The CSU offers more than 1,800 bachelor's and master's degree programs in some 240 subject areas. Most subjects are available to exchange students although a few programs are "impacted" at some campuses. Course descriptions can be found on campus websites.
Exchange students can study at the California State University (CSU) for up to one academic year. Check your home university advisor for details. Some CSU campuses operate on quarters, others operate on semesters.
| Quarter System Campuses | Semester System Campuses |
|---|---|
| Bakersfield, East Bay, Los Angeles, Pomona, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo and Stanislaus. |
Channel Islands, Chico, Dominguez Hills, Fresno, Fullerton, Humboldt, Long Beach, Maritime Academy, Monterey Bay, Northridge, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Marcos and Sonoma. |
| Dates are approximate and vary by campus. Fall Quarter: Mid Sept. - Mid December Fall Break: Mid December - Early January Winter Quarter: Early January - Mid March Winter Break: Late March - Early April Spring Quarter: Late March - Mid June |
Dates are approximate and vary by campus. Fall Semester: Late August - Late December Fall Break: Late December - Late January Spring Semester: Late January - Mid May Spring Break: Mid March - Early April |
There are university dormitories available on most CSU campuses. Dormitories typically house first-year university students, ages 18-20, and are co-ed, with half the floor reserved for female students and half the floor reserved for male students. Students normally share a bedroom with another student. There is a bathroom in the hall with 3 or 4 showers, sinks and toilets, which is shared by 10-12 students. Some campuses have recently built apartment-style housing facilities on campus, but space is very limited. Students have several housing options at each CSU campus. Most international students decide to live in off-campus apartments near the university. This usually entails arriving a couple of weeks before classes start to allow time to find housing. More detailed information about housing will be provided by your host CSU campus prior to your arrival.
Exchange students pay normal tuition fees directly to their home universities and avoid paying costly international fees which are normally incurred by international students who study in the CSU. Most CSU campuses will require exchange students to pay miscellaneous campus-based fees.
Many students assume that studying abroad will cost much more than they can afford. While it is an undeniable fact that studying abroad will cost money, the surprising reality is that the cost is within the financial reach of most students. Keep in mind that the California State University system includes 23 universities located throughout the state of California. Some campuses are in big cities and others are in smaller, more rural areas. Just as is the case around the world, the cost of living in a big metropolitan city, such as London, Paris, Los Angeles or San Francisco, is higher than the cost of living in smaller cities. If cost is a deciding factor for you, we strongly recommend that you consider one of the CSU campuses located outside the large metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Furthermore, remember that living near the ocean costs more than living inland. All of these factors will play a role in determining your costs.
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