Read through the information below to learn the step-by-step process for applying and enrolling in our exchange program. Please note that detailed class registration information will only be shared with accepted students.
Application and Enrollment Process
Be nominated by your home university
Exchange program applicants must go through the nomination process by each partnered university per immigration regulations. In other words, any student who is not nominated by the home university cannot apply for the exchange program. Students who are interested in participating in the SUNY Oswego exchange program must reach out to their home university regarding the nomination process.
Although each university has its own requirements to select students for nomination, exchange program applicants must meet English proficiency scores, GPA, and financial requirements. Below are details about each requirement:
English Requirement
Students who are not native in English or whose degrees at the home universities are not instructed entirely in English must provide minimum English proficiency scores of either 71 TOEFL iBT, 6.0 IELTS, or B2 on the Cambridge English Scale. Minimum English proficiency scores for Master's level exchange students are 79 TOEFL, 6.5 IELTS, or C1 on the Cambridge English Scale. Discover the range of English proficiency exams we accept by visiting this page. SUNY Oswego only accepts English proficiency scores that were taken within two years of the submission date. Students who are instructed entirely in English are required to submit a letter, certificate, or transcript.
GPA Requirement
Students must meet 2.5 out of 4.0 GPA requirements to be nominated for the SUNY Oswego exchange program. Please reach out to your home university to confirm if your GPA would meet the requirement.
Financial Requirement
Nominated students will be asked to provide the financial documents when they submit the online application. Please reach out to your home university to confirm the minimum amount to participate in the exchange program for each semester. Please note that the financial requirements are different for free tuition students and fee-paying students. The financial requirement asks for the minimum amount to participate in the program and it may be different from the tuition and fee that the student is required to pay as the tuition and fee is subject to change.
Important: Accepted exchange students are advised to start paying the bills upon arrival and no later than the first Friday of the semester. Student bills are usually not finalized before the semester start date, thus, students are highly advised to hold off paying the bills until they arrive on campus.
Nomination Deadline
Partnered universities are informed that the nomination form should be submitted by:
- April 1 for the Fall semester, beginning in August.
- October 1 for the Spring semester, beginning in January.
Please note that class registration information will be shared with accepted students only.
Important: For successful completion of the exchange program, professors at SUNY Oswego advise exchange students to take 2 major-level classes and 2 general education-level classes. Students who need to take particular classes to meet the home university graduation requirement are not advised to apply for the SUNY Oswego exchange program as there's no guarantee that students can register for certain classes.
Submit the online application
After the nomination deadline, nominated students will receive an email with the online application link. Nominated students are asked to provide the following documents:
- Financial documents (IMPORTANT: Accepted exchange students are advised to start paying the bills upon arrival and no later than the first Friday of the semester. Student bills are usually not finalized before the semester start date, thus, students are highly advised to hold off paying the bills until they arrive on campus.)
- English Transcripts
- English proficiency scores
Application Deadline
Nominated students are required to submit the online application by:
- April 15 for the Fall semester, beginning in August.
- October 15 for the Spring semester, beginning in January.
Register for classes
Accepted exchange students will receive an email from the Office of International Student and Scholar Services within a month after the application deadline, containing information about Form DS-2019, the immigration document needed for scheduling the visa interview. Accepted students will also receive information on the class registration process and the earliest available date for class registration. Please refer to the frequently asked questions section below for more information regarding class registration.
In the meantime, accepted students are advised to complete the pre-registration steps to be able to register for classes, which include:
- Lakernet ID activation
- Health requirements
- Housing application
- International Acknowledgment Form
- ID photo submission
Prepare for arrival and orientation
Please refer to the Accepted Students page and Current Students page to prepare for your arrival at Oswego. Please keep in mind, per immigration rules, all incoming students must attend the New International Student Orientation.
