Study abroad - eligibility

First off, hello to everyone, as I'm new here. This is a great little community and I'm sure I'll enjoy my time here.

I have a question regarding eligibility for studying abroad. I recently talked with an advisor at Colorado State University regarding study abroad, and I was told that in order to study abroad, you have to be a current full-time student, even if you go with some other non-sponsored program. Is this true? I mean, would the same apply even if I did this independent of my current University?

At the moment, I'm only taking one class (my second semester of Japanese) while waiting for my in-state rates to kick in, so the soonest I could do it via CSU would be Spring. I know most of the deadlines for Fall will be passing soon anyway, but I'm just trying to explore any and all possibilities.

im almost sure that you do need to be in school full time to study abroad

I would think you have to be a full-time student as well. A lot of Exchange programs are done by paying full-time tuition to your home university of your own country. If you give it some time and become a full-time student, when your in-stat rates kick in you shouldn't have a problem. Just make sure your school has an exchange program in Japan. My university in Pennsylvania has an exchange with Kansai Gaidai, as do many other schools thoughout the US.

Check out CIEE CIEE — Nonprofit, NGO leader in international education and exchange since 1947

Thanks for all your help!

ZachPA2Osaka!! said:

I would think you have to be a full-time student as well. A lot of Exchange programs are done by paying full-time tuition to your home university of your own country. If you give it some time and become a full-time student, when your in-stat rates kick in you shouldn't have a problem. Just make sure your school has an exchange program in Japan. My university in Pennsylvania has an exchange with Kansai Gaidai, as do many other schools thoughout the US.

Click to expand...

I'm just wondering why one has to be a current full-time student. Of course, if I went abroad, I would be full-time and pay for full-time. I'm guessing it's just so they're assured to get some money out of you?

I'll be going full-time in the fall, so I'll be eligible for spring semester, then. That doesn't sound like a bad time to go, not to mention that I'll have some 200-level Japanese under my belt

There's a study abroad fair coming up, so I'll be sure to check it out.