Application Help

• Check a box or boxes next to the academic goals for the program. 
• List Remaining SFSU Degree Requirements Left 
  • Feel free to copy and paste from your Degree Progress Report.  
  • It is not required to speak an advisor to complete this section, but if you are unsure what you have left, then you should speak with your academic advisors.  
• List Potential Courses You Might Take Abroad 
  • Please list at least 6 to 8 potential courses you would like to take abroad. You are not enrolling in them. This just shows the Selection Committee that you understand the structure of the program and will be academically happy with it should you be selected.  
  • If you have trouble navigating the course page of the university abroad, please sign in for drop-in advising.  
  • It is not required to speak with your department, but if you plan on taking major or minor classes abroad, it is highly recommended that you share your list of potential classes. 

Watch our YouTube video on Academic Area of Study.

You will need to write a short statement (500 words or 2-3 paragraphs). This is a statement about your academic goals connected to a specific program. This is not a general study abroad statement, but a program-specific one.  

Watch our YouTube video on Statement of Purpose.

• 0:00 - 1:24: Covers structure and length of the Statement of Purpose 
• 1:25 - 3:08: Question 1 (first paragraph) 
• 3:09 - 4:07: Question 2 (second paragraph) 
• 4:08 - 5:29: Question 3 (third paragraph) 
• 5:30: Additional Information (if applicable) 

You will need two additional things: 

1. Additional paragraph.
   • If your GPA is below the requirement or you do not completely meet all of the program requirements, please briefly address this. 
   • Include 1-2 sentences about why you are below the requirement. For example, if the program requires a 2.75, but you GPA is 2.60 because you worked too many hours while going to school your first semester at SFSU. If you have a personal story, some context would be appreciated but the level of detail you provide is up to you. 
   • Then, include 2-4 sentences show why you would be successful abroad based upon your recent semester. Be specific. If it was because you worked too many hours, then you could talk about cutting back your work hours, finding a better work/school balance, purchasing a calendar, and seeking out professors during office hours when you do not understand the material. It is always best if you can point to two academic successes in the last two semesters. Maybe you were on the Dean’s List last semester. 
2. Faculty Recommendation. 
   • This is only required if you are below the GPA requirement.  
   • If you are below, please request at least 1 faculty to recommend you who can speak to your ability to do well in the classroom. 

Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the need of your program. If it will expire anytime before then or you do not have one, please apply right away as it takes 4-6 weeks to obtain a U.S. passport.  

You do not have to have your passport by the application deadline. You only need to show proof that you have applied or begun the renewal process by then.  

Begin applying for or renewing your U.S. passport.  

Watch our YouTube video on Passports.

Please add all unofficial transcripts by the deadline. Official transcripts may be needed later so recent transfer students should acquire them now and hold onto them. Please do not mail them to the Study Abroad Office. Please note that the Study Abroad Office does not have access to any transcripts from other institutions submitted to the Registrar’s Office. 

The Selection Committee will never deny you based upon your budget. They just want to know that you have thought about it and have a reasonable understanding of the cost. The Study Abroad Budget Workshop page can help you complete this section of the application.  

Once you have created your budget, you will want to consider Study Abroad Financial Planning for your study abroad program.

Please list at least one emergency contact with a phone number and email address that we can reach if necessary.  

If you feel comfortable, please share your demographic data. This is optional and will not be used by the selection committee. It is only for the university to track overall participation in study abroad.  

You are welcome to have a second-choice program, but in most cases, it is not needed and even if one is not listed you may be offered a second choice if your first choice does not work out. You will note your second choice in the application on the very last page right before you click submit. 

The Selection Committee will first review your first choice and if they are able to place you there, they will not look at your second choice. 

A second choice is only needed if you are below any of the program requirements or if the program is competitive (e.g. all programs in Australia). If a second choice is needed and you do not have one, a study abroad advisor will let you know.  

If your first and second choices are SFSU Exchange Programs, then you should only submit one application for your first choice and then note under “program selection” that you want a second choice.  

If your first choice is an SFSU Exchange Program, your second choice cannot be a CSU IP program. If a CSU IP program is your first choice, then your second choice should be another CSU IP program. 

Your application will be considered incomplete unless you complete both the CSU IP and SFSU application for your program. 

