Program Structure

Important Notice: These Faculty-Led Programs (FLP) are NOT available for automatic registration. Students must individually apply for each program, be accepted, and complete a specific enrollment process before they can register for the course.

Who Can Apply:

Undergraduate USC students

Progressive students with remaining undergraduate coursework

Graduate and doctoral students are not eligible

Your Step-by-Step Enrollment Journey:

Explore & Prepare Begin by exploring program options in the Student Travel Abroad Portal or visit our Dornsife FLP Website for a list of programs. Each program brochure provides critical details about location, course requirements, and costs. Consult your academic advisor to ensure the program aligns with your academic goals.

Application and Acceptance

Submit your application before the specified deadline

You may apply to a maximum of two programs

Upon acceptance, you’ll receive an email with next steps

Commitment Process

Your enrollment involves three critical steps:

Click the Commitment Button: When you receive your acceptance, access the portal and click the “Commitment to Participate” button. This is your official signal of intent.

Complete Travel Documents: Sign all required post-decision documents in the Student Travel Abroad portal.

Request Course Registration: After completing the documents, request D-clearance from your department to register for the course through Web Registration.

Important Reminders

Your commitment is final, so consider it carefully

Review the withdrawal policy before confirming

Adhere to Spring or Summer term add/drop deadlines

Questions? Contact the FLP Office: flp@dornsife.usc.edu

Lodging 

 Student lodging will be secured by USC and billed to the student account. Program Faculty Directors will arrange for housing such as hotels, hostels, host family stays, dorms, etc. While abroad, if the student decides to opt-out of the contracted lodging accommodations, all associated costs will be billed to the student. The Dornsife FLP Office is not responsible for student lodging fees, as lodging is a part of program costs.

Airfare

All students are required to arrive at the program destination at least 1 day prior to the program start date. If the student chooses to extend their trip and not return home at the end of the Faculty Led Program, they must complete a Trip Extension questionnaire in their Student Travel Abroad portal (Terra Dotta). Students should book their own flights and are required to submit their itinerary through Student Travel Abroad portal (Terra Dotta) prior to travel. ​

All students are required to have their passport and visa information in hand six (6) weeks prior to the beginning of the program. Students should apply for their passport and/or visa (if applicable) immediately. Passports generally take around 16 weeks to process.

Most passport applications are available at large post offices or as a printable version here; you will need a) a completed passport application b) proof of citizenship c) two identical passport photos d) the passport fee.

Non-US citizens should verify that their passports are valid for the amount of time they will be away from the United States.

Students can review visa requirements per country; the US State Department keeps a list of foreign entrance requirements for USC residents, as well as consular contact information, here. To check for the latest international entry requirements, visit CIBT Visas.

Students must ensure they have all necessary visas, which are issued by the consulate or embassy of the country where you will be staying, in advance. For some countries, students may need to apply for a visa as far as 3 months in advance. Most consulates will keep students passport while they are processing their visa application. This may force students to alter preprogram international travel plans. For some visas, students may need to apply in person at the nearest consulate in the US.

In most cases, students have gone to the nearest consulate in the US and the consulate will request a sponsorship letter from the faculty director stating they are enrolled in a FLP and the associated costs.

It is not uncommon for students to be stopped from boarding planes because they lacked the necessary visas to visit the nation to which the plane was going!

Students enrolled in FLP programs will bear the financial responsibility for three charges posted to their student accounts, comprising:

USC Tuition for the Program:

USC charges full-time students a flat tuition rate for 12-18 units. Your flat-rate tuition covers courses within this range, and enrolling in more than 18 units will result in additional per-unit charges. Web Registration typically limits course registration to 20 units without special approval.

Most students include their Maymester course within their Spring semester course load to maintain the most cost-effective and manageable schedule.

Want to take extra units? Check with your academic advisor about approval processes and potential additional costs.

Student Overseas Health Insurance Fees (international programs only):

Students who have opted out of the University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) will incur charges as follows:

Non-Spain

• Monthly Coverage: $107.00 per covered person
• Bi-weekly Coverage: $53.00 per covered person

Spain

• Monthly Coverage: $113.00 per covered person
• Bi-weekly Coverage: $55.00 per covered person

FLP Program Expenses:

Program fees, varying by location and program type, charges may include lodging, airfare, passport/visa, personal meals, and incidental expenses.

Kindly note that while the FLP Office manages the administration of FLP program fees, all other fees are overseen by various central units within the university.

Students are responsible for paying all charges posted to their student account by the designated due date. Any late payment fees incurred due to delayed payment are the responsibility of the student.

Student Overseas Health Insurance

Students participating in international travel must have active USC health insurance coverage during the time of the program. Students who have waived the University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) will pay the current rate of $53 for 14 days or less and $107 for anything above 14 – 30 days. If students stay longer, Student Health will charge an additional month at $214; it can’t be pro-rated. Students currently enrolled in SHIP receive overseas travel health insurance at no additional charge.

Student Travel Health Insurance will be provided with a three-day buffer on either end of the actual program start and end dates, when class begins and ends, not travel dates. Once students complete the health insurance form in the portal, packets are requested from Student Health at least 6 weeks prior to program start. The students receive these via email through Student Health. Student Health will bill the students account directly. Should the student have any questions or would like to request a waiver, refer to them to the following website for more information and contact Student Health directly.

Traveling on a Visa​

Please note that every student is required to have USC international health insurance. To fulfill this requirement during the visa application phase, kindly contact USC Student Health Center at studenthealth@usc.edu or by phone at (213) 740-9355. Request USC international health insurance early to obtain proof of insurance to present to the Consulate. It is essential to avoid purchasing both government overseas health insurance and the required USC international health insurance, as USC Dornsife will not reimburse students for such duplicative insurance expenses.

Dornsife FLP does not charge the student health insurance fee; Student Health will. For any questions relating to USC international health insurance, please contact Student Health at studenthealth@usc.edu or by phone at (213) 740-9355. More information on USC’s international health insurance can be found at https://studenthealth.usc.edu/studying-abroad.

Vaccination Requirements

All students who engage in international University-related travel, whether in group or individually, are strongly advised to be up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters.

As per change in USC vaccination requirement announced on April 11,  students are responsible for following all vaccine requirements and local regulations of their destination country and reentry into the United States. Certain programs, countries, host institutions, and airlines may have specific testing and vaccination requirements for participation, entry, or travel.