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Program Considerations

traveler and churchTo ensure that Cal Poly students have access to the best possible program for their individual needs, we offer many options.

As your student is considering their study options, they will want to assess the programs using the criteria that are important to them.  But you can help guide their exploration by asking them to consider the kind of educational experience that best suits their needs and interests.

For example, does your student want a program led by Cal Poly faculty or to go abroad with a cohort of their Cal Poly peers? If so, then something like our faculty-led Cal Poly Global Program or the new First-Year GO program might be a good option.

If your student is more independent and interested in immersing themselves in a university overseas, where they will be in classes with local students, then they should look at programs that offer a direct enroll option – like the Cal Poly International Exchanges, CSUIP offerings, and semester-length programs with TEAN: The Education Abroad Network or USAC: University Study Abroad Consortium.  Or even NSE: National Student Exchange, which places students at one of over 150 universities across the United State, US territories, and Canada.

rice field

Maybe your student wants something in the middle—studying with other US student, not just Cal Poly peers, or taking a few classes with locals but not jumping fully into a new educational system.  Then many of our partners offer hybrid programs, where students take courses with other study abroad students and have the option to do one or more courses at a host university. Our partners CIEE, CEA CAPA, FIE, DIS Abroad, USAC and Semester at Sea might be good options.  Note that Partner Programs often have a higher price tag, but they provide more extensive services, including housing, excursions, and robust on-site support.

Finally, is your student looking for a traditional classroom experience or for a program that offers more field-based study or a hands-on opportunity like an internship?  Our partners SIT Study Abroad and Wildlands Studies offer experiential programs that include field study and research, and many of our other Partner Programs can facilitate placing students in for-credit internships as part of their study abroad program.

Useful Links

  • Visit our Study Abroad Fair page for an overview of the types of programs offered at Cal Poly.  

  • Use our Search page to explore the hundreds of programs available to Cal Poly students. You can search by location, term, area of study or a number of other parameters.