Going Abroad as a Graduating Senior

The semester prior to when you would like to graduate, apply for graduation following the steps outlined on the Registrar's Office website here. 

Be sure to note deadlines! 

If you are unable to apply for graduation online due to missing study abroad coursework, please email regweb@sfsu.edu and let them know so that they can assist you. 

Follow the steps for applying and studying abroad outline on the SF State Abroad website.

Remember, you must be full-time abroad, even if you do not need all classes or units to graduate. Note grade and unit conversions. 

While abroad, save all your documents. Digital copies are great. No need to weigh down the suitcase with hardcopies.

Keep copies of the following documents:

• Overseas Course Approval Form
• All credit/no credit requests made to studyabroad@sfsu.edu (if applicable)
• Emails from advisors regarding classes
• Syllabi and course descriptions
• Graded work (especially important for major and minor classes not approved in advance)

1. Email the SF State Abroad Team at studyabroad@sfsu.edu to let them know which term you have applied to graduate so that they can make a note on your transcript for when it is sent over to the Registrar's Office. Please note that it will take a little time for SFSU to process your study abroad transcript. It may take between 8-12 weeks after it is received before you see it on your unofficial transcript in Gateway.  
2. Email the Graduation Team in the Registrar's Office at regweb@sfsu.edu. Please include in the subject line "Study Abroad Grad. Senior" and your ID number. In the body of the email, let them know which terms you will be abroad and for when you have applied for graduation. 

You may receive a message from the Registrar's Office letting you know that you may appear to have unmet requirements. This is expected because your Degree Progress Report (DPR) does not yet reflect the specific classes you took abroad. As long as you have been in contact with your advisor and they have confirmed that your coursework will meet all remaining requirements, and you have not make any changes subsequently, you can set this message aside or reply back to them letting them know you studied abroad and that they are coming. 

Remember that this is normal and part of the process. 

At the end of your program, the university abroad should send your transcript to SFSU automatically, unless you studied abroad in Australia, Denmark or the United Kingdom which requires you to release the transcript. The transcript should first be sent to SF State Abroad, except for students who participate in a CSU IP program and then it will be sent first to CSU IP. 

Please allow time for the transcript to arrive and be processed. This can take up to 6-8 weeks after the transcript arrives on campus. Once you think it might be here, please take the following final steps. 

1. Check to see if your classes appear on your unofficial transcript in Gateway. 
   1. You may reach out to the SF State Abroad Team for an estimate about processing time.
   2. If you receive a message about unmet requirements, you may want to monitor when your transcript has been updated to let the Graduation Team know by emailing regweb@sfsu.edu. 
   3. Remember, future employers are more interested that you studied abroad than when you exactly receive your diploma! If you applied for graduate school, check with them about obtaining additional time to submit a transcript to them from SFSU with your study abroad grades. 
2. After you see your grades appear on your unofficial transcript, review your Degree Progress Report (DPR) to ensure that the courses from study abroad appear correctly. They do not always appear immediately. If the classes are on your unofficial transcript, but not your Degree Progress Report, reach out to your academic advisors and request that they submit an "Advisor Request" or ARS to update your DPR. For major/minor classes, please reach out to the Undergraduate Advising Center for assistance in updating your DPR. For GE's, you will need to complete a GE petition with the Undergraduate Advising Center. 

Congratulations on finishing your degree and studying abroad! Remember that the SF State Abroad Team is here throughout the process to support you. 

This may or may not be possible. Commencement only takes place during the spring semester. However, if you apply to graduate during another term, you may still be eligible to walk in the spring. Students who graduate in a summer or fall semester (and have earned their degree) are eligible to participate in the subsequent Commencement Ceremony. For example, students who earn their degree at the end of summer/fall 2028, may participate in the spring 2029 Commencement, Please note that in order to be included in the Commencement program, you must apply by April 1st of that year. There may be additional commencement participation deadlines, such as picking up regalia from the Bookstore--the Commencement Office can confirm those details for you.

If you will be abroad during the spring semester, you must confirm that the program dates do not conflict with Commencement. Many programs go into June (after our ceremony) and you may need to be abroad for final exams. However, there are some programs that end early. 

Have a conversation with your family about the importance of walking in the Commencement Ceremony. For some, it is very important. For other students, being abroad and traveling at the end of their program is more important, especially if they plan on earning another degree, such as a master's degree in the future.