CSU Monterey Bay Information Sheet

Contact Details:

Name / Phone / Email Address
Exchange Office: / Holly White / 1-831-582-4735 /
Director: / Ida Mansourian / 1-831-582-4492 /
Agreement
Coordinator: / Jennifer Leonard / 1-831-582-3785 /
Incoming Exchange Contact: / Tiffany Coyne / 1-831-582-4395 /
Outgoing Exchange Contact: / Nicolass Jooste / 1-831-582-4408 /
Administrative Support: / Yvette Oblander / 1-831-582-4735 /
Interim Special Programs Coordinator: / Elizabeth McCorkle / 1-831-582-4754 /
Student Services Support: / Kasey Scolavino / 1-831-582-4789 /
Fax: / 1-831-582-3314
Mailing Address: / 100 Campus Center
Building 201 Room 207
Seaside, CA 93955

Websites:

University Homepage: / Csumb.edu
Website for exchange students: /
Academic Calendar: /
Course Descriptions: /
Accommodation Information: /
Other Useful Websites: / Admitted Student Information:

Academic Calendar Dates:

Start- and end dates of Spring semester / January 20th – May 17th
Start- and end dates of Fall semester / Aug 25th – Dec 19st
Examination periods: / May 11-17 ~ Assessment/ final exam period
December 15-21 ~ Assessment/ final exam period

Application Information:

Application Deadlines: / Priority deadline for Fall is April 1st- This date secures housing and course selection. Latest date to receive application is June 1st – housing and courses cannot be guaranteed for applications turned in after April 1st.
Required supporting documents with application: / Financial Affidavit, Passport Copy, Transcripts, Language Test Scores
Language test/certificate required / Yes TOEFL or ILETS

Academic Information:

Courses Available to exchange students: / All courses in course catalogue except Graduate courses (500 level) and courses with upper division prerequisites.
Are courses leading up to a Master’s degree available for exchange students? / Only if the student is here studying as Master’s student.
Are doctorate student able to participate in the exchange? / No
Type of Language Instruction Offered: / English

Credit system and assessment:

What is the regular student workload per semester? / Typical students take between 12 and 17 units
What is the grading system of your university? Please describe / 4.0 scale.
Classes graded A-F

Arrival and Orientation:

Airport Pick Up: / Yes.
Orientation Program Dates: / Orientations are held during the week before start of term.

Accommodation:

Housing assistance: / Housing assistance is given as part of the post-acceptance application through CSUMB
Is a University Residence available to exchange students? / Yes
Are Homestays available? / Yes
What independent housing options are available (i.e. off-campus housing)? / Off campus housing is subject to availability by semester, students will need to be find and rent off campus housing separate from the University or International Programs office.
Withdrawal policies for your university’s housing: / If any student is given a housing assignment and chooses to cancel their assignment before its end date, they may only be refunded if they submit an exception to policy form (found at the link below). Please know that this is not a guarantee for a refund seeing as their license agreement extends till the end of the semester or year. This form is simply a request to receive an exception to standard policy.

Visa and Identification Requirements:

Is a Student Visa required? / F-1 or J-1 visa is required
Visa Application Process: / Here are the steps you need to take to obtain an F-1 Visa and enter the United States.
  1. Pay the SEVIS fee (I-901) before going to the U.S. embassy or consulate for your visa interview. The current SEVIS Fee for F-1 Visa applicants is $200. The fee can be paid online at:
  2. Schedule an interview at your local U.S. Consulate. A list of all U.S. Consulates can be found online at:
  3. Take your CSUMB I-20 (and all documents your local U.S. Consulate requires) to your visa interview. Canadian Citizens do NOT need to go to the U.S. Consulate to obtain a visa to enter the U.S.
  4. Once your F-1 Visa has been approved, you will be able to travel to the United States as an F-1 student.
  5. At the port of entry in the United States, present your valid passport with the F-1 visa stamp and the valid Form I-20. It is also a good idea to carry the financial documents you presented during your visa interview and and official letter you have received from CSUMB.
  6. A United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) official will review your documents and assign you a record of admissions known as an I-94 number.You will not be given a physical I-94 number; rather you will be given instructions about how to access your number online.
  7. The USCIS official will stamp your passport or I-20 with an admission stamp. This stamp is annotated with the date, the class of admission and your duration of status.
  8. The USCIS official will then return your documents to you and you are free to enter the United States.

How do students acquire a School Pass? / A student card will be provided during orientation to campus.

Medical Insurance:

What medical insurance is required? / Insurance is required at our University. We purchase insurance for our students before arrival and the amount of approximately $390 will be charged to the students’ account for this.
Estimated cost of insurance: / $390

Estimated Expenses:

Estimated Costs of Housing (per month) / On Campus: $3700-$5000
Single and Double occupancy rooms available.
Food: / Meal Plan: / $1575-$2000
Local Transportation: / Bus lines are free with student card
Personal Expenses & Books: / $1,300
Available scholarships and grants (name, conditions, value): / No scholarships available.
Are students eligible to work? / They can work on campus jobs maximum 20 hours per week.

Banking Information:

Are there any banks on-campus? / There is an ATM. There are Wells Fargo, Chase, and Bank of America in town.
Are students recommended or required to open a bank account? / It is recommended to open an American bank account. At orientation there are bank representatives available to help students open an account.

University Facts:

Location: / Seaside, CA
City Population: / Population in 2012:33,878
Student Population: / Approximately 6,500
Number of students from overseas: / Fall 2014 = 260