Getting Started

Studying abroad is an exciting experience that can greatly enhance your education, bring you valuable international perspectives, and new skills. Some of the benefits may include:

• Earning credits towards your degree program
• Developing language or improving your existing language abilities
• Preparing for a career in diverse and international work environments
• Gaining a new perspective in your field of study
• Exploring new places and experiencing a different culture 

Brockport offers over 60 programs, and new ones are always being developed. On our site, you can browse programs by city, country, or region. Get started here.

Students who are sophomore standing or higher at the time they start their program are eligible to study abroad. It is advised that you meet with your academic advisor as early as possible to discuss course mapping and planning and when studying abroad would best fit into your schedule.

Programs are available during the summer, winter, single semester, or full academic year. Summer and winter short-term programs can be as short as 1 week to as long as 1 month but traditionally last an average of about 2-3 weeks.

Selecting a program which best matches your interests and fits into your course of study requires self-reflection. Consider why you are studying abroad and how your chosen program will align with your personal and academic goals.

You should consider the following when browsing study abroad programs:

Coursework

• What courses do you still need to fulfill for your degree that you could take abroad?
• Have you met with your academic advisor to discuss how study abroad will fit into your academic plan, outstanding courses, and pre-approval of credits?
• Review the admissions criteria to see which programs you qualify for.

Location

• Will the program require travel throughout the duration of your time abroad (i.e., a faculty-led program)?
• Do you need a visa to enter the country?
• The cost of living in a city is more expensive than a rural area. Will you need to commute to university? Does commuting mean walking or paying for a bus or train?

Academic Accommodations & Support

• How is the program coordinated on-site?
• Who will be your main contact (study abroad office, faculty leader, program provider)?
• Is the instruction English or a foreign language? Do you have or need pre-requisites to take classes in another language?
• Does the program have the services and support you need to be successful during your time abroad?

Housing

• Does the program offer dormitory, apartment, or homestay accommodations?
• Will you live with other international students, with domestic students of your host country, or a host family?
• Does the program cost include housing?

Cost & Finances

• How do you plan on funding your experience (financial aid, scholarships, out-of-pocket)?
• Are scholarships available that you qualify to apply for?
• What is included in the program cost? (i.e., housing is not included in most semester programs)

Students should consider all these questions and more before meeting with a Study Abroad Advisor, so we are able to understand your personal and academic goals and interests

Study abroad is intended for undergraduate students in any major. During your time abroad, you can take coursework in your major/minor or take elective credit. You will find many kinds of programs, including some that offer internships or service learning experiences.

Graduate students are also welcome to study abroad, although the portfolio of programs may be smaller. 

Each program has its own eligibility requirements. The GPA requirement ranges between a 2.5 and a 3.5 depending on the program. Generally, students must be minimum sophomore standing or higher by the time they study abroad. Some programs may require students to be at least juniors or seniors in order to participate, but there is one program, University of Roehampton, that will accept second semester first years.

A vast majority of programs are open to all students, regardless of major. Please check the program description to confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements of the program before applying. 

The cost of studying abroad varies from program to program and based on destination. Be sure to look at program details and budget sheets to determine the exact costs of the programs you are considering. Factors that influence cost:

• Tuition: Most education abroad programs have a set tuition. In SUNY, this is your standard in-state or out-of-state tuition.
• Instructional costs: Within SUNY, a program sponsor may add instructional and administrative costs to the standard tuition. The additional charge is a “tuition differential.” The amount varies greatly from program to program.
• Cost of living: The cost of living varies greatly depending on the location. In general, capital cities are noticeably more expensive than provincial areas. In many places, the cost of living is greater than in the US, but in other destinations, the cost of living is less.
• International airfare: The destination determines the price. Students should purchase flexible airline tickets even though they may be more expensive. Non-flexible tickets do not provide adequate protection for unforeseen circumstances. Be sure to read all of the terms and conditions associated with airline ticket purchases. ​
• Totals: Be sure to add up all the individual costs. A program with low tuition and fees in a location with a high cost of living may be more expensive than one with higher tuition and fees located where the cost of living is cheaper.

The term “exchange program” indicates that SUNY Brockport has made an agreement with an international partner to exchange equal amounts of students from both universities. Financially, this type of program tends to be less expensive because students pay SUNY tuition and fees. All Brockport exchange programs are available during the fall, spring, or academic year at one of our international university partners only.

For “study abroad” students, they are responsible for paying a tuition differential. A tuition differential is instructional and administrative costs that a student pays in addition to the standard SUNY tuition. Tuition differentials vary greatly from program to program.

