad programs
- The equivalent of 15 CSUMB units per semester for CSUIP programs
- The equivalent of 12 CSUMB units per semester for NSE programs
- The equivalent of at least 6 CSUMB units for summer term study if using financial aid.
All grades earned while studying abroad/away will be transferred back to your CSUMB degree and will impact your cumulative GPA. CSUMB cannot negotiate grades with your host institution on your behalf.
It is the responsibility of Education Abroad students to work with their host institution to send CSUMB official transcripts. CSUMB does not request transcripts on your behalf.
Digital Official transcripts can be sent to:
Paper Official transcripts can be sent to:
CSUMB Education Abroad
California State University Monterey Bay
International Programs
100 Campus Center
Gavilan Hall, Ste. 207
Seaside, CA 93955
+1 831-582-5167
Transcripts that are given/sent to students are not accepted as official copies by the CSUMB Office of the Registrar. Do not bring transcripts on your own to be submitted as official copies.
Passports/Visas
All study abroad participants must have a valid passport before they travel. If you do not have a passport or need it to be renewed, we suggest that you start that process as early as possible. Please refer to the guidelines provided by the US Department of State.
A student visa may be required based on your passport, destination, and program duration. You must be accepted to an Education Abroad program before you can apply. For questions about student visas, please contact the Education Abroad Advisor.