California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) bilateral exchange programs and California State University (CSU) Systemwide exchange programs are available to students without U.S. citizenship attending partner universities with established exchange agreements.
For information on why you should choose CSULB, please visit Life at CSULB.
CSU Systemwide Exchange Program Information
The CSU systemwide program is run by the CSU Office of the Chancellor staff, not CSULB staff. Students should contact their Exchange Coordinators for exact deadline dates and instructions.
Application forms and detailed program information are available from your university’s exchange advisor. There is no application fee. See your home campus advisor for a copy of the CSU Systemwide application.
Students: Please address all questions regarding the exchange program to your home campus advisors until you are officially accepted (or at least officially nominated).
Application Process
Application Deadlines
| Fall Term (August - December) and Academic Year (August - May) | Deadline: March 13* |
| Spring Term (January - May) | Deadline: October 6* |
*Please note that deadlines are subject to change and the CSU systemwide program deadlines may differ.
Late applications only accepted with permission from the CSULB Inbound Exchange Advisor and should be requested via the exchange coordinators, not students.
All exchange students must maintain full-time status (each semester).
Year-long exchange students must remain in good academic standing after semester one (at least a 2.0 GPA or 'C' average) in order to continue for a second semester.
Step by Step Process
- Your home international exchange advisor will need to nominate you to the CSULB exchange program.
- Apply to CSULB (specific application information for will sent to you once you have been nominated by your home institution).
- Receive acceptance letter and DS 2019 form.
- Apply for a U.S. visa.
- Purchase mandatory insurance coverage
Areas of Study
Academic Disciplines Open to Exchange Students
Bachelor’s B | Master's M
College of the Arts
Art* (B,M)
Dance (B)
Design* (B)
Film* (B)
Music (B,M)
Theatre (B,M)
College of Business Administration
Accountancy (B)
Finance (B)
Information Systems (B)
Management & HRM (B)
Marketing (B)
Legal Studies in Business (B)
International Business (B)
Business Administration (B)
Supply Chain Management (B)
College of Education
Liberal Studies* (B)
College of Engineering
Aerospace Engineering (B,M)
Chemical Engineering (B,M)
Civil Engineering (B,M)
Computer Engineering (B)
Computer Science (B,M)
Construction Management (B)
Electrical Engineering (B,M)
Mechanical Engineering (B,M)
College of Health and Human Services
Speech-Language Pathology (B,M)
Criminology, Criminal Justice &
Emergency Management (B,M)
Family & Consumer Sciences (B,M)
Child Development and Family
Studies*
Consumer Affairs
Fashion Design*
Fashion Merchandising*
Nutrition and Dietetics*
Food Science
Hospitality Management
Health Care Administration (B,M)
Health Science (B,M)
Kinesiology (B,M)
Exercise Science
Sport Psychology and Leadership
Public Policy & Administration (M)
Recreation & Leisure Studies (B,M)
College of Liberal Arts
Africana Studies (B)
Anthropology (B,M)
Asian and Asian American Studies
(B,M)
Chinese (B)
Japanese (B)
Korean (B)
Chicano and Latino Studies v(B)
Creative Writing (M)
Communication Studies (B,M)
Comparative World Literature &
Classics (B)
Economics (B,M)
English (B,M)
Geography (B,M)
History (B,M)
Human Development (B)
Journalism and Mass Communication (B)
Linguistics* (B,M)
Philosophy (B,M)
Political Science (B)
Psychology (B,M)
Religious Studies (B,M)
Romance, German, Russian Languages
and Literatures (B,M)
Sociology (B,M)
Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies (B)
American Indian Studies (B)
American Studies (B)
Environmental Science and Policy (B)
International Studies (B)
Jewish Studies (B)
Latin American Studies (B)
College of Natural Sciences &
Mathematics
Biological Sciences* (B,M)
Chemistry & Biochemistry* (B,M)
Geological Sciences (B,M)
Mathematics & Statistics (B,M)
Physics & Astronomy (B,M)
Science Education (B,M)
Environmental Science & Policy (B)
Some departments require a portfolio review prior to enrollment.
*Limited availability, these courses quickly fill to capacity.
