Start by learning about the mission, vision, and learning outcomes for the Study Abroad & Away office. Consider why you should study abroad or away. Next, view the Study Abroad & Away 101 video to learn essential information about study abroad and away. All students should watch the video before applying for a program. Learn about the different types of programs that are offered. Join our Interest List to hear about other events, info sessions, workshops, and meetups related to studying abroad, and visit our Events Calendar to select events that are of interest to you. 

Think about what your goals and priorities are for a study abroad or away experience. What do you want to accomplish personally, academically or professionally? What type of learning environment do you prefer? Are there particular regions you are interested in or academic offerings you are looking for? How long do you want to be away? Use this worksheet to identify your goals and think through your program preferences, which will help guide your program search and planning.

We recommend students meet with a Study Abroad & Away Advisor to discuss their goals and program options. Visit the Advising page to set up an advising appointment with one of our staff based on your interests. Log into the Spartans Abroad Portal (SAP) with your SJSU ID and password to fill out the Advising Form to prepare for your appointment with the Study Abroad & Away team.

Review the different types of programs you can choose from and use the Spartans Abroad Portal (SAP) search filters to choose the program that best fits your personal and academic goals. You can click on the “Save” icon for each program that interests you in order to save to your account and revisit later. You will need to have already created an account in SAP to save your preferences by logging in with your SJSU ID and password. Search programs now.

Learn about how academics work with study abroad. Meet with your Academic Advisor to determine what programs offer courses that would fulfill graduation requirements and how they fit into your overall degree plan.

Once you've selected a program to apply to, click the “Apply Now” button on the program's page within the Spartans Abroad Portal. Create an account, complete a program-specific questionnaire, and submit any other required documents to complete your application. Be sure to review any course prerequisites or other eligibility criteria before submitting. You can only apply to one program per term. Review application tips and deadlines here.

• For students applying to programs sponsored by our partners CSU International Programs (CSU IP) or International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP), you will need to complete an additional application through the partner organization, after submitting your application through the Spartans Abroad Portal.
• For students applying to Summer School Abroad and Alternative Break Programs, there may be additional application steps to complete. You will receive more information upon submitting your application.
• Open University students are eligible to apply for most Faculty-Led Programs (FLP). When you click on the “Apply Now” button you will need to select the “Log in for Non-SJSU Students” to create an account before filling out  the specific program application.

Be on the lookout for a decision email from SpartansAbroad@sjsu.edu to the email address you entered on your application. While awaiting the decision, you may want to start working on these needed items for study abroad:

• Passport - Apply for or renew your passport if the expiration date is less than 6 months from the end of your program.
• Finances - Meet with the study abroad specialist at the Financial Aid Office to understand your financial aid package and what you can use to cover your study abroad expenses. Make sure to also check out and apply for study abroad scholarships! Review the program costs in your program brochure on the Spartans Abroad Portal and discuss the program expenses with your parents/guardians.

Once you are accepted into a program, you will need to log into your Spartans Abroad Portal account to see the checklist of required documents and actions. Failure to satisfy the requirements may lead to program disqualification.