Getting Started

Research, read, and reflect. Going away to pursue an educational experience off-campus as part of your degree is a big decision. Any student considering this should start researching their options at least 6 months in advance. 

Talk with your friends, family, professors, and networks to get their advice and support. 

Meet with your academic coach to discuss how education away fits into your degree plan.  

When thinking about your options, consider:

• What region or culture interests you the most? Why?
• How long would you like to study away and during what time of the year? Do you want to be away for a few weeks or a whole semester?
• Are you looking for a program directly related to your major or just a "general" program?
• Do you want a program with courses taught in English or are you seeking immersion in a foreign language?
• Are you interested in fulfilling remaining degree requirements or just having an experience that will provide general credits?

Plan to attend the Education Away Fair, which is held annually during the Fall semester, as well as stop by for drop-ins sessions with peer advisers in the Center on weekdays from 1-3pm in BH 412. You can also schedule a one-on-one meeting if you prefer. 

Look at paper viewbooks in our office. They are free for the taking and you can keep them as long as you like. Also, there are several study abroad search engines to aid you in your research:

www.iiepassport.org
www.goabroad.com

Reading unbiased student reviews of study abroad programs is also a good research tool. Access program reviews through sites like Abroad101.

There are three basic study abroad options:

1. Faculty-led Programs Abroad (FLPA)-  8 days to 4 weeks
2. Reciprocal Exchange- Fall or Spring or combination of both/ also domestic or international- no summer
3. Affiliate Programs (any term)

Cleveland State sponsors 2-3 short-term faculty-led programs every year in countries such as Costa Rica, England, France, and Spain.  Additional programs are being developed every year by creative and engaging CSU faculty. Please see the Faculty-Led Programs Abroad page for the most up- to- date program offerings.

Cleveland State has several reciprocal exchange programs with partner universities throughout the world. These programs allow students to pay CSU tuition while enrolling in a  partner university with which CSU has a signed agreement. These can be abroad or in the USA through our membership in the National Student Exchange consortium. 

Each year dozens of CSU students also study abroad on Affiliate Programs.  These are programs or universities that issue transcripts which result in transfer credit at CSU.  They are not CSU managed or operated by CSU. They include options all over the world: Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa, just to name a few. The Center staff work with students one-on-one to find the best fit for their academic and financial needs.

Students may use financial aid towards the cost of Education Abroad and can sometimes get the amount of their award increased depending on the cost of the program, or the cost of attendance (COA). CSU allows both federal and most institutional aid to travel to any approved study abroad program.  Please plan ahead if you will be applying for scholarships. Some scholarships are need-based and others are merit-based. Application deadlines are usually quite early so please plan ahead if you will be applying for scholarships.

No. Some programs may require prior foreign language skills but many do not. The best thing is to check the applicant eligibility requirements for a program of interest to determine what, if any, prior foreign language experience is necessary.

Yes. Students who apply through the Center for International Services and Programs will receive either "transfer" or "in-residence" credits, assuming a passing grade(s) is earned. Students participating in faculty-led programs abroad will receive graded, residency credit. Students who exchange will receive satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades on their CSU academic record and in-residence CSU credits.  Students who participate through an affiliate program will receive transfer credit on their CSU academic record but the grades earned will not factor into their CSU cumulative GPA. The application and pre-departure processes through Center for International Services and Programs ensures students know their credit transferability prior to departure.

We recommend students meet with a CISP advisor prior to submitting any applications. 

1. When ready to apply, students will fill out a short 1-page application through the CISP seeking general approval from CSU to be placed on approved "leave" to pursue an education away program. 

2. Students will then apply for admission to their desired host university or program. We recommend applying to only one program for which you are qualified, confident in the knowledge that you will be accepted in most (if not all) cases. Education away acceptance is almost guaranteed as long as admission eligibility requirements are met. Only in a very few rare programs will there be enrollment capacity issues. 

   These two application processes can happen concurrently. The CSU general approval application can be found here. Students wishing to exchange to a partner university via the National Student Exchange consortium, can the application here. 

• Faculty-Led Programs Abroad typically have application deadlines 3-4 months prior to the start of the program. See the program director, or visit the webpage for the individual program. Students who apply after these deadlines can not be considered.
   
• Reciprocal exchange program interest should be expressed through a general study abroad approval application at least a year in advance to give enough time to arrange the inbound and outbound student balance.  The National Student Exchange consortium has rolling admissions but a March 1 priority deadline ensures the greatest access to member campuses. 
   
• Affiliate program deadlines vary greatly. Students should adhere to the posted deadlines by the provider.

Cleveland State requires a minimum overall GPA of at least 2.0 in order to be approved to pursue an education away program. Additionally, applicants will be screened by the CSU Judicial Affairs Officer for any violations of the Student Code of Conduct and any red flags on their student financial account will also be examined by the Bursar.  Any new first-year student who has had at least 2 semesters of successful study at CSU or has been a transfer student for at least 1 semester is also eligible to apply for education away approval. See the full list of eligibility criteria here. Please note that most programs, including the National Student Exchange, require at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA for admittance.