Fact Sheet
Exchange Student Program Fact Sheet
| Contact Details | Inbound Exchange Director Outbound Exchange Director Mailing Address Physical Location Website |
| Term Dates | For Academic Year (Fall to Spring) For Fall Only For Spring Only |
| Application Deadlines | For Academic Year (Fall to Spring) For Fall Only For Spring Only |
| Eligibility Requirements | Exchange students must meet or exceed the following requirements to study at Saint Mary's:
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| Nomination Procedure | Please send all nominations via email to Ashley Cross, Director of International Student Services, at arm11@3327e.com. There is no deadline to nominate students, but keep in mind that students must submit an application before the deadline to apply. |
| Application Procedures & Required Documents | Only nominated students may apply. Once students are nominated, the home institution may send nominated students the application link: Applicaion & Required Documents
Once applications are reviewed, the accepted students will recieve an acceptance letter via email. Hard copies of immigration documents will be sent to the home institution for distribution to students. |
| Language of Instruction | All classes at Saint Mary's are taught in English except language classes, which are taught in the target langauge. Saint Mary's does not offer any English as a Foregin Language classes or resources. All exchange students must be proficient in English. |
| Language Requirement | All exchange students (except native English speakers) must provide proof of English language proficiency with at least the following scores:
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| Academics & Enrollment | All academic departments are open to exchange students. However, exchange students who are interested in taking courses in our Business Administration department will require course approval from the department chair before they can enroll in those courses. The Center for International Programs will get the appropriate course approvals on behalf of the student. Exchange students are permitted to enroll in courses after the general registration period. After being accepted to the program, students will have access to the Course Selection Form where they will list 8 courses that they can potentially take while at Saint Mary's. The Center for International Programs will work with the Registrar's Office to enroll exchange students into their courses. Students cannot register themselves for courses. The Center for International Programs cannot guarantee that exchange students will be enrolled in their preferred courses. Exchange student enrollment is dependent on the space available in the student's preferred courses. |
| Transcripts | Typically, final grades are due one week after the end of the term. However, it can take several weeks for all grades to be posted. Once all grades have been posted, the Cener for International Programs will send one electronic copy of transcripts for each exchange student via email to the home institution. Hard copies of transcripts will be sent only to institutions that request them. The Center for International Programs reserves the right to withhold transcripts for any exchange student that has an unpaid balance. Once the balance is paid in full, the Center for International Programs will issue transcripts accordingly. |
| Housing Accommodations | Saint Mary's offers on-campus accommodations in our dormitories and all exchange students are required to live on campus and will automatically be enrolled in a meal plan. All exchange students will need to apply for on-campus housing. The Center for International Programs will send all accepted exchange students the necessary information, including instructions, links and login information, to apply. Exchange students are responsible for submitting applications for on-campus housing. There is an application fee to apply for on-campus housing. Upon acceptance to the exchange program, all exchange students will receive a scheduled move-in date when they can move into their dormitory room on campus. If the exchange student arrives to the United States before their scheduled move-in date, they will need to make other arrangements for accommodations until their official move-in date. Exchange students cannot move in earlier than their scheduled move-in date. The Center for International Programs cannot guarantee that exchange students will be given their first preference in type of room nor can we guarentee that students from the same home institution will be able to live together as roommates. |
| Billing & Payments | Saint Mary's will bill each exchange student directly for the billable fees outlined in the Finances section and any other fee that the student incurs. Students will have access to their itemized bill online via their Student Account on GaelXpress. Students are responsible for reviewing their bill for each semester that they study with Saint Mary's and are responsible for making payment by the due date of the bill. Late fees will be charged for any unpaid balance by the due date. For Fall Semester For Spring Semester For the Academic Year The easiest and fastest way for exchange students to pay their bill is to make a wire transfer directly to Saint Mary's. Wire Instructions Saint Mary's College of California Account Number: 14738-00888
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| Refund Policy | Week 1 = 85% refund of room and board costs Non-Refundable Fees
United Health Care Medical Insurance Other Fees |
| Health & Safety | All incoming students (domestic, international and exchange) are required to complete the Medical History Form, Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Form, and submit all immunization records before moving into the residence halls on campus. Students will receive instructions from the Center for International Programs on how to submit this information after being accepted to the program. Saint Mary's requires students to have all of the following immunizations:
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| Health Insurance | Per the United States Department of State's Code of Federal Regulations that govern the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa, all exchange students are required to have a US-based medical insurance plan that covers a basic level of care. All exchange students will automatically be enrolled in the United Health Care medical insurance plan that Saint Mary's offers to ensure compliance with this regulation. There is no option to waive this insurance coverage, even if the student has existing medical coverage. |
| Visa | All exchange students will need to apply for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa in the Student, College/University category at the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. The Center for International Programs will send all accepted exchange students the necessary hard copies of immigration documents and instructions to apply for the J-1 visa to the home institution via mail. Exchange students are responsible for applying for the J-1 visa and covering all associated costs. The Center for International Programs will provide support to students who are applying for the J-1 visa. More detailed information about applying for the J-1 visa can be found on our Applying for a J-1 Visa page online. |
| COVID-19 Information | Saint Mary's requires all students (domestic, international and exchange) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to have at least one booster shot. |