Non-Immigrant Employment Visa Sponsor Handbook
The International Program (IP) is a California State University system-wide study abroad program. IP is affiliated with over 50 distinguished universities and other institutions of higher education in 17 countries. With a special focus on academic-year studies, IP is a unique part of the spectrum of study abroad opportunities available to CSU students. IP’s guiding principle is that students should be “immersed” in the academic and living environments of their host countries.
Some of IP’s special features are :
- No overseas tuition or administrative costs are charged.
- Students earn resident credit for all overseas course work.
- All campus financial aid, with the exception of work study, is applicable overseas.
- IP assists students in arranging the details of their year abroad, including academic planning, transportation, visas, and housing.
- Once overseas, students receive assistance from a CSU resident director and/or local staff.
Eligibility
Eligibility requires for each program, including coursework prerequisites and language requirements, are provided in the country brochures. (You may obtain these brochures from SA 115A or CSU International Program) Some programs require a 2.75 GPA while others require a 3.0.
For most programs, applicants must have upper division status or classified graduate status. Some programs may be more competitive than others.
Length of Exchange
An academic year offers the opportunity for the fullest possible adaptation and integration in the context of university studies. It also allows time to achieve advanced language, academic and cultural coping skills. During the first half of your year, you will be learning, adjusting, and assimilating information at an incredibly rapid pace. During the second half, you will be applying and using what you have learned and you will finally feel “at home” in your host country and host university environment. It is also the time when you will really come to feel that you have made friends.
Cost
IP is the most affordable study abroad opportunity for CSU students. Enrollment fees are kept at an affordable level because part of your costs are supported by the State of California. And if you qualify for financial aid, you may apply it to your year abroad.
Students pay for their own housing, meals, transportation and incidentals. These costs do differ from country to country depending on the economic situation of the country and the type of arrangement you select.
There are IP scholarships:
- IP Scholarships: Open to all IP participants except applicants for Japan, China and Taiwan. Applications are due with IP application.
- Wang Family Scholarships: Open to applicants to China and Taiwan. Applications are due with IP application.
- Japan Scholarship: Application information will be provided once students are selected.
- $700 IPS Study Abroad Travel Grant
Application
A complete application consists of an IP Application, 2 faculty recommendations and official university transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. For some programs, students must also submit a Foreign Language Faculty Recommendation.
All applicants are reviewed at the home CSU campus by a local selection committee. The local selection committee makes its recommendations to the Student Affairs Committee of the Academic Council on International Programs, which takes final action on all candidates. Selection is based on academic, linguistic, and personal qualifications, and on the appropriateness of the students’ proposed plan of study to their degree objective. Applicants will be notified of the final decision in early April (late August for Australia and New Zealand).