• SFSU Study Abroad Database – Short Intake Form 
• CSU IP Portal – Longer Application Reviewed by the Selection Committee 

The SFSU Study Abroad Advisors will certify your CSU IP application in the CSU IP Portal, which is required for your application to be reviewed by the Selection Committee, but only when they see both applications are complete.  

To apply on the CSU IP Portal, you will need to log in with your SFSU credentials and password. 

1. Subjects of Study: Write in sentence format whether you plan on making degree progress towards your major, minor, general education and/or language study abroad. The selection committee is looking to see whether this matches what is available on the program.  
2. Proposed Courses While Abroad 
   • They will count so be sure to list at least 5! 
   • You are not enrolling in them. This just shows the Selection Committee that you understand the structure of the program and will be academically happy with it should you be selected.  
   • If you have trouble navigating the course page of the university abroad, please sign in for drop-in advising.  
   • It is not required to speak with your department, but if you plan on taking major or minor classes abroad, it is highly recommended that you share your list of potential classes. 
3. Academic Statement of Purpose 
   • Again, they will count! Be sure to write only 4-7 sentences. 
   • Be as specific and detailed as possible. 
   • This should be putting into sentence format explaining the potential classes you listed above and connecting it to staying on track for graduation at SFSU.  

Be sure to include 4-7 sentences for each question. They count them! Be specific and detailed as possible for each question. 

1. Why did you select this study abroad program and location? 
   • In other words, what other academic reasons besides classes, have your chosen this program? Avoid talking about the location, wanting to travel, or just being abroad as this will make you less competitive. Focus on academic reasons.  
2. How has your educational and personal experiences prepared you to study abroad? 
   • Feel free to include any previous classes you took related to the country area and what you learned. 
   • Discuss what you learned from speaking with study abroad alumni and/or international students. 
   • Any language study, even independently using an app like Duolingo.  
3. How will study abroad impact your personally and academically? 
   • In other words, how will this help you stay on track for graduation, achieve any professional goals, and/or learn. 
   • Key is to be specific, and not generic. Avoid this like expending my horizons, which will be true if you go abroad on any program. What are you specifically gaining with this program that would not be true on another program?  

If you meet the requirement, you will simply state yes. Otherwise, you will need to complete two additional steps. It is better to complete them than to skip this step as it could be the difference between getting into the program or not.  

1. GPA Statement 
   • Include 1-2 sentences about why you are below the requirement. For example, if the program requires a 2.75, but you GPA is 2.60 because you worked too many hours while going to school your first semester at SFSU. If you have a personal story, some context would be appreciated but the level of detail you provide is up to you. 
   • Then, include 2-4 sentences show why you would be successful abroad based upon your recent semester. Be specific. If it was because you worked too many hours, then you could talk about cutting back your work hours, finding a better work/school balance, purchasing a calendar and seeking out professors during office hours when you do not understand the material. It is always best if you can point to two academic successes in the last two semesters. Maybe you were on the Dean’s List last semester. 
2. Faculty Recommendation. Please request at least 1 faculty to recommend you who can speak to your ability to do well in the classroom. 

Please upload all previous and current transcripts. Even if you only took one class at a community college over summer in high school, please submit an unofficial transcript. For your SFSU transcript, please download it from Gateway.  

If you would like a second choice program, please list it in your CSU IP application only. Please note that your second choice must be another CSU IP program. The selection committee will first try to place you with your first choice. If they are unable, then they will consider your second choice. Students who are below program requirements are encouraged to have a second choice. Even if you do not list a second choice, one may be offered to you should it become necessary.  

Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the need of your program. If it will expire anytime before then or you do not have one, please apply right away as it takes 4-6 weeks to obtain a U.S. passport.  

You do not have to have your passport by the application deadline. You only need to show proof that you have applied or begun the renewal process by then.  

Begin applying for or renewing your U.S. passport.  

CSU IP lists budgets for all their programs on the CSU IP Portal. Click on your specific program and then go to program costs. The top part is required. The second half of the budget will vary depending on your spending habits and how much you travel. It is recommended that you put together your own budget. 

Watch our YouTube video on Budgeting for Study Abroad.

Don’t forget to consider your fun travel in your budget! 

Watch our YouTube video on Budgeting for Fun.

Please list at least one emergency contact with a phone number and email address that we can reach if necessary.  

If you feel comfortable, please share your demographic data. This is optional and will not be used by the selection committee. It is only for the university to track overall participation in study abroad.