Estimated Costs
One of the most important steps in preparing for an exchange placement at CSULB includes planning for the anticipated costs related to the duration of your stay. The list below outlines some of the main costs that CSULB international exchange students accrue during their time in California. Estimated dollar amounts for each of these costs are updated annually and published in the Statement of Financial Obligation form which can be accessed during the application process.
Tuition:
Basic tuition fees are waived for exchange students based on our institutional agreements.
Health Insurance:
Students must enroll into the mandatory CSU JCB Health Insurance Policy. No exceptions or waivers to this coverage are allowed even if your home university or country requires that you have an additional insurance policy. Enrollment instructions will be sent to participants after their acceptance into the exchange program. For more information about insurance, please visit the International Students & Scholars Services Health Insurance webpage.
Meals and Lodging:
Students are responsible for their own accommodation and living expenses. Both on and off campus housing options are available to participants.
Books, Supplies, and Fees:
Students will be asked to supply their own textbooks for the majority of classes offered on campus. Students who choose classes with published special laboratory, supply, or activity charges should be aware that they will be responsible for paying the fees. Additionally, students are responsible for any fines implemented by the university such as overdue library books or rented materials.
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses
Students should also be prepared for any costs related to transportation, personal travel, shopping, etc. This amount will change greatly for each individual depending on personal spending habits.
Housing
Please note: the following sections contain links to various third-party websites. CSULB is not responsible for any inaccuracies that may be found on those sites.
Students should apply in early April for the Fall semester and early November for the Spring semester. Applications are considered complete when payment is made, and considered in the order of completed application.
CSULB's University Housing has 3 residential colleges: Beachside, Hillside & Parkside. When applying for on-campus housing, you get to choose your preferred community to live in.
All rooms are approximately 15 x 11 feet and furnished with a bed, dresser, desk, chair, wastebasket, closet & mirror, and a microfridge. Residents must provide their own Bed Sets (blankets, sheets [twin extra long], pillowcases, bedspreads, towels, & study lamps).
For more information of on-campus housing (fees, meals, amenities, communities) and to apply, visit CSULB Housing and Residential Life website.
You can order bed sets and have them delivered to CSULB!
Visit the OCM website to view bedding options and make purchases.
You can have your purchase sent directly to Amazon@theBeach, which is on the CSULB campus. Packages received are held for 15 days. After 15 days the package will be returned.
Moving out of the dorms and need to ship your bed sets home?
Visit the Campus Copy Center inside of the University Bookstore for a full range of shipping services through UPS or U.S. Mail. Whether you need next day or standard shipping, we’ve got you covered. Shipping boxes and custom packages available.
Please visit the CSULB Off-Campus Housing website for additional resources.
The following options are NOT affiliated with CSULB.
APARTMENTS
Below are some popular apartment complexes students choose to stay.
- Beverly Plaza Apartments
- Park Avenue Apartments
- Alvista Apartments
- Pacific View Apartments
- Elizabeth Manor
- CORT
- Most apartments in the U.S. are not furnished. CORT provides furniture rental packages and housing information for students living off-campus.
Students that are participating in Study Abroad can also use this convenient Facebook page to get in touch with exchange students who are leaving our university and offering a place in their apartment.
Homestay
Another type of off-campus housing is Homestay. With this option, you may stay in a room of a family's home. Click on the links to find the best homestay for yourself. (CSULB does not assume any responsibility for homestay providers, their business partners, or the Homestay Provider's clients. CSULB does not inspect homes, prepare contracts, nor place students with host families. Homestay agreements are between the tenant and the homestay provider. CSULB is not affiliated with any of the providers listed below.)
TEMPORARY STAY
Below are some options for temporary stay before you move into your permanent housing (on-campus residence halls, apartment, homestay, etc.).
OTHER HOUSING OPTIONS
Arianna Salomon Italy Study Abroad @ The Beach“Easily the best experience of my life! Classes, professors, classmates, campus, weather...everything was amazing! Living in the dorms definitely added to the experience, and I would highly recommend it if you want to meet people and live the American college experience.”
