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Office of International Education
Applying to an ESF Exchange Program

Eligibility Requirements

  • Current undergraduate student enrolled at an institution of higher education that has an existing exchange agreement with SUNY-ESF
  • Meet the language proficiency requirement
  • Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
  • Submit application by application deadline

Application Deadlines

Applications may be submitted via standard mail or scanned and emailed to the Faculty Coordinators of the Exchange.

  • Study in the Fall Semester: June 1
  • Study in the Spring Semester: October 1

Application Process

  • Download the ESF Exchange Program Application and complete the application in its entirety including providing your signature on page 3.
    • Please type information directly into the form.
  • Acquire a recommendation from at least one professor (Recommendation #1) and either a professor, advisor, or staff member (Recommendation #2) who knows you well and is able to judge your qualifications for participation in the SUNY ESF Exchange Program; a letter of recommendation on letterhead is also acceptable.
    • If you will scan and email your application materials, please have your recommender submit the recommendation directly to the Faculty Coordinator of the Exchange.
    • If you will submit your application materials via standard mail, please advise your recommenders to place the competed recommendation in a sealed envelope and to then sign over the seal. The sealed letter should be included in your mailed application materials.
  • Obtain the authorization signature required on page 3 of the general application from your designated school official/office.
  • Gather all required support documentation.
    • Submit an official English language proficiency score report (e.g., TOEFL) that meets the undergraduate requirement.
    • Submit an official academic transcript (in English) from all colleges attended.
    • Submit a copy of your passport picture/biographical information page.
  • Submit completed application with all supporting documents in one packet to the ESF Faculty Coordinator of the Exchange via email (attach pdfs) or standard mail. Contact information appears below.

    Munich Exchange

    Dr. Klaus Doelle

    kdoelle@esf.edu

    SUNY ESF
    1 Forestry Dr.
    205 Walters Hall
    Syracuse, NY 13210

    Sichuan University Exchange

    Dr. Shijie Liu

    liu@esf.edu

    SUNY ESF
    1 Forestry Dr.
    205 Walters Hall
    Syracuse, NY 13210


Application Checklist

A complete application includes all of the following:

  • Completed General Application Form
  • Study Statement
  • Academic Reference #1
  • Academic Reference #2
  • Official Foreign Language Proficiency Test Scores that meet the Language Proficiency Requirement
  • Official Transcript(s) from all colleges / universities attended
  • Copy of your passport

Once Completed

Once completed, the Faculty Coordinator of the Exchange will review your application and notify you of any decisions. Upon acceptance, you will then be required to submit a Form FSA-4 and proof of funding for one academic year of expense or duration of program if less than one year. The Office of International Education will require this information to issue an I-20.

Full-Time Enrollment Status

In order to maintain valid F-1 (non-degree) student status, international students are required to pursue a full course of study during all required academic semesters (Fall and Spring) unless approved under a specific exception, in advance, by the Coordinator of International Education. Enrollment records of international students are reviewed every Fall and Spring semester and the SEVIS record of students who are not enrolled in a full-time course load or authorized equivalent are terminated. To maintain full-time status at the undergraduate level, a student must register for at least 12 credit hours during a semester.

Completion of ESF Exchange Program

  • Students in F-1 status will have 60 days to depart the U.S. upon completion of their exchange program starting from the program end date indicated on their I-20. During this grace period, students are not eligible for employment or to travel outside the US and re-enter unless they obtain a new visa status that would permit re-entry (e.g., H-1B temporary work visa; B tourist visa).

Transfer Policy

  • As exchange programs are intended to facilitate the international exchange of students such that students complete their degree at their home institution, credits taken during the exchange program cannot be used towards an ESF degree program at the same degree-level; they are only eligible for transfer to the home institution.
  • If an exchange student decides to transfer to ESF at the same degree-level, s/he will be required to retroactively pay the tuition differential for credits obtained under the exchange.