International Students

Increase your sphere of influence by studying at ASU

The ASU Study Abroad Office (SAO) is pleased to welcome visiting international exchange students to Arizona State University. We are pleased that you are interested in studying at ASU while pursuing your degree program back home and we are sure that your time here will be one of the most unique and important experiences of your life.

If you would like to come to ASU to complete a degree, you should contact ASU International Admissions. If you would like to come to ASU for intensive English language study, our American English and Culture Program  has the perfect program for you.

Contents

• Introduction to the ASU Exchange Program
• Apply for Exchange
• Learn About Courses
• Find Housing
• Cost of Living
• View Calendar

Introduction to the ASU Exchange Program

Thank you for considering Arizona State University (ASU) as your exchange destination! ASU is among the largest institutions in the country (about 67,000 students) and one of the top-ranked public, research universities in the country. Most exchange students take courses on the Tempe campus, but there are also three additional campuses around Phoenix. Tempe is a lively university city, right next to Phoenix which is the fifth largest city in the United States. the Grand Canyon, Mexico, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco are only a short drive or flight away.

The focus of the exchange program is academic learning, but we are also eager to make your experience at ASU enjoyable as well as educational. We offer assistance in housing placement, an orientation upon arrival, assistance with registration, and information about the many non-academic activities around campus an the community throughout the year.

In order to participate in the exchange program at ASU, you must be nominated by one of ASU's partner institutions. Once you have been nominated, one of our exchange program coordinators will be available to answer questions you may have about studying at ASU.

Please meet with an advisor in your international office to begin the application process. Be sure to plan ahead! Application deadlines are April 1 for fall semester and academic year admission, and October 1 for spring semester admission.

Good luck and we hope to see you soon!

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Apply for Exchange

In order to participate in the exchange program at ASU, you must be nominated by one of ASU's partner institutions. Only once you have been nominated will you be allowed to follow the following steps to apply to ASU as an exchange student.

Exchange applicants must register in the ASUbound system. After registering, you must complete the application process by downloading supporting documents from your ASUbound account and submitting them to the International Office at your home university. Exchange program applicants MUST be nominated by their home university and apply through their international office. We cannot accept applications directly from students and a letter of nomination from a partner institution is a required item.

You must apply for the exchange through the ASU Study Abroad Office (SAO), not through ASU International Admissions. Please direct all inquiries regarding any aspect of the exchange program to the SAO.  Once you have been nominated by your home university, one of the SAO Program Coordinators will be available to answer any questions your may have about studying at ASU.

Access the ASUbound registration system: ASUbound

If you have any problems accessing the ASUbound registration system, please contact SAO at cges@asu.edu.

Exchange Program Application Deadlines

April 1: Fall and Academic Year applications due
October 1: Spring and Calendar year applications due

If you would like to come to ASU to complete a degree, you should contact ASU International Admissions. If you would like to come to ASU for intensive English language study, our American English and Culture Program has the perfect program for you.

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Learn About Courses

As an exchange student you may take any ASU class which you are academically qualified for and which has available space for you. The information on this page is designed to help you understand the academic system at ASU and succeed in the American college environment, which may be very different from what you are accustomed to.

Notes about available classes

To register for some upper division courses, you must obtain the permission of the academic unit offering the desired course and/or the course instructor. Please be aware that you are NOT allowed to enroll in courses in the College of Law, the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, and the Master of Business Administration program without prior approval.  In addition, the seats are extremely limited in the College of Engineering, the School of Business, and Information Technology.

The ASU course catalog lists all ASU courses offered during the current school year. Not all courses are offered every semester. The catalog also offers information regarding student services, the ASU grading system, and course prerequisites.

To view the most recent ASU Course Catalog visit: www.asu.edu/catalog.

In the online class schedule, you will find the specific course offerings for only the current semester. The new schedule for Spring semester is usually posted at the end of October, and the Fall schedule is posted at the end of March.

To view the most recent ASU Class Schedule visit: http://www.asu.edu/schedule.

Academic basics

Undergraduate courses are levels 100-400. Levels 100-200 are "Lower Division" and generally described as: general studies, large classes, maximum instructor guidance, likely to have weekly tests or quizzes, comparable to last two years in European high schools; attendance is usually taken and counts toward grade.

Upper Division courses (300-400 level) are described as: specialized studies, some instructor guidance, likely to have two or more term papers, a mid-term exam and a final exam, comparable to first two years in European universities; attendance is often taken and could count toward grade.

Graduate level coursework (500 level) is described as: very specialized, creative work, seminars. You will need specialized background work for these classes, and a high level of English proficiency.

Most upper-division courses will have pre-requisites (mandatory prior coursework). If the course you wish to take has a pre-requisite, you will need to show your transcripts from your home school to prove you have the background knowledge to take the course.

Bring the most recent copy of your transcripts with you so ASU staff can verify the work you've done at home. Those that you submitted with your application may be outdated by the time you arrive.

As an exchange student, you must maintain a full-time courseload. This means 12-18 credits for undergraduate courses (levels 100-400) and 9-12 credits for graduate courses (above 500 level). If you take a combination of graduate and undergraduate courses, you must carry at least 12 credits. Each course in the catalog is assigned a credit value.

