Sponsored Students

What is a sponsored student? 

A sponsored student is an international student whose program is funded by an international government or agency such as, but not limited to, Kuwait Cultural, Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, Embassy of the State of Qatar, and Embassy of Sultanate of Oman.

Sponsors set specific requirements for students to maintain their sponsorship and the ISC has a dedicated team to support students and sponsors during their time at SDSU.

Under the Kuwait Cultural Office Sponsored Student Request you will find a list of letters and documents you can choose to fullfill your sponsorship requirements. All completed letters and documents will be sent directly to your KCO advisor.

  • Study Plan
    • Complete "How to" can be found in this webpage below.
  • Letter to Take Classes Outside SDSU
    • Students who wish to take classes outside SDSU may request a letter from the International Student Center (ISC) by completing the form below. Include a valid reason if the request is for Kuwait Cultural.
  • Letter About Class that Needs to be Retaken or Was Retaken
    • Students who wish to take classes outside SDSU may request a letter from the International Student Center (ISC) by completing the form below. Include a valid reason if the request is for Kuwait Cultural.
  • KCO VOE (Verification of Enrollment for Kuwait Cultural Sponsored Students)
    • This letter will include your current enrollment information included the classes you are currently enrolled and the learning modalities. If you need infomation of past and/or future terms, please indicate the term desired in the form.
  • Verification of Non-Traditional Courses - VONTC (formerly the Online Course Audit)
    • For Kuwait Cultural Sponsored Student only, the VONTC is sent to your KCO advisor every semester after university census. Students who took classes outside SDSU will need to contact the other school for a completed VONTC for those classes.
  • Online Class Approval Request
    • If you are enrolling in online classes, you need to request approval from KCO before the semester add & drop end date. List the online classes you would like to enroll and the reason you are choosing this class learning modality. If there are in-person options for the same class and term, please indicate the extraordinary circunstances that led to choose the online learning modality.

General Information for All Majors

When completing your Study Plan:

  • Download this editable Study Plan PDF and use it to complete your Study Plan.
  • Under Student Information you will add the foolowing:
    • Name
    • SDSU Red ID#
    • Major
    • School name
    • Total credits required for degree completion: Please, find this information in your Degree Evaluation under *** UNIT, RESIDENCE AND GPA REQUIREMENTS*** - Minimum units required for the Bachelor's degree.
    • Previously earned home university credits that count towards degree: Did you take University classes in Kuwait? If you did, how many units were transferred to SDSU? Add "0" if none.
    • Previously earned transfer credits that count towards degree: Did take college or university classes outside SDSU? If you did, how many units were transferred to SDSU? Add "0" if none.
    • Total earned credits (homeuniversity and transfer): Total number of units that are transferrable to SDSU. Add the two items above
    • Total credits remaining: Check your Degree Evaluation. For accurate information, Click on "Advanced Settings" Click to view available options. Uncheck the box "Include In Progress Courses". Wait for the degree evaluation to update and then under *** UNIT, RESIDENCE AND GPA REQUIREMENTS***,  Minimum units required for the Bachelor's degree , add the number of UNITS EARNED.
  • Under Projected Course of Study:
    • the course, 
    • the term that you took it in, and 
    • the school that you took it in,
    • with a note that the transfer credit for that course is pending.
  • Start with the current semester/term of enrollment and list the classes you are enrolled in for this semester/term. 
  • You do not need to include courses taken in past semesters/terms. 
  • List all semesters/terms that you will study.
  • Add the course number and the number of units for each course that you plan to take in that semester/term.
  • Include courses that you are enrolled in or will enroll in at other schools under the appropriate term
  • Add a note next to the course that you plan to take outside SDSU. 
  • If you have a course that you took outside SDSU and has not been added to your Degree Evaluation yet, be sure to include:
  • When completing the Study Plan, you will need your most recent Degree Evaluation. The "Printer-Friendly" version is easily saved as a PDF after you access it.
  • If you need help understanding the Degree Evaluation to know which classes you need to add to your Study Plan and which terms to add them to, you can do the following:
  • Watch the Office of Advising & Evaluations' tutorial on Understanding the Degree Evaluation
  • Schedule an appointment to meet with your Success Team Advisor through your SDSU Navigate (EAB) account
  • Once your submission is received by the student Sponsored Student Coordinator, it will be reviewed for accuracy and then forwarded to your major advsior or success center for review.
  • If there is any recommendations from your major advisor, the sponsored student coordinator will communicate the same to you immediately.
  • After your Study Plan is signed by the major advisor or student success center, the sponsoreed student coordinator will email the signed Study Plan to your Kuwait Cultural Office Advisor and copy you on the email so you know it’s been sent.

