faq

FAQs

FAQ for Study Abroad and Outgoing Exchange Students

(see below for Incoming Exchange Students)

Q - Does it cost any more to be on an exchange program than it does to be here at Stony Brook?

A- No. It usually costs about the same (sometimes, depending on the country, it may be cheaper) to be an exchange student.

Q - Can I use financial aid to study abroad?

A - Yes. Any financial aid -- Pell Grants, TAP, Stafford Loans -- are applicable to either studying abroad or participating on an exchange program.

Q- What's the tuition for an international program?

A - The same as at Stony Brook: $2,175, in-state resident; $5, 125, out-of-state resident.

Q- Will the credits I take abroad count at Stony Brook?

A- All exchange credits count for residency credits here at Stony Brook. They are emphatically not interpreted as transfer credits.

Q- Will I get D.E.C.'s?

A- Yes. D.E.C.'s are evaluated by the academic committee of International Academic Programs, chaired by the Dean, William Arens, Ph.D. Ostensibly, one could fulfill any D.E.C. requirement they still need by registering in an exchange course.

Q- Will I get Upper Division credit?

A - Yes. Like D.E.C.'s, Upper Division Credit is evaluated by the academic committee, and is awarded to classes that fulfill Stony Brook's standards for advanced study.

Q- Will I get Major/ Minor credit?

A - Yes. The courses taken abroad must be evaluated by your specific department in order to be assigned a Stony Brook course equivalent. For that reason it is often best to have your courses evaluated by your department before you leave for your international studies.

Q - What about Health Insurance?

A Stony Brook offers comprehensive international health insurance available to anyone whose family plan does not

Incoming Exchange Students

Q: In my financial documents, how much money do I need to show in order to study as an exchange student at Stony Brook?

A: Approximately $6000 per semester of study at Stony Brook. That means that if you intend to stay the academic year, you must demonstrate that you have $12000 available.

Q: What kind of financial documents do I need to fill out?

A: If you are paying for your own study at Stony Brook, you should fill out a Declaration of Finances. If a parent or someone else is paying for your study, then you must fill out an Affidavit of Support, which must be notarized.

Q: What is a notary? Where can I find one?

A: A notary is an individual licensed by the government to swear on the truth of a document. Lawyers are capable of notarizing documents, as are officials at police stations, banks, and U.S. consulates.

Q: It costs a lot of money to get the affidavit of support notarized in my country. Can you make an exception for me?

A: No. There is no way around it. In order for us to obtain a DS-2019 for you, an affidavit of support MUST be notarized. Alternatively, a student could pay for their study at Stony Brook through their own funds. In this case, they should fill out a Declaration of Finances, which does not need to be notarized.

Q: What should I do about housing?

A: We will arrange on-campus housing for you. You will most likely share a room with another Stony Brook student. You do not need to worry about arranging housing in that case. If you are interested in living off-campus, then you should visit Stony Brook University 's off-campus housing website, found here:

http://och.vpsa.sunysb.edu/search/index.htm

Q: What courses can I take?

A: Almost every course in the university is open to you. You can find course listings (which change depending on whether you will be around for the Fall semester or the Spring semester) at this website:

http://ws.cc.stonybrook.edu/registrar/schedules.htm

Courses for the following semester are usually not available until the last month of the current semester.

Q: When do I register?

A: You will register when you arrive at Stony Brook, usually one week before the start of classes. Before arriving, it is helpful to email the Exchange Advisor of Stony Brook with a list of the top 10 courses that you would like to take, so that the Advisor can obtain permissions for you to register for those courses.

Q: How many courses can I take?

A: All students must carry a minimum course load of 12 credits (4 classes). We advise that international students take only 4 courses, but if they wish to, they can take up to 6.

Q: Do I have to fill in health forms?

A: After you are accepted, you must fill in health and immunization forms for Stony Brook University and bring them with you to the United States . You will hand these in directly to the Stony Brook Exchange Advisor. These forms can be found here: http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/departments/shs/docs/health.pdf

Q: Do I have to buy Stony Brook University 's International Student Health Insurance?

A: Yes, unless you can prove that you have your own health insurance that is at least as good as that of Stony Brook. Go here to find more information: http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/shs/insurance/international

Q: What is the minimum TOEFL Score I need to be accepted to the Stony Brook International Exchange Program?

A: 550 on the Paper-Based Test and 213 on the Computer Based Test. If you do not meet these requirements, you can enroll in the summer Intensive English course at Stony Brook University. This program carries a tuition cost of $1950.