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Study at the CSU

The CSU Systemwide Student Exchange Program

The California State University (CSU) International Programs Office administers the CSU Systemwide Student Exchange Program and has student exchange agreements with over 60 institutions worldwide. Our office is located at the CSU Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach, California, which is the headquarters office for the CSU system.  As the largest four-year public university system in the nation, the CSU has 23 campuses and over 480,000 enrolled students throughout California. This program gives qualified degree-seeking students from our exchange partners the opportunity to attend one of our 23 CSU campuses as exchange students as part of the "J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program" which is administered by the U.S. Department of State. Exchange students who meet eligibility requirements can study up to one academic year at the undergraduate level. Most exchanges begin in our fall term which starts in August or September. We also administer a January intake which is open to partners by invitation or mutual agreement. 

To get familiar with the CSU Systemwide Student Exchange Program, refer to the webpages found on the left navigational bar under "Study at the CSU" or visit our virtual office (see below). If you are a student pursuing a degree at one of our partner institutions, please contact the exchange coordinator at your home university about applying to this program. If your home university is not on the list of exchange partners, then you are not eligible for this exchange program but you are welcome to apply to the CSU as an international student. 
 

VISIT OUR VIRTUAL INBOUND STUDENT EXCHANGE OFFICE


Our virtual CSU Systemwide Student Exchange Office is a user-friendly way to navigate through our webpages related to inbound exchange. Please visit our office and click on the images to access resources and information about our inbound student exchange program. Links in our virtual office can also be found on our webpage, CSU Campuses at Glance.  

For information about the next intake, click on this link.
 

THE J-1 VISA EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM
 

The J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program in the United States was developed as part the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 which was enacted into law by John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. The purpose of this program is to promote cultural exchange and understanding between people from the U.S. and those from other countries. Not only do exchange participants learn about the cultures of others, they also serve as ambassadors for their home institution while studying at their host institution. For more information about the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program, watch this video from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Information Sessions:

We host exchange information sessions for our exchange partners. Please check this website periodically for upcoming sessions, or check with your home university exchange coordinator.


Updated 9 June 2022