SACM-sponsored students may be required to submit specific letters to SACM to ensure they are meeting SACM’s sponsorship requirements. Complete the SACM Sponsored Student Request Form  for the following requests:

  • Sponsored Student VOE (Verification of Enrollment for Kuwait Cultural Sponsored Students)
    • This letter will include your current enrollment information included the classes you are currently enrolled and the learning modalities. If you need infomation of past and/or future terms, please indicate the term desired in the form.
  • Authorization Request to Sponsor to enroll in online classes
    • Your sponsor may require authorization to take online classes at SDSU. This letter of support will be sent to your advisor for consideration. 
  • VONTC (Verification of Non-Traditional Courses| Learning Modality Audit)
    • This document is sent to your sponsor after University Census automatically.
  • Financial Guarantee Extension Support Letter
    • If your Financial Guarantee is expiring and your need to request an extension from SACM, request this letter for support on your request. 
  • Possible major change
    • Use this option if you need to change your major and your SACM advisor/counselor needs a letter with a reason for the change.
  • Other
    • If the needed document is not listed here, you will be able to specify what you need here.

If you are sponsored by the Embassy of Sultanate of Oman, the Embassy of the State of Qatar, Qatar EnergyQatar Securite Attache, and the United Arab Emirates Embassy, complete the International Sponsored Student  Request form for the following documents:

  •  Int'l Sponsored Student VOE (this letter includes your schedule and learning modality)
    • You should request this letter within the add & Drop period. It will include your current enrollment information as per My.SDSU records.
  • Unofficial Transcript 
    • we can send this document directly to your sponsor at any point. This document is also accessable by the student in My.SDSU.
  • VONTC (Verification of Non-Traditional Courses| Learning Modality Audit) 
    • This document is sent to your sponsor after University Census automatically.
  • Degree Evaluation
    • Automated Report of student's academic progress and standing.
  • Authorization Request to Sponsor to enroll in online classes
    • Your sponsor may require authorization to take online classes at SDSU. This letter of support will be sent to your advisor for consideration. 
  • Authorization Request to take classes outside SDSU
    • Use this selection if your sponsor or the college is requesting a letter authorizing you to study outside SDSU. Please, remember that it is the student responsability to ensure the class selection outside SDSU is transferrable to your degree at SDSU and your sponsor agrees with this selection.
  • Other
    • If the needed document is not listed here, you will be able to specify what you need here.

How can we help you?

The ISC acts as a liaison between SDSU, sponsored students, and sponsors, providing specialized support to all stakeholders navigating through the complexities of student sponsorship requisites, immigration, and academic wellbeing.

  • Supporting Sponsorship Requirements
  • Generating reports
  • Completing forms
  • Liaise between colleges, advisors, administrative offices
  • Study plan review
  • Verification Letters
  • Support Letters
  • Maintenance of sponsored student immigration compliance.
  • Counseling, Advising & Social Integration
  • Workshops
  • Virtual and in-person advising.
  • Special Events
  • Cultural Hours

FERPA

Per FERPA regulation, students must sign and submit a Release of Information Form prior to receiving the support from the ISC and the Sponsored Student Coordinator. This form will authorize the ISC team to communicate with sponsors, advisors and SDSU staff about your education related issues and well-being.

Contact Us

Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Vanessa Fennell | Sponsored Student Coordinator
5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-1802

Sponsored Student Advising Hours and Appointments

Thrursday: 9 am to 12 pm In-person Open Advising Hours.