About

SBCC offers short programs (summer or winter break) and semester programs (fall, spring) on an ongoing basis. Semester programs are typically 12 - 16 weeks long. Short programs vary from 2 - 5 weeks in length.

SBCC has been offering programs in more than 20 different countries, including England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria, Mexico, Costa Rica, China, Vietnam, Japan, Russia, New Zealand, Cuba, India, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Turkey, Indonesia, Thailand, the former Soviet Union, and more. Program offerings vary from year to year to ensure program variety. Please refer to the programs page for a list of current program offerings. 

Program costs vary from program to program, depending on the program location, duration, and other variables. Our goal is to offer affordable programs to our students and cost is always something we keep in mind when developing our programs.

Semester programs can range anywhere from $2,900 to $12,000 which includes housing and required field trips and more. 

Short-term programs vary from $1,900 - $4,500.

Round-trip air-fare, registration and books, travel and international health insurance, food, and personal expenses are typically not included in the program price, but exceptions apply and are based on the program. Check with the Study Abroad office staff or visit the webpage for the program of interest to find out details on what is included in the program price.

Yes, students who qualify for financial aid can usually apply their financial aid to study abroad programs. Sometimes, a student's need may increase while studying abroad due to added travel expenses, and the financial aid award may slightly increase. Contact your Financial Aid advisor as soon as possible to find out more about Financial Aid and to complete your Financial Aid application..

The Study Abroad program and the SBCC Foundation have established various scholarships for study abroad programs ranging from $500 to $3,000 per scholarship award. Applications are online at sbcc.edu/scholarships.  In addition to the study abroad scholarships, some departmental scholarships may be available for certain majors via the General Scholarship application.  Please note that the deadline for SBCC general scholarships and SBCC Study Abroad scholarships are different. 

There are many other scholarships and financial resources available such as the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, or scholarships from the Fund For Education Abroad. Visit our Financial Aid/ Scholarships page for many helpful resources. 

You should consider whether you want to go on a full-semester program or if a short program migth be more suitable for you. If you have never travelled before or left your family for extended periods of time, you might want to start with a short program.

To find out which study abroad program is appropriate for you, it is advisable that, in addition to reading the program information, you attend program information meetings which are offered during the fall and spring semesters The info sessions give you an opportunity to meet the program director/s and to receive detailed information about the type of program, curriculum, excursions, living conditions abroad, and much more. 

You should also set up an appointment with your academic advisor to ensure that the coursework offered on the program fits your academic plan and that you don't enroll in courses that are offered on the study abroad program prior.

Finally, you should choose a program destination that is appealing or intriguing to you. 

Your Study Abroad Program Advisor can also provide you additional information to make the right choice. Schedule an appointment with the Study Abroad Avisor HERE.

Participants must be 18 years or older on the departure date and students must be in good academic standing. Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis, so applicants must successfully complete the application process and may be placed on a waiting list if the program is full at the time they complete the process.

Any graduate from an accredited high school or a dual enrollment student or current college student and any other person who can reasonably profit from instruction is eligible to apply.

Semester program applicants must have successfully completed a minimum of 12 College level units with a GPA of 2.5 or higher by the end of the semester prior to studying abroad and be in good academic standing. In addition, some programs may offer courses that have pre-requisites such as English 110 (Freshman Composition) which they have to pass with a "C" or higher to be eligible to participate.

Students do not have to be declared majors in the field they will be studying abroad and there is no language prerequisite for the programs unless specified for the course offered on the program.

Usually the courses offered on our study abroad programs are UC/CSU transferable. Please check with your academic counselor for possible exceptions. Some programs might offer courses which are only CSU transferable and in rare cases, are not transverable to UC or CSU. 

If you are a non-credit student wanting to participate in a study abroad program, you will need to enroll for credit. Usually, you will apply as a "transfer student.'

Dual enrollment students can apply for study abroad programs, but must be 18 or older at the time the program starts. You must meet with your high school advisor to complete clearance to register for the SBCC Study Abroad program courses. 

Dual enrollment students who graduate AFTER the date the SBCC spring semester ends are still covered as dual enrollment students and do not have to pay for tuition on the summer programs. If you graduate BEFORE the SBCC spring semester ends, you will need to pay for tuition. However, if you participate in a fall study abroad program, your tuition would e covered under the SBCC Promise.

Congratulations, your school is part of the Souther California Study Abroad Consortium and your credits/units will easily transfer onto your colleges transcript.

Students often return to SBCC for a short program or semester program abroad due to the program diversity and affordability SBCC offers. You can apply for the programs and can transfer up to undergraduate (lower division) 70 units. Please keep in mind due to the academic nature of the programs, even if you don't "need' the units offered on the program, you will have to be fully enrolled in each class.

Some programs may offers courses that have a pre-requisite. If you have not completed that required course at SBCC, you will need to go through the pre-requisite clearance process and submit proof of completion of equivalent/substitute coursework from another institution. More details can be found here: https://www.sbcc.edu/teo/prerequisiteinstructionsforms.php.

Congratulations! This will be an experience of a lifetime. All program participatns receive a "registation letter' from the Study Abroad office. Courses can NOT be found on the SBCC course catalog. You must follow the steps in the registration letter and the CRN numbers provided to register for class. Please note that if you have any holds on your account or outstanding fees, you must clear your holds before you can register for study abroad courses.

Students are allowed to substitute 1 course on a study abroad program if they have already passed the course. It may be replaced by an alternative course your abroad faculty offers, or any fully online SBCC course. This needs to be cleared with the program director and study abroad office first.