FAQ for Grad Students

Did you know that you can earn credits toward your graduate degree while taking courses overseas?

Why Should I Study Abroad?
Studying abroad is a great way to see the world, broaden your perspective, prepare for working with a diverse clientele and international colleagues, and prove your independence and adaptability. These benefits each increase your employability and help shape you into a global citizen.

How Do I Study Abroad?
The CSUSB Education Abroad Office, located on the third floor of the Center for Global Innovation (CGI) building, organizes study abroad opportunities for CSUSB students. Program options are listed and applications to participate are submitted at goabroad.csusb.edu.

Isn’t Study Abroad for Undergraduates Only?
Nope! While study abroad is most traditionally pursued by undergraduate students, study abroad is for graduate students, too. Due to the heavy demands of a graduate program, most graduate students who study abroad choose to do so on a summer program. But, you also have semester- and year-long opportunities available to you. .

What Program Options Exist for Graduate Students
As a graduate student you can participate in three different types of programs with opportunities to study abroad all over the world:

CSUIP Programs | Semester- and year-long study abroad programs run through the Chancellor’s Office, for students on all 23 CSU campuses.
CSUSB-led Programs | Unique, short programs run by CSUSB faculty and staff, for which both undergraduate and graduate coursework options are typically available.
Direct Enroll Programs | Summer opportunities to study abroad, in partnership with educational institutions and universities around the world; course substitutions require pre-approval by your department chair or program coordinator (while most courses are listed as undergraduate, for advanced courses you may be able to receive graduate credit).

Do I Have to Speak A Language Other Than English?
Some students study abroad specifically to increase their fluency in another language. You can take classes in a non-English language, or classes to learn that language. But there are also many program options available in English, and that do not have a language learning component.

When Do I Apply?
Deadlines are listed on the GoAbroad website. In general, applications are due on a regular schedule dependent on the semester your study abroad program will begin:

Fall | Apply by January/February
Winter Intersession | Apply by May
Spring | Apply by September
Spring Break | Apply by October
Summer | Apply by January-May (program-dependent)

How Can I Pay For It?
Most financial aid that you receive to study at CSUSB can also be used to study abroad. Check out the GoAbroad Financial Aid webpage or visit the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for additional information (walk-in advising Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.).

How Can I Be Sure that my Study Abroad Course(s) will Count Toward My CSUSB Degree?

Study abroad coursework can be used most easily to fulfil electives for your degree. But, you can also use study abroad classes to fulfil requirements for core courses! Either way, the important thing is to discuss your interest in studying abroad and present a course substitution request to your department chair or program coordinator as soon as possible, and before you apply to study abroad.

For CSUSB-led programs, course substitution requests are typically informal (document the agreed upon substitution via email; your chair can complete the substitution upon your return). For CSUIP and Direct Enroll Programs, which involve transfer of credit through a host institution and the Office of the Registrar, you will use a formal Credit Transfer Agreement Form.

What if I Want to Do Research Abroad?
Independent research opportunities abroad are not directly supported by the Education Abroad Office. But, you will still register through our office for your international travel insurance. Contact the Office of Risk Management for additional information and to get started with campus approvals for international travel for academic purposes.

How Can I Know Which CSUIP Programs Accept Graduate Students?
You can do an “Advanced Search” at csuip.calstate.edu to filter programs to include only those that allow graduate students.

CSUIP Programs Accepting Graduate Students
University Name	Country	Disciplines Available	Notes
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile	Chile	Anthropology, Architecture, Art (Art History), Art (Studio Art), Biology, Business, Business (AACSB Accreditation), Chemistry, Communications, Economics, Education, Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, History, International Business, International Relations, International Studies, Latin American Studies, Liberal Studies, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Spanish, Urban Planning and Studies, Viticulture
Language & Culture at Aix-Marseille Université	France	French, French and Francophone Studies, International Studies	Graduate students can only receive undergraduate credit for participation
Heidelberg University	Germany	Anthropology, Asian Studies, Economics, English, Ethnic Studies, German, History, International Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Political Science, Sociology
Language & Culture at University of Tübingen	Germany	Anthropology, Business, Business (AACSB Accreditation), Child Development, Communications, Economics, Education, Engineering, Environmental Studies, German, History, Human Development, Humanities, International Business, International Relations, International Studies, Liberal Studies, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology	Graduate students can only receive undergraduate credit for participation
Ludwigsburg University of Education	Germany	Art (Studio Art), Child Development, Education, English, Film Studies, Linguistics, Music, Theatre Arts
Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences	Germany	Electrical Engineering, Environmental Studies, German, Information Technology, Management, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Social Work
Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design	Germany	Architecture, Art (Studio Art), Communications
Trossingen University of Music	Germany	Music
Ulm University of Applied Sciences	Germany	Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering
University of Hohenheim	Germany	Agriculture, Biology, Environmental Studies, Food Science
University of Konstanz	Germany	English, History, Linguistics, Literature, Political Science, Psychology
University of Stuttgart	Germany	Aerospace Engineering, Architecture, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Urban Planning and Studies
University of Tübingen	Germany	Economics, English, Environmental Science, German, Political Science
University of Ulm	Germany	Biology, Computer Science, Economics, Finance, Management, Mathematics, Physics
Korea University	South Korea	Architecture, Asian Studies, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Business, Business (AACSB Accreditation), Chemical Engineering, Child Development, Civil Engineering, Communications, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering, English, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Food Science, Health Science, History, Human Development, International Business, International Studies, Korean, Linguistics, Literature, Management, Marketing, Mechanical Engineering, Media Studies, Psychology, Public Health, Sociology
Yonsei University	South Korea	Anthropology, Applied Statistics, Astronomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Business, Business (AACSB Accreditation), Chemistry, Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Education, Engineering, History, International Business, International Relations, International Studies, Korean, Liberal Studies, Mathematics, Nutrition, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Religious Studies, Social Work, Urban Planning and Studies
Universidad Complutense de Madrid	Spain	Art (Art History), History, International Relations, International Studies, Liberal Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Spanish	Graduate students can only receive undergraduate credit for participation
University of Granada	Spain	Anthropology, Art (Art History), Business, Economics, Education, Geography, History, Humanities, International Relations, International Studies, Liberal Studies, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Spanish	Graduate students can only receive undergraduate credit for participation