Pre-Arrival Information
Per federal regulations, exchange students holding J-1 Visas may enter the U.S. a maximum of 30-days prior to the start date of their academic programs. Students attempting to enter more than 30-days prior to their program start date will be refused entry. You can find your program start date located in box #3 of your Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, which is commonly referred to as a DS-2019 Form. Upon your acceptance to the exchange program, your DS-2019 form is mailed to your university's exchange coordinator. Please consult your exchange coordinator for the status of your DS-2019 form.
Always hand-carry your immigration documents. Do not check the following documents in your luggage. Your passport (valid for at least six months beyond the end date of your exchange program); your DS-2019 form; evidence of financial support; paper receipt for the SEVIS I-901 fee. If Arriving By Air: Flight attendants will distribute Customs Declaration Forms (CF-6059) and Arrival Departure Record Forms (I-94). These are completed prior to landing. If Arriving By Land or Sea: The necessary Customs Declaration Forms (CF-6059) and Arrival-Departure Record Forms (I-94) to be filled out upon your arrival. All visitors entering the United States must state their reason for wishing to enter the country. You will also be asked to provide information about your final destination. It is important that you tell the inspecting officer that you will be a student. You may be asked to write the address of CSULB. Once your inspection is successfully completed, the inspecting officer will: stamp your DS-2019 Form and your Arrival-Departure Record Form (I-94) and staple it in your passport.
All nonimmigrant visitors holding visas -- regardless of race, national origin, or religion -- participate in the US-VISIT program, a comprehensive registration system tracking entries to and exits from the United States. Click HERE for more information on what to expect.
You can arrive to Long Beach, California from one of the local airports: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), John Wayne Airport (SNA), or Long Beach Airport (LGB).
Share a ride vans, such as Super Shuttle or Prime Time Shuttle, are available for transportation from the airport to your destination. The cost is approximately $30 - $35 for transportation from LAX to Long Beach, with an optional tip recommended for the driver. You may also take a taxi, which will cost significantly more if you arrive at an airport other than Long Beach (LGB). We recommend using ride apps as such Uber or Lyft for transportation because it may be less expensive.
International Partners
| Country | University |
|---|---|
| Argentina | University of Belgrano |
| Australia | Deakin University |
| Australia | University of Wollongong |
| Austria | University of Salzburg |
| Chile | University of Desarrollo |
| China | Beijing Language and Culture University |
| China | Beijing Normal University |
| China | Shanghai International University |
| China | Tianjin Academy of Fine Art (TAFA) |
| Denmark | Danish School of Media and journalism |
| Finland | Abo Akademi |
| France | Mod'Spe Paris Fashion Business School |
| France | Strate School of Design |
| France | Universities of Paris (MICEFA) |
| Germany | HAW Hamburg University of Applied Sciences |
| Germany | Oldenburg University |
| Hong Kong | City University of Hong Kong |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong Baptist University |
| Ireland | Mary Immaculate College |
| Ireland | University of Limerick |
| Italy | Ca' Foscari University of Venice |
| Italy | John Cabot University |
| Japan | Josai International University |
| Japan | Meiji University |
| Japan | Ritsumeikan University |
| Japan | Tenri University |
| Kazakhstan | KIMEP University |
| Korea | Dankook University |
| Korea | Hongik University |
| Korea | Kyungpook National University |
| Korea | Woosong University |
| Mexico | Autonomous University of Guadalajara |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam University of Applied Science |
| Peru | Pontifica Catholic University |
| Singapore | Singapore Management University |
| Spain | Carlos III |
| Spain | University of Alicante |
| Spain | Salamanca |
| Switzerland | Lausanne University |
| Switzerland | Zurich University of App. Sci. |
| Taiwan | China Medical University |
| Taiwan | Ming Chuan University |
| Taiwan | Tamkang University |
| Taiwan | Tunghai University |
| Thailand | Mahidol University |
| Thailand | Thammasat University |
| United Kingdom | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| United Kingdom | Coventry University |
| United Kingdom | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| United Kingdom | Nottingham Trent University |
| United Kingdom | University of Hertfordshire |
| United Kingdom | University of Kent |
| United Kingdom | University of Leicester |
| United Kingdom | University of Wales, Trinity St. David |