Exchange Students - Coastal Carolina University
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Exchange Students

Exchange students at Coastal Carolina University represent partnerships with universities in 15 countries.

There are opportunities for both EXCHANGE, SHORT-TERM STUDY and DUAL-DEGREE programs between your current institution and Coastal Carolina University. View a complete list of all of CCU's exchange program partners.

If you have questions regarding exchange students or the application process, please contact internationalservices@coastal.edu.

Important Dates

Application Deadlines

Academic Year 2023-2024 (August to May): March 17
Fall Semester 2023 (August to December): March 17
Spring Semester 2024 (January to May): October 20

Academic Calendar

Fall 2023

  • Arrival Day: August 13 – 14
  • Orientation (required): August 15 – August 17
  • CINO TIE Welcome Weekend: August 18 – 22
  • Classes Begin: August 23
  • Holidays: September 04
  • Thanksgiving: Break: November 20 – November 25
  • Final Exams: December 08 – December 14

Spring 2024

  • Arrival Day: January 02 – 03
  • Orientation (required): January 04 – 05
  • CINO TIE Welcome Weekend: January 5 – 8
  • Classes Begin: January 08
  • Holidays: January 15, March 29
  • Spring Break: March 04 – 09
  • Final Exams: April 26 – May 02

How to Apply

1.  Request a nomination from your university to be sent to CCU via e-mail to internationalservices@coastal.edu

2.  Complete the Application for Admission

a.  Create an account and choose “Start New Application”

b.  Under “Choose Application Type,” choose “International Application”

c.  When asked “What type of student are you?” choose International Non-Degree/Exchange

d.  You will enter your home institution name and your advisor information in the application. They will receive an email with a link to securely submit your official transcripts and English proficiency documents.

If your advisor cannot submit the transcripts through the application system, please request that they submit your official transcripts at https://coastal.edu/internationalupload or send them to us in a secure email. DO NOT SEND YOUR TRANSCRIPTS YOURSELF.

e.  Use application fee waiver code CCU2024

3.  After completing the application, you will be able to upload supporting documents into your application

a.  Copy of your passport photo page

b.  Confidential Financial Statement, Letter of Guarantee, and Bank Confirmation

You can submit your financial documents with your application. You may also submit them at https://coastal.edu/internationalupload or you may send us a secure email if you prefer.

4.  Submit your class choices by completing the Course Choice Form

Housing and Meal Plan Information

  • EXCHANGE STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO LIVE ON-CAMPUS.
  • Housing information and the housing application may be found at https://www.coastal.edu/housing/.
  • Housing for the semester breaks may require additional fees charged to the student.
  • We recommend you select one of the University Place communities (Low Country, Grand Strand, Sandhills, Piedmont, Blueridge) on your housing application. We CANNOT guarantee you will be assigned to your first choice of housing or that you will have a private room and bathroom. Assignment preferences are met whenever possible.
  • You are required to sign-up for a meal plan at the time of your housing application. You may choose to change or cancel your meal plan within the first two weeks after arrival. You can learn more about meal plans and eating on- campus at http://coastalcarolina.campusdish.com/.

Visas

International exchange students who want to study in the USA must obtain a J-1 visa. You must be accepted to CCU before you can start the visa process. For more information on obtaining your visa, please visit the US Embassy nearest you or the Study in the States website (http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/). 

Immunizations

All students are required to have certain immunizations prior to arriving at CCU. You are asked to submit your immunization forms prior to your arrival. Please refer to the following website for specific information:  https://www.coastal.edu/health/immunization/

Health Insurance

All international students are required to obtain medical insurance. You can purchase insurance for approximately $40.00 per month. If your personal health insurance meets the minimum requirements, you do not have to purchase additional insurance.

You are required to submit proof of insurance with effective dates and coverage, in English, upon arrival. For more information, visit https://www.coastal.edu/health/internationalstudentsandexchangevisitors/.

Please be advised: Medical care is VERY expensive in the USA. If you have a medical emergency and do not have sufficient coverage, you may incur very large medical bills. We recommend you choose health insurance carefully. Your coverage should begin the day you arrive in the USA and end no earlier than the day after you return home. We do have a clinic on-campus where you can see a health practitioner for free for minor illnesses. Proof of insurance is required for these visits.

Minimum coverage for insurance as required by the United States Government are:

  • Medical benefits $100,000 USD
  • Repatriation of remains $25,000 USD
  • Medical Evacuation $50,000 USD
  • Deductible per accident or per illness: $500 USD or less

Course Schedules

Exchange

Courses must be pre-approved by your university and submitted to CCU as soon as possible after you submit your application. All pre-requisites must be completed. We will create your schedule for you based on your requirements and course availability. Please be sure to include alternate courses with your application. 

Undergraduate students must enroll in at least 12 credits (4, 3 credit courses) and can take as many as 18 credit (6, 3 credit courses). You may take some online classes if you prefer and your home institution permits, but at least 9 of the credits must be in-person classes.  
Undergraduate (Bachelors-level) course numbers will be between 100 and 499. For example, ACCT 110 or MATH 415.

Graduate students must take 9 credits (3, 3-credit courses).  You may take some online classes if you prefer and your home institution permits, but at least 6 of the credits must be in-person classes.
Graduate (Masters-level) course numbers will be between 500 and 699. For example, ACCT 535 or COMM 691.

Search for Courses

  1. Sign into Self-Service as a guest.
  2. Choose “Advanced Search”
  3. Choose “Section Listing”
  4. Select the “Term” you plan to study at CCU (example: Fall 2023 or Spring 2024)
  5. Click on the “Subject” drop-down arrow under “Courses and Sections” to view all the offered subjects
  6. You do not have to choose anything under “Meeting Start Date, ”Meeting End Date,” “Course Number,” or "Section.” Leaving these blank with show you more options.
  7. You may narrow your search using the day, time, course type, etc. blocks. You will ONLY take classes on the CCU Main Campus.
  8. On the list of search results, you can click on the “Section Name”  for a course to get more information about the course, including pre-requisites and course description.

Each class has a “section number.” This number indicates the day, time, location, and professor. Some courses will have multiple sections offered at different days, times, etc. Some courses will have only one section.

You will submit your class choices by completing the Course Choice Form.

Double Degree

Courses will be determined based on credits already earned at the home institution that are eligible for transfer to CCU. The Center for Global Engagement will work with the appropriate department to determine which courses are needed and a schedule will be made for you.

Additional Information

  • In the United States, textbooks are not included in your tuition and are very expensive. You should expect to spend between $600.00 and $900.00 per semester, depending on your courses. You can purchase or rent books at the on- campus store and online.
  • CCU is a tobacco free campus. This includes all areas of campus, including student housing. This means you will not be able to smoke anywhere on-campus.
  • The legal drinking age in the US is 21. However, CCU has very strict restrictions and policies regarding drinking alcohol on campus, including student housing. Please refer to the Code of Student Conduct for more information on this policy and the many other policies for students living on-campus or off-campus: https://www.coastal.edu/conduct/
  • If you would like to obtain a South Carolina license, you will have to provide a translated copy of your driver’s license. We recommend obtaining an international license from your home country before coming to the U.S. You can only drive in the U.S. for 90 days after arrival with your foreign license.
  • CHANT411 is an office on campus that provides a lot of general information about campus to students, faculty, staff, and the community. Their website is here: http://www.coastal.edu/chant411/