Academic planning should begin before you apply. Work with your academic advisor to identify degree requirements you still need to complete, possible courses abroad, major or minor requirements, General Education or elective possibilities, prerequisites, course sequencing, courses that should remain at Cal State LA, and your expected graduation timeline.

Host-university course titles and descriptions may not match Cal State LA courses exactly. Academic departments determine how approved coursework completed abroad applies to your degree.

Exchange participation does not guarantee enrollment in a particular host-university course.

Enrollment may depend on:

• Course availability
• Prerequisites
• Academic level
• Language of instruction
• Department restrictions
• Schedule conflicts
• Host-university enrollment priorities

Develop several acceptable course options before departure and remain flexible until your host-university enrollment is finalized.

Financial arrangements differ by exchange agreement. Do not assume that every Cal State LA exchange uses the same tuition or fee model.

Depending on the partnership, there may be different arrangements involving Cal State LA tuition and fees, host-university tuition waivers, host-campus fees, or other required charges.

Your budget should include:

• Applicable University or program fees
• Housing and meals
• Round-trip airfare
• Passport and visa expenses
• International insurance
• Local transportation
• Books and academic materials
• Phone and internet expenses
• Personal expenses and emergency funds
• Currency exchange-rate changes

Program costs can change from year to year. Use the current information provided for the exchange term in which you plan to participate.

Financial aid may be available for eligible students participating in qualifying exchange programs, but eligibility depends on the individual student's aid package, enrollment, program structure, and applicable financial-aid requirements.

Do not assume that your current financial aid will automatically apply to an exchange program.

Consult Financial Aid and Scholarships before making nonrefundable financial commitments. Students should also investigate study abroad scholarships early, including national, regional, host-university, and program-specific opportunities.

Explore Study Abroad Funding Resources
Visit Financial Aid and Scholarships

Housing arrangements vary significantly among exchange partners and may include university residence halls, shared student apartments, homestays, private housing, or other host-university arrangements.

Housing may not be guaranteed simply because you are accepted for an exchange. Review housing deadlines, deposits, cancellation policies, transportation, meal arrangements, and what is included in the quoted cost before making a commitment.

Exchange planning should begin well in advance of the semester you hope to spend abroad. Several different deadlines may apply, including:

• Cal State LA study abroad deadline
• Exchange nomination deadline
• Host-university application deadline
• Housing deadline
• Scholarship deadline
• Financial-aid requirements
• Visa and immigration timelines

Always follow the dates published for your specific exchange opportunity rather than relying on a general study abroad deadline.

Students approved for exchange must complete all applicable Cal State LA and host-university pre-departure requirements. Preparation may include:

• Academic approvals
• Pre-departure orientation
• Passport and visa requirements
• Health and insurance requirements
• Housing arrangements
• Emergency-contact information
• Travel registration or other University requirements
• Host-university onboarding

Do not purchase nonrefundable travel until you understand the applicable program, visa, academic, and host-university requirements.

Your exchange is not complete the moment you return home. Follow Office of Study Abroad and University instructions regarding:

• Obtaining an official host-university transcript
• Course and credit evaluation
• Completing outstanding academic approvals
• Resolving remaining University requirements
• Planning your return to Cal State LA coursework

International transcripts and academic evaluations can take time. Students approaching graduation should account for possible processing time when deciding when to participate.

Returning students are also encouraged to stay engaged, share their experiences, and help other Cal State LA students imagine what a global learning experience could look like for them.