Pre-departure Checklist

You've submitted your application. Now what?

confirm your participation

It may take up to 4 weeks after the application deadline for you to receive an update, but once you are officially offered a placement abroad, it is important to "commit" in Aztecs Abroad as soon as possible.  This will allow you to move forward with the "post decision steps" that are required by SDSU before your departure.

Academic approval

One of the most important post-decision steps is academic approval.  All global education program participants earning credit abroad must complete an Academic Approval Form (AAF), unless they are registering at SDSU for the coursework they are taking during their experience (e.g. global seminars, course-embedded programs, transborder courses). 

Review the Academic Approval Process and be ready to meet with your academic advisor once you are accepted.  The AAF helps track your academic advising and credit pre-approval prior to your participation in an approved SDSU global education program, and will be used to ensure all approved coursework transfers to your SDSU degree audit. 

financial aid 

Financial aid may be used for SDSU-approved study abroad programs. Ensure you have completed the FAFSA and notified any outside scholarships or loans of your plans to study abroad.  Students receiving financial aid for ISEP Direct and Partner programs are required to complete a Special Enrollment Agreement or a Contractual Agreement prior to departure, and complete a Verification of Enrollment upon arrival abroad.  Specific instructions can be found in your Aztecs Abroad post-decision steps.

pre-departure health & safety orientation 

Each spring and fall, SDSU holds a Pre-Departure Health & Safety Orientation, which is mandatory for all global education participants.   This usually takes place in April for summer and fall departures, and in November for winter and spring departures.  You will receive exact dates from the Global Education Office once you have been accepted to your program.

VISAS

As soon as you know you have been accepted, it is time to find out whether you will need a visa for travel to your host country.  This depends on your citizenship, the place(s) you will be traveling during your program abroad, and the length of your program. It will be your responsibility to find out what documents you are required to submit to the embassy or consulate and to follow all necessary steps to obtain the appropriate visa or residence permit on time for your departure.