Many academic courses are worth 3 credits. Thus, you would need to take 4-6 undergraduate courses to maintain the 12-18 credit enrollment requirement.

Make a list of courses you'd like to take at ASU, but be sure to choose alternatives in case the ones you want are full or unavailable. Try to be as flexible as possible when choosing courses.

Notes on American teaching styles

Classes are usually very structured, with frequent or weekly assignments, active supervision and verification (you are likely to be told every week which chapters to read and to be tested on the reading).

You are strongly encouraged to identify yourself as an Exchange Student to your instructors at the beginning of the semester. This will help your professor remember to give you more specific instructions on items that may be unclear to non-local students.
Participation/cooperation approach to education: be prepared to discuss in class and to work in groups. Classroom participation is often factored into your grade.

It is not considered improper to discuss ideas with a professor, as long as it is done politely. Of course, you should not take up too much classroom time to discuss one single issue.

ASU instructors are required to hold regular office hours: time during which you can make an appointment with them to discuss concerns or seek assistance. Instructor's office hours will be given during the first class meeting and written on the "syllabus" (course schedule and description).

American professors enjoy a curious and dynamic student who can present a hypothesis and support it. They do not judge the student on a personal level, but only consider the student's ideas.

It is considered very rude to be late to an appointment with an instructor or ASU staff; if unable to be on time please contact them.

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Find Housing

The ASU Study Abroad Office is pleased to provide assistance to our exchange students in need of accommodation; however securing housing is ultimately the responsibility of each individual student.  This page provides a wealth of information about the different housing options available to you as an exchange student.

• You will have pre-arranged housing on campus supervised by on-site staff who will maintain order and security.
• You will have access to housing no more than a few days before orientation and a few days after the end of your program.
• You will have a fixed cost for the semester or year and can take advantage of a payment plan and pay by credit card.
• You will have options to live in a studio style apartment, to share a living space with one roommate, or share with three other roommates. All rooming arrangements in the Cholla Apartments have bathrooms and small kitchens.
• You will have access to a pool, laundry facilities, and common room with a television.
• Your room will be furnished with a bed, desk, desk chair, and dresser for each person. You must provide linens. More information about additional amenities can be found on the Cholla webpage.
• Cholla Apartment rates include electricity, water/sewer, water heating, cable TV, and internet connection. Phone lines cost extra.
• Cholla Apartments closes during long-term academic breaks, including the winter term. You can arrange to stay in your room over the winter term and this costs an additional fee.
• If you are coming to ASU for only one semester, living in the Cholla Apartments or other on-campus housing may be a better option for you. Securing an apartment for only 4-5 months is very difficult.

• You will have housing during winter break (academic year students.)
• You may have access to housing earlier than the day before orientation.
• You may have to pay a large security deposit up-front (which you should get back at the end of your lease if there are no damages.)
• You may have more privacy.
• It may be more economical, depending on how many roommates you have.
• You will have a private kitchen.
• You may be able to rent apartments which are already furnished.

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Cost of Living

In order to obtain the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for the ASU exchange program, you must show proof of financial support.  You must show access to at least $5,400 per semester ($10,800 for a year).  Many students are unprepared for how expensive the United States can be, even if you get a good exchange rate.  This amount is just the minimum necessary to support yourself during your time here.  Below are the average costs per semester based on information provided by the ASU financial aid office.

Estimated average expenses per semester at ASU

• Registration fees: $169
• Health Insurance: $588 fall 2009 - $935 spring and summer 2010
• Books and Supplies: $635
• On-campus housing $2,750 - $3,650 
• Off-campus housing: Depending on apartment: $2,000 - 4,000 
• Food: $1,450
• Personal expenses: $1,500

If you are planning on traveling while in the U.S. you will need to budget accordingly. Don't forget money for shopping and buying souvenirs, and going out on weekends!  Here are some examples to give you an idea about how much things cost in Tempe/Phoenix (all prices are approximate):

Commonly purchased items

• Movie ticket $7-11
• Fast food meal: $6
• Pizza delivery $10 - 25
• Average priced restaurant meal: $10-20
• Public bus ticket: Free with student Sun Card
• Cover charge for nightclub entrance: $5-20
• ASU souvenir T-shirt: $10-25
• New bicycle from large discount store: $70-150
• Music CD: $12-18
• Inexpensive hotel room in Tempe: $60 per night
• Round trip flight from Phoenix to Las Vegas: approximately $100
• Round trip flight from Phoenix to Los Angeles: approximately $100
• Entrance to Phoenix Zoo: $16
• Entrance to Desert Botanical Garden: $7.50 (with student ID)
• Ticket to Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game: $5-$50
• Ticket to Phoenix Suns basketball game: $10-100
• Ticket to Tempe Improv Comedy Club: $20
• Hot Air Ballooning over the Desert: $160 per person
• Phoenix Symphony/Arizona Opera: $95-485 (season tickets)
• Fiddlesticks (arcade/go-carts/miniature golf): $16
• Island of Big Surf (waterpark): $21.95
• Castles-n-Coasters (amusement park): $13-24

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View Calendar

To view the 2009-10 ASU exchange program calendar, please click here.

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