Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first step to studying abroad?

The first step to studying abroad is to attend a Study Abroad Information Session. These meetings are held twice weekly at the same time every week and are given by Tasha Dev, the Study Abroad Coordinator. This information session will cover the basics of study abroad through CSU, Chico including program options, costs, financing options (e.g. financial aid), requirements, and more. After you have attended an information session, you will want to schedule a one-on-one appointment with a study abroad peer advisor or with one of our advisors.

Students may also visit our office without a scheduled appointment to pick up brochures, ask general questions and conduct research.  Our office, located in SSC 440, is always open when the University is open. 

Where can I study with my major?

Almost anywhere! Students can study abroad and do coursework not only in their major of study, but also for their minor, upper division theme and GE. To find out more about the options for your major, visit the “What can I Study” page or use our Study Abroad Crosshatch.

I need to graduate in four years, can I still study abroad?

Absolutely! The majority of past participants have reported that they went on to graduate on time. Students can take classes abroad which fulfill requirements for their major, minor, upper division theme or GE. You can go abroad and still complete requirements in order to graduate in a timely manner!

Will my credits transfer?

Yes they will! Before you leave for your time abroad, meet with your major, minor, GE and/or upper division theme advisors.  You will be able to discuss which classes will count toward graduation requirements so that your courses will transfer back accordingly.  Just make sure to get your program courses approved before you go abroad!

What is the minimum GPA to study abroad? 

This varies by program. Some programs have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and others are 2.75 or 3.0 and higher for the minimum requirement. If you are unsure of your GPA or have questions in regards to the requirements, be sure to meet with a Study Abroad Advisor.

Can I study abroad with a GPA lower than what is required?  

The flexibility of the GPA requirement varies by program. We have a “special circumstances” appeal packet for students with a GPA lower than the requirement for the program. The final decision, however, is at the discretion of the host university abroad. Students should make an appointment to chat with a Study Abroad Advisor to discuss his or her specific situation.

I don’t speak another language, can I still go?

We offer many programs which are located in English-speaking countries or at English-speaking Universities all over the world. In addition to these options, many of our programs in non-English speaking countries offer intensive foreign language courses on the IP or USAC programs. 

How much does it cost to go abroad? 

Fees vary by program and location of study. For USAC programs, the fees and estimates for cost of living are listed after each location description in the USAC catalog or on the USAC website. For Direct Exchange and IP programs, students pay the same tuition fees as CSU, Chico and the cost of living for those programs will vary by location of study. The Study Abroad Office has created the Study Abroad on the Cheap flyer to highlight the least expensive programs available to students. There are some  programs where students will spend roughly the same amount OR LESS than than they would have spent at CSU, Chico.

Are there scholarships available?

There are many scholarships available to students who study Abroad. We recommend starting to research scholarships early. In addition to the resources on our Money Matters page, never be afraid to conduct a Google search!

I am graduating in May/December; Can I study abroad the following semester?  

You can study abroad through our USAC program independently after graduation, or you can even declare a double major or minor in order to take additional classes abroad. Visit the Graduating Seniors page for more information. You should speak with a Study Abroad Advisor to talk about the details of your specific situation.

How do I make an appointment to speak with someone? 

You must first attend a Study Abroad Information session prior to scheduling a one-on-one advising session with a Study Abroad Advisor. After you have attended an information session, just drop by our office (SSC 440) or call (530-898-5415) to make an appointment with one of our advisors. 

Students are always welcome to visit our office without a scheduled appointment to pick up brochures, ask general questions and conduct research.  Our office is always open when the University is open.

Where can I go to take classes for my theme?

Anywhere! Study Abroad has two special “Study Abroad Themes” (Theme C & Q) where we can help you find classes to fulfill usually two out of your three theme requirements (humanities and social science fulfillment's are most commonly taken abroad).

Who do I talk to, to get my theme classes signed off? 

To get classes to count toward your theme, you should first pick up a theme approval form from the Study Abroad office. You will then work with the the upper division theme coordinator (Theme C: Tony Waters, Theme I (Latin America only): Steve Lewis, Theme Q: Frank Li) You should do your homework before meeting with any advisor, and research potential classes which will be offered at your host institution.

I applied to USAC online…now what?

After you apply online and pay your $300 application fee to USAC, they will send an email to the CSU, Chico USAC Program Advisor to request campus approval. This approval is only given to students who meet official program requirements, have attended a “USAC Application Workshop” and have turned in the yellow eligibility form (obtained at the workshop) into our office. 

If you are applying to a Partnership program (Australia, Denmark, England, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Malta, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden & Thailand), you will need to order official transcripts from the Records and Registration Office (SSC 110) to be sent to USAC. All other programs will accept an unofficial transcript from our office (automatically sent to the USAC Central Office by the Chico USAC Program Advisor as a part of the process).

Once you are approved by USAC and our office, USAC will send you a “welcome package” in the mail with further instructions.   

How many classes can I take abroad?  May I also take online courses at Chico while abroad?

Students must maintain full-time enrollment while abroad (the equivalent of 12-15 units for undergraduates at CSU, Chico, depending upon the program). This is necessary for financial aid, student visa requirements and insurance purposes.  IMPORTANT-- Please note, this is not always a one-to-one conversion. Your Study Abroad Advisor will assist you in determining course unit conversions for your specific program.  Can I take online CSU, Chico classes while I'm abroad?

Students are not allowed to take online Chico State classes while they are enrolled in classes abroad. This is because they are placed in the “study abroad placeholder units” during their time abroad which does not allow for students to enroll in addition course units. 

Attention Graduate Students:  On all programs except for IP, your minimum full-time unit requirement will be the equivalent of nine units.  IP requires that you enroll in 15 units per semester.  

What is ________ country like?

To find out what a specific country or location is like, you should meet with one of our country-specific peer advisors who have studied abroad in those locations. If they cannot answer your specific questions about a particular city, they can give you the contact information of study abroad alumni for any of our programs.

Can I get a course equivalency form or UDT form?

The course equivalency and Upper Division Theme forms are available in our office, SSC 440, or on the “forms” section of our website.

Where do I turn in my forms?

You will be turning the forms into the organization which gave them to you. For instance, if the forms were given to you by your Chico advisor in an application workshop, you should turn them into the CSU, Chico Study Abroad Office.  If the forms were mailed to you by USAC or IP, you should read the forms carefully and submit them to the organization that is listed.

Do I need to enroll in Chico classes while I am abroad?

You DO NOT enroll in Chico State classes while you are abroad, the Chico State Study Abroad Office will enroll you in “placeholder units” while you are abroad so all campus officials at Chico State know you are studying abroad through one of our programs. 

Do I have to pay fees to Chico if I am studying abroad through USAC?

No. If you go abroad on a USAC program, your Chico State fees will be waived for the semester(s) you are abroad and you will only need to pay USAC fees.

I studied abroad last semester and my grades have not been posted yet….

Depending on the program and location where you studied abroad, transcripts can take several months to arrive and be processed from overseas. We will email you when your official transcripts have arrived and have been sent down to the Records and Registration Office. The Evaluations office will then post your grades onto your CSU, Chico portal. We ask that students are patient during the process as it can often take a month or two once grades are received to be posted.