FAQs

Application deadlines depend on the program to which you are applying. Be sure to check out the program websites for accurate deadline dates. You may see different types of deadlines advertised:

A preferred deadline is a deadline to encourage you to apply by that date. For applying to the National Student Exchange program, you will receive to a $25 application fee discount for applying by the preferred deadline.  

A priority deadline indicates that your application will be considered over student applications submitted after that deadline. Submitting your application by the priority deadline gets you the most competitive chance to be accepted to your first choice location. For some highly competitive locations, they may not accept any additional applications after the priority deadline. 

Rolling admissions indicates that applications will be reviewed at the type they are submitted based on space availability, as opposed to at a specific time after a listed deadline. Rolling admissions also means that programs can fill up at any time. 

A final deadline means that no more applications can be received after that date. Though some deadlines are flexible and even late applications can sometimes be considered, generally final deadlines are absolute. 

Students are able to study abroad as early as their sophomore year. This means that students may start an application to study away as early as their first semester at SSU. As a first semester college student, applicants do not have a current GPA. For the application, this means you can enter “0.0” until your Fall grades are posted. All of application deadlines are after grades are posted, so you will be able to update your GPA to reflect your most recent GPA before the deadline. Make sure to do that!

However, keep in mind that as a first-time freshmen, your application GPA will be based solely on your fall grades, so, use that as motivation to do well!

For your AAA meeting, you need to have completed your online application.

For CSU International Programs, that means all required Questionnaires have been SUBMITTED, your signature documents have been signed digitally, your recommendation has been requested (if not received), and you have submitted any necessary unofficial transcripts. Don’t worry, you will be able to continue making edits up until the deadline.

For National Student Exchange/NSE Study Abroad, that means all fields must be completed and SAVED. Don’t worry, you will be able to continue making edits up until the deadline. For National Student Exchange, an important part of the AAA meeting is to review your host university placement choices. As some host universities are considered more competitive than others, it is important that your host university placement list is effective in getting you placed on NSE. Make sure to have your list ready for your AAA.

A passport is not needed to study in a different state in the US, however, make sure you have valid documentation required to travel, including a REAL ID.

To study internationally, students must have a valid passport through six months after their study abroad program ends. This includes NSE Canada locations and all NSE Study Abroad locations. If your passport is going to expire prior to six months after your program end date, then you should begin the process of renewing your passport as soon as possible. If you do not currently have a passport, and will not have a passport by the application deadline, that is okay. It is not required to have a passport to apply to the program. However, you will be required to provide a copy of your passport soon after being accepted to a program. Because of the time involved in obtaining a passport, study abroad applicants are STRONGLY advised to apply for one even before you apply to the program or before selection results are known. (The process can take up to 3 months.)

Information on how to get a passport can be found at http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html.

In order to get your student visa, passports MUST be valid six months after your program end date. For example, if your program ends in May, then your passport would need to be valid through November of that year.

If your passport is going to expire any time prior to six months after your program end date, then you should begin the process of renewing your passport right away.

The Academic Planning Form or Academic Advising Agreement is a “contract” between you and your advisor regarding the courses you are planning on taking while studying away, and how they will count towards your graduation requirements when you return. This form is available and due after you are accepted to your study away program. 

Be sure to follow the listed instructions! The form should be mostly completed BEFORE taking it to your advisor. Faculty get very frustrated when students ask them to complete this form for them. Faculty are not familiar with all of the classes available on study away programs, so it is your responsibility to do your research ahead of time, use your best judgment to match classes from the host institution with what you need to graduate, and then take that information to your advisor. We even recommend creating a spreadsheet of the classes you need, and what classes abroad are similar to those. Be sure to bring course descriptions and as much information on the classes as available.  

Keep in mind that faculty are VERY busy the last two weeks of classes, the first two weeks of classes, and around registration; they are also often unavailable during winter and summer break. You should not expect faculty to help you during these times, so be sure to plan accordingly.  

If you are planning on taking classes in your major, then a faculty member in that department will sign. If you want to take classes in your double major or minor, then likewise your advisor in that department will sign. If you want to take GE courses, there is no designated person to sign. You can either go to the department that houses that GE (ex. a history GE class would be in the history department) and ask one of them to sign, or you can work with the study away advisor.  

Navigating GE courses abroad can be difficult since there is no designated GE advisor. Use your best judgment by matching the abroad course with an SSU GE course title and course description. The more similar the class is to an SSU GE class, the easier it will be. You can view classes on study away programs that have already been approved to meet SSU requirements on the TES website. 

Once your advisor has approved your plan we recommend asking them to complete the ARR Update Form right away to make the approved class matches official. Once you feel confident about your GE class selection, we recommend completing the GE Substitution Petition right away to obtain official approval. 

When is it due?

The due date will depend on the program in which you are participating. There may be a specific deadline listed, so be sure to watch for that. Regardless of the listed deadline, you should work to have the Advising Agreement signed BEFORE May 1 or December 1. The reason for this is once we get into the months of May and December, faculty get very busy with finals and the end of the semester. Additionally, most faculty will not respond to emails once the semester ends. So, access to a faculty member after May/December 1 will be very, very limited.

Yes, students can use financial aid when studying away! 

When participating in programs where students still pay SSU/CSU tuition, such as SSU Exchange Programs, CSU International Programs, and National Student Exchange (Home Pay), students can use ALL of their normal financial aid! 

When students participate in a direct fee paying program, such as USAC, our study abroad fee paying programs, and National Student Exchange (Host Pay), students are able to use federal financial aid, such as the Pell Grant and Loans, as well as some SSU specific financial aid and scholarships. However, some additional verification may be required by the SSU Financial Aid office. 

Students who have other types of financial aid, such as Veteran's benefits and/or waivers, or CSU waivers, can also use those while studying away. Be sure to talk with your study away and financial aid advisors for more details.