Study abroad programs can be categorized into the following types:

• Faculty-led Programs are a Brockport course taught and led by a Brockport faculty member. This type of program features a short-term study abroad component during the summer or wintertime that is relevant to the content of the course. The duration of the study abroad trip can be between 1 - 3 weeks. This is a great opportunity for first-time travelers since it is a group travel experience with a pre-arranged travel itinerary.
• Internship Programs provide the opportunity to gain work experience within a particular career field while earning academic credit. Students have the opportunity to expand their professional network, are exposed to new business practices, and learn valuable knowledge about their industry. Internships are on a full-time or part-time basis and are available during the summer or semester.
• Service Learning Programs are unique volunteer opportunities that combine your studies with civic engagement. Students work with, and learn from, leaders and professionals who serve the local community. The purpose of service learning is to put classroom learning in the context of a non-profit community setting. Service learning programs are available during the summer, winter, or semester.
• Language Immersion gives students the chance to enhance their language skills both in the classroom and outside it. Languages available include French, Italian, Spanish (Spain, Mexico, and Chile), and Japanese. This type of program is available during the summer, winter, or semester.

For many of our programs, we send students as both exchange and study abroad. It is important to understand there is no practical difference in how exchange and study abroad students are treated: both are integrated fully into the community.

Yes! There are multiple scholarships available. Some are based on merit and others are based on financial need. Scholarships can be competitive, so applications should be review the eligibility requirements and criteria for selection. Find more information about the specific requirements on our Scholarship Website or email overseas@brockport.edu.

To apply to a Brockport education abroad program, visit our website. You will need to create an account with our application system, which will allow you to come back to it at any time. You will also find your admissions decision within your application.

After you create an account: Remain logged in and visit the program page you want to apply for. Look for the “Apply Now” tab. A window will pop up asking you to confirm you want to open an application. After you click “Yes,” it will bring you to your application homepage.

If you are having difficulty creating an account or logging in, please email overseas@brockport.edu.

Most Brockport and SUNY programs use a standard application. To apply, the following materials are required on most applications:

• Official transcript(s)
• Personal study statement, a short essay in which you write about your purposes for studying abroad on a your chosen program
• 2 faculty recommendations

Notes:

• Many programs require an official copy of your transcripts. You should check the application instructions and give ample time for the transcripts to be sent from your university’s Registrar Office. It can take up to two weeks for us to receive your official transcripts.
• Brockport students can request their transcript using the Global Education Transcript Request Form.
• Application materials vary by program. Some programs may have additional requirements. Read the instructions carefully to ensure you complete the application by the deadline.
• When your last application material is submitted, your entire application will automatically be submitted to our office. You will not need to manually submit your application. ​

Each program has its own application deadline, but they are always due the semester before you go abroad.

The deadline for fall and summer programs is the spring semester prior (usually in March or April), and the deadline for winter and spring programs is the fall semester prior (usually in September or October). Deadlines can change, so be sure to check when applications are due for your programs of interest because late applications may not always be accepted.

With rolling admissions, students can anticipate receiving an admissions decision within 7-10 business days.

All credit recognition must be approved by the appropriate advising office or department. For Brockport and other SUNY programs, you are guaranteed to receive credits towards graduation. However, CGEE is not able to approve credits to go towards your major, minor, or general education requirements. You should bring any course information available, like course descriptions or syllabi, to your academic advisor for evaluation and pre-approval.

For many programs, you will not know the exact courses you can enroll in until you arrive. To be safe, it is recommended that you receive pre-approval for more courses than you plan to enroll in, so that you will have back-ups in the event that a course is full or cancelled. You should receive this pre-approval, in writing, from the appropriate faculty or department before you go abroad.

Nope! Many students choose to study in English-speaking countries. Others may choose a program in a non-English speaking country but with coursework in English. Even our language-immersion programs have classes available for absolute beginners.

When researching programs, just make sure to note the language of instruction.

Yes! We encourage all students to take advantage of international learning experiences. Below are some things to keep in mind.

If you are a transfer student:

• If you transferred a substantial amount of credits, there may be a limits to the amount of additional transfer credit recognized by Brockport.
• You may have a shorter window of time to plan for going abroad.
• You have to find programs in which you can complete credits towards your major.
• When applying, you need to provide transcripts from your previous college(s) or may need references from your former professors.

If you are an international student:

• Depending on your country of origin and your country of study, you may have different/additional visa requirements.
• You should consult with your academic advisor/department and International Student Services to ensure you understand all policies for studying abroad.

If you haven’t declared your major yet:

• You should be aware that once you declare a major, your academic department may or may not recognize credits that were earned abroad because they were not pre-approved. If you are considering declaring a major, it is a good idea to speak to that department’s advisor prior to going abroad.

That depends! You are assigned an advisor based on where you are applying to study abroad. See below for who to contact.

Michaela Luedke, Associate Director advises for:

• Australia
• Chile
• Czech Republic
• Ghana
• Ireland
• Italy
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• All faculty-led programs

Ellen Miller, Study Abroad Advisor advises for:

• Denmark
• United Kingdom (England and Scotland)
• France
• Germany
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Spain
• Japan
• Thailand

For any financial or billing questions, please contact Linda Cicero, Financial Manager.

For any general questions, you can send an email to overseas@brockport.edu

Congratulations! After being accepted, your first action to complete is to submit the non-refundable program acceptance fee. This will be submitted directly from your online Brockport study abroad application. In most cases students will have 14 days to pay their fee and secure their place on the program. However, students who apply close to the deadline should pay their fee right away.