Office of International Programs

The Office of International Programs (OIP) provides campus-wide leadership and coordination in implementing the University’s goals for international education. OIP serves prospective and matriculated international students, San Francisco State students wishing to study abroad through the CalState or on an SF State exchange program, visiting scholars, exchange students, SF State faculty interested in international education, and international alumni. For more information and general inquiries, please contact OIP:

Phone: (415) 338-1293
Email: oip@sfsu.edu
Website: oip.sfsu.edu 

International Student Outreach

Visit us at https://oip.sfsu.edu/future

OIP plays a pivotal role in recruiting and attracting international students to select SF State for an undergraduate or graduate degree. Working in tangent with SF State’s Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment and Division of Graduate Studies, OIP addresses concerns and inquiries from prospective international students regarding pre-admission, transfer advising, and the enrollment process. International student outreach advisors work closely with counselors at high schools, community colleges, and ESL institutes in the U.S., and provide on-site advising presentations and workshops for international students who are interested in enrolling at SF State. OIP provides walk-in, online, and phone advising to prospective international students at the OIP office and serves as a liaison with the Education USA Advising Centers, Fulbright Commission Offices, foreign universities, and educational organizations that provide academic advising, placement services, and educational fairs to prospective international students worldwide. Furthermore, OIP works with and manages International Education Agencies in several countries that recruit international students and assist with the application process, admission requirements, and academic program information.

International Student and Scholar Services

The International Student Advising team provides advising for F-1 Visa Students and J-1 Visa Exchange Students/Scholars on various immigration, academic, and cultural adjustment issues. The international student advisors at OIP have extensive experience in interpreting immigration regulations and provide students with current guidance regarding changes to these regulations as well as events impacting the US sociopolitical environment. Every semester, the international student advising team coordinates new international student welcome events to help international students transition to SF State. When the University is in session, the international student advisors provide drop-in advising and a variety of workshops, including employment authorization workshops, to keep students up to date on current visa regulations. In addition, OIP collaborates with the campus community to support international students and scholars and promote their academic and professional success. 

OIP is responsible for ensuring the University complies with U.S. Federal Government Visa Regulations. The international student advisors are certified as Principal Designated School Official (PDSO), Designated School Officials (DSO), Responsible Officer (RO) and Alternative Responsible Officers (ARO) by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Study Abroad and International Exchange Programs

All interested SF State degree-seeking students in good standing may apply to participate in an SF State Abroad program. SF State Abroad has programs on six continents and more than 30 countries through the California State University International Programs (CSUIP) and the SF State Exchange Partnership network. Through the SF State Abroad programs, students from any academic major pay their regular SF State tuition/fees and earn SF State resident credits. Financial aid applies to all SF State Abroad programs and the overseas cost of living for a semester or year is often less than living in San Francisco. Various information workshops are offered several times a week, year-round. OIP further serves as the advisory office for a variety of scholarships that relate directly to SF State Abroad programs.

OIP also advises departments who wish to establish new SF State Abroad exchange partnerships for their academic departments.