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Study Abroad & Exchange Programs

Studying Abroad provides students with a great opportunity to immerse themselves in different languages and cultures while progressing towards a degree.

Financial aid is available for most study abroad and exchange programs, during both the summer and the regular academic year for those that qualify. The Study Abroad Office at UC San Diego provides a wide variety of programs to choose from. Below you can find more information about each program, how financial aid works, and frequently asked questions.

For a quick guide on how financial aid works for each program, please see our Financial Aid for Study Abroad Handout (PDF)

To compare Study Abroad programs, please see the Detailed Study Abroad Program Comparison Chart.

To speak with a Financial Aid Study Abroad Counselor, please see the Weekly Drop-in Advising Handout.

Financial Aid Study Abroad Contact: FAO-EAP@UCSD.EDU

Global Seminars (GS)

UC San Diego Global Seminars are summer global experiences led by UC San Diego professors. Students enroll in a package of two courses for a total of 8 UC San Diego quarter units. Because it is a UC San Diego program, you receive UC summer aid and pay UC summer tuition & fees while in the program.

The UC San Diego Study Abroad office determines your cost of attendance while abroad, which will differ from the UC San Diego cost of attendance. UC San Diego’s Financial Aid & Scholarships office will then adjust your financial need and awards based on the cost of your program abroad.

Once packaged, students will receive a notification letting them know that their Summer Financial Aid award is available on their TritonLink account.

The UC San Diego Student Financial Solutions office will disburse your award to cover any outstanding Global Seminar charges. All payments, direct deposit, and disbursements are managed by Student Financial Solutions and are done through your TritonLink account under "Financial Tools."

Tips:

For more information about Global Seminars, please visit the Study Abroad Website.

For an official list of programs, please visit the Global Seminars Webpage.

To meet with a Study Abroad Advisor, please refer to the UC San Diego Study Abroad Advising Services Page.

To meet with a Financial Aid Study Abroad Counselor, please visit the Study Abroad In-Person or Virtual Front Desk.

Global Seminars Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).

Global Seminars

UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP)

The Education Abroad Program is a UC program. Because you are a UC student, you receive UC aid and pay UC tuition & fees while in the program.

The University-wide UCEAP office determines your cost of attendance while abroad, which will differ from the UC San Diego cost of attendance. UC San Diego’s Financial Aid & Scholarships Office will then adjust your financial need and awards based on the cost of your program abroad.

Once packaged, our office will commit and send your Financial Aid award to the EAP office to cover any outstanding bill.

The UCEAP Office in Santa Barbara (not UC San Diego) will disburse your award. All payments, direct deposit, and disbursements are done through the UCEAP Portal only.

Tips:

For more information about UCEAP programs, please visit the Study Abroad Website.

For an official list of programs, please visit the UCEAP Website.

To meet with a Study Abroad Advisor, please refer to the UCSD Study Abroad Advising Services Page.

To meet with a Financial Aid Study Abroad Counselor, please visit the Study Abroad In-Person or Virtual Front Desk.

UCEAP Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).

UCEAP

Global Exchange (GE)

UC San Diego Global Exchange programs are reciprocal academic year study abroad opportunities between UC San Diego and partner universities. Since Global Exchange is exclusively for UC San Diego students, students receive UC aid and pay UC tuition & fees while in the program.

The UC San Diego Study Abroad office determines your cost of attendance while abroad, which will differ from the UC San Diego cost of attendance. UC San Diego’s Financial Aid & Scholarships office with then adjust your financial need and awards based on the cost of your program abroad.

Once packaged, students will receive a notification letting them know their revised Financial Aid award letter is available on their TritonLink account.

The UC San Diego Student Financial Solutions office will disburse your award to cover any outstanding Global Exchange charges. All payments, direct deposit, and disbursements are managed by Student Financial Solutions and are done through your TritonLink account under "Financial Tools."

Tips:

For more information about Global Exchange, please visit the Study Abroad Website.

For an official list of programs, please visit the Global Exchange Webpage.

To meet with a Study Abroad Advisor, please refer to the UC San Diego Study Abroad Advising Services Page.

To meet with a Financial Aid Study Abroad Counselor, please visit the Study Abroad In-Person or Virtual Front Desk.

Global Exchange Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).

Global Exchange

Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP)

Opportunities Abroad Programs are non-UC programs. These programs are administered by non-UC study abroad providers that are affiliated with UC San Diego. Students in OAP earn transfer credit and courses may be applied towards UC San Diego major, minor, and/or GE requirements. Because it is a non-UC program, you receive only Federal & State aid (NO UC-AID), and pay tuition & fees set by your host institution or program.

Your host institution will determine your cost of attendance while abroad which will differ from the UC San Diego cost of attendance. You will be required to submit two forms through your Tritons Abroad account before the UC San Diego Financial Aid & Scholarships office can package your program abroad.

  1. Consortium Agreement: Contract from your host institution that includes your program dates, credit status, and cost of attendance.
  2. Academic Planning Form: List of courses approved by both your College Advisor and the UC San Diego Admissions office.

Once we receive the forms listed above, the UC San Diego Financial Aid & Scholarships office will then adjust your financial need and award you based on the cost of your program abroad.

Once packaged, students will receive a notification letting them know that their Financial Aid award is available to view on their TritonLink account.

The UC San Diego Student Financial Solutions office will then disburse your FULL award to your account. OAP students do not pay UC tuition & fees; therefore, students will receive their full award and are responsible for paying their host institution or program directly.

All payments are done through your host institution/program portal; however, all direct deposit and disbursements are managed by Student Financial Solutions and are done through your TritonLink account under "Financial Tools."

Tips:

For more information about OAP, please visit the Study Abroad Website.

For an official list of programs, please visit the Opportunities Abroad Program Webpage.

To meet with a Study Abroad Advisor, please refer to the UC San Diego Study Abroad Advising Services Page.

To meet with a Financial Aid Study Abroad Counselor, please visit the Study Abroad In-Person or Virtual Front Desk.

OAP Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).

OAP