- The third-oldest member among California State Schools
- 30,300+ undergraduate students
- Located in beautiful Southern California, San Diego offers the rich ammenities of a big city alongside the charm of a beach town
- Ranks among the top 10 universities nationwide in terms of ethnic and racial diversity among its student body
- Alongside Princeton and Cornell University, recognized in 2016 as among the best universities in the United States for supporting LGBT students
Visa + Requirements|Travel advice + advisories
Partner university’s areas of study
Eligibility and Timing
Terms Offered
Who can go?
- Exchange students can take coursework in most areas of study
- Note: Beginning from Fall 2023, San Diego State University is now able to accept exchange applicants who are US citizens (dual citizens) provided they are a citizen and resident of a foreign country.
Term Dates
- Fall semester (late August - late December)
- Spring semester (mid-January - early May)
- One full academic year at SDSU is two semesters
- A semester includes 15 weeks of instruction
Timing
- Students are nominated by UBC Go Global to attend the SDSU system
- Once nominated, the student's application is sent to the SDSU system where campus allotments will be determined
Credits
Course equivalency formula
- 1 SDSU credit = 1 UBC credit
Credit transfer process
The transfer credit process takes approximately 16 weeks following each submission deadline. You should allow sufficient time to meet important deadlines that may affect you (e.g. application for graduation, registration in courses that require prerequisites that you took on exchange, entry to a major/honours program, etc.)
For more information about Go Global transfer credit
Grading scheme
- SDSU uses a 4.0 GPA grading scheme
- A = 4.0 A- = 3.7
- B+ = 3.3 B = 3.0 B- = 2.7
- C+ = 2.3 C = 2.0 C- = 1.7
- D+ = 1.3 D = 1.0 D- = 0.7
- F = 0
Passing grade
D- = 0.7 Grade PointsCourse Information
* Students who have special requirements or require academic accommodation should contact a Go Global advisor regarding their needs at least six weeks prior to the application deadline.
Type of Go Global Experiences
Course information and restrictions
- A semester includes 15 weeks of instruction
- Certain majors are impacted at SDSU, meaning that there is a high demand for classes in the major
- Exchange students cannot exclusively apply to impacted courses
- Applying into courses at SDSU in Business Administration, Communications, Journalism, and Film Studies is competitive, and may be challenging
- Beginning Fall 2024, Construction Engineering (CON E) is restricted and thus unavailable to exchange students
Full course load information
- All exchange students must maintain a full course load of at least 12 units each semester (typically 4 classes)
- Students can take 5 classes each semester if they wish
- If students do not want to take a full course load (minimum 12 units), exceptions can be made using the Application for Reduced Course Load form
Transfer Credits And Equivalent Courses At This University
Check out the courses that previous students have transferred back to UBC in the last 5 years using our Course Search Tool. If you don't see a particular course you listed, it simply means you need to submit it as a new course request through the Transfer Credit Portal while on your Go Global experience. For more information, please visit the Go Global Transfer Credit webpage.
Exchange Tuition
- 15 credits or equivalent full-time program fee per term, paid to UBC
- Some exceptions may apply
- Please note: You will be required to submit a financial statement to SDSU verifying that you have at least US$19,300 available funds if you are studying for one academic year (two semesters), or US$9,650 if you are studying for one academic semester
- It is the students responsibility to read through all information sent to the student from the San Diego State University
Scholarships and awards
The Go Global Award $1000
All students accepted to Go Global for Exchange, Research Abroad, or Study Abroad travel programs are automatically considered for this award. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you'll be notified of your award after you're accepted to Go Global and after you get nominated to apply to the partner university.
Additional awards
Students who are eligible for awards may receive one UBC or UBC-affiliated international learning award. If you're eligible, you are always offered the highest-value award. Unless stated otherwise, you need to meet eligibility criteria set out by the University Senate regarding awards.
Check out international learning awards and eligibility.
- Fulbright (for Graduate students that are Canadian Citizens)
- Killam Open Competition Award (for undergraduate students that are Canadian Citizens)
Information for US students:
If you are a student from the United States, please check the US Department of Education Lookup Tool to ensure that any partner institution you wish to attend on Exchange is Title IV ‘eligible’ for Federal Student Aid for the year in which you intend to study there. For institutions outside of the US, select “Foreign Country” from the “State” dropdown menu.
If you attend an eligible institution, then you may receive Title IV federal student loans while on Exchange.
If you attend an ineligible institution:
- You will not be eligible for US federal student loans,
- You may invalidate any US student aid you have previously received for your studies at UBC,
- You may be required to immediately begin repaying your US student loans, and
- You may not be eligible for any future US student aid for the remainder of your studies at UBC.
Additional Fees
- As all students attending SDSU - both domestic and international - are required to have health insurance, you will be automatically enrolled in SDSU Health Insurance (US $1,326 for one academic year - 9 months)
- If you wish to be covered under a plan other than the ISC plan, you must submit a petition (exemption) within the announced deadlines before registering in classes - please ensure that your insurance is accepted as an alternative plan (petition is not automatic and it is not guaranteed that it will be accepted)