SMCCCD Study Abroad

Application Process

Ready to apply? Watch this six-minute video about how to complete the application.  

In order for SMCCCD Study Abroad to review your eligibility, you must select “Skyline College” as your home college on the application. Learn more at the NCSAC Florence website.

Application Checklist  Apply Now  

About this Program

This program enables you to study abroad while making normal progress toward your degree objectives and earning fully transferable units in courses taught by community college faculty and guest lecturers. The program is offered in cooperation with the Contra Costa County, Los Rios County, San Mateo County and Santa Rosa Junior College, and with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), which arranges transportation, living accommodations, and a wide range of student and instructional support services.This program is part of the Northern California Study Abroad Consortium (NCSAC). Units earned in Florence will appear on your transcripts issued by the participating colleges.

Visit the NCSAC program page for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Courses Offered  

Program Deadlines

• Friday, September 22, 2023: Priority Application Deadline
• Friday, November 3, 2023: Application/Deposit Deadline (closing early due to capacity limits)
• Friday, December 8, 2023: Final Payment Deadline

Program Eligibility

Students need not be currently enrolled at one of the sponsoring colleges in order to participate.

Program eligibility requirements:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher.
• Have completed a minimum of 12 units of college level coursework.

Provisional Student Enrollment

Students who do NOT meet the application criteria (of at least 12 units and at least a 2.25 GPA) may use their current semester transcript in progress to assist with meeting the criteria, BUT MIGHT NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENROLL in the Study Abroad Program until after they receive their mid-term grades AND can demonstrate they are likely to meet the minimum qualifications.

After meeting these criteria, students may be allowed to be enrolled for the AIFS-SMCCCD Study Abroad Program under “Conditionally Accepted” status. Provisional students who finish the semester without meeting any of the minimum requirements will be dropped from the program.

Please read the Provisional Student Advisory, sign and submit it to studyabroad@smccd.edu if it applies to you.

Provisional Student Advisory  

 

Financial Aid

If you are receiving financial aid and would like to apply this towards the Spring 2024 Semester Abroad Program in Florence, you MUST complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA at studentaid.gov and work with the Financial Aid Office to complete all steps of the Financial Aid checklist.

Financial Aid Checklist AIFS Financial Aid Packet  

Scholarships

SMCCCD Study Abroad offers a limited number of scholarships for students to study abroad. Visit our How to Pay section to learn more about applying to these opportunities.

Program Costs

The fee per person is $8,145.

The above fee excludes airfare, passport or visa fees if applicable, meals other than those listed, personal expenses, any California Community College tuition or administrative fees, textbooks, additional field trips or excursions to those listed, anything not specified.

Budget Sheet  

Refund Policy

• If a student withdraws on or before Friday, November 10, 2023, they shall receive a refund of: All fees paid less a $150 processing fee.
• If a student withdraws after Friday, November 10, 2023, but on or before Friday, December 8, 2023 they shall receive a refund of all fees paid less the $450 deposit and any non-refundable deposits paid by the student or by AIFS on the student's behalf.
• If a student withdraws after Friday, December 8, 2023, there is no refund, and the total program fee is due.
• If a student withdraws once the program has begun, there is no refund.

More Information or Questions?

For additional information or questions, please contact us at studyabroad@smccd.edu.

Follow us on Instagram @smcccd_study_abroad and like us on Facebook to get regular updates, learn more about the program, and connect with other students studying abroad all across the world. 

Jessica Marshall is a Professor of Anthropology at Cañada College, and has taught for 20 years. With a passion for taking students abroad, she has taught Anthropology in Egypt, Italy, and Australia. Her research interests are in contemporary objects made to keep traditions alive. She holds a BA in Anthropology, a BA in Photography, and a BA in Journalism from California State University Sacramento, and an MA in Visual Anthropology from the University of Kent in England. She completed her PhD coursework in Interdisciplinary Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra. Before teaching, Jessica worked as an archaeologist and lived and traveled extensively around the globe. Twenty-seven years ago she was a community college student in the same AIFS program in Florence that she will now be teaching in.