Incoming Exchange

USC Dornsife’s Exchange Partners

• France: Sciences Po
• Hong Kong: Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
• Ireland: Trinity College Dublin (TCD)

If you are a student at one of our exchange partners, we encourage you to apply for exchange at USC Dornsife. You will first need to be nominated by your home university. Visit your university’s international exchange office for more information on the your university’s application and selection process. Once you have been nominated by your home university, Dornsife Overseas Studies will be in contact with you about the next steps.

If your university does not have an exchange agreement with USC Dornsife, please contact USC Admissions for information on attending USC https://admission.usc.edu/

USC Dornsife Courses:

A list of the majors and minors offered at USC Dornsife can be found here. Courses available at USC Dornsife can be found in the USC Schedule of Classes: https://classes.usc.edu/  Choose the appropriate term and select Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. USC’s course numbering system indicates year such that 100-level courses are first-year, 200-level courses are second-year, etc. Check to see if the courses you are interested in have prerequisites.

Enrollment Requirements while at USC Dornsife:

Exchange students are required to maintain a full-time enrollment of 16-18 USC units per semester. In the first semester, all units must be from Dornsife. In your second semester, you may take up to 8 units from another USC School. Note: Other USC schools may restrict Dornsife exchange student enrollment in their courses.

Costs:

Students accepted on exchange to USC Dornsife pay standard tuition to their home university.

Exchange students can expect to pay for the following fees and expenses while attending USC:

Costs Billed to Students by USC

1. USC Student Fees for every semester of exchange (Student Health Center Fee; Student Programming Fee; Topping Student Aid Fund Fee; Transportation Fee). See the Schedule of Classes for more information.
2. “Digital Course Materials Program” Fee ($292 per semester)
3. “DS-2019” Document Fee for J-1 Visa ($250)
4. USC Housing is not guaranteed, but exchange students may apply to live in an “undergraduate apartment.” Otherwise, exchange students are responsible for securing off-campus housing.
   1. Students who receive a USC Housing placement must pay for the $1,975 “Flex 120” meal plan.
5. The Student Health Insurance Plan is billed every semester to all students registered full-time at USC. This insurance policy, provided by Aetna, meets the medical coverage requirements for the J-1 visa. Students must meet the medical insurance requirements of both USC Dornsife and their home university for their full period of study at USC.
   1. SHIP Chinese-Language Information (中文版)
   2. J-1 Visa Requirements for Medical Insurance

Additional Costs to Consider

• Textbooks & Course Supplies
• Personal & Miscellaneous Expenses
• Passport & J-1 Visa Costs

English Language Requirement to Study at USC:

To study at USC Dornsife, students must have a TOEFL iBT score of 90 with no less than 20 on each section OR an IELTS score of 6.5 with no less than 6 on each band score.

J-1 Visa to Study in the United States:

Unless you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a visa to study in the U.S. Dornsife will request a DS-2019 for each admitted exchange student. Once you receive your DS-2019, you may make a visa appointment at a US Consulate. The U.S Consulate will require proof of sufficient funds to study in the U.S. (currently $2,000 US per month): https://ois.usc.edu/j1-scholars/obtaining-a-ds-2019/funding/