CSUMB is located in the cities of Seaside and Marina, California, on the Monterey Peninsula.  It is located on the site of the former Fort Ord military base.  The Army base was a basic training site for over 80 years and served as a base for more than 1.5 million men and women, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Garcia, and Clint Eastwood.  The base was closed in 1993 and CSU Monterey Bay was established on approximately 5% of the base’s 28,000 acres in 1994 and opened to students in 1995.  The rest of the former base is slowly being transformed and will have new housing, shopping, and recreational facilities in the next few years.  Please realize that CSUMB is still in development.  We are a small university and a lot of the old military base remains.  For history buffs, it’s a fascinating place.  You can look at Fort Ord Remembered for more info.  It looks like the historical Army base it is, with the exception of several brand new university buildings.  We are surrounded by open spaces that are great for biking, running, etc. There is a shopping center (with a Target, Best Buy, REI, Kohl’s, Michael’s, and more) within walking distance of the university. A movie theater and shopping center expansion will go under construction within the next year or two but until they are complete, the local movie theaters are only reachable by bus.

The majority of CSUMB students live on campus.  The campus offers residence halls (dorms) and single-student apartments and suites, as well as family apartment-style living on the east side of campus.  NSE students must live on campus in the dorms; we recommend the North Quad buildings.  Students can walk, drive or take the campus shuttle to classes and activities. 

It takes about an hour bus ride to get into Monterey, with one change over.  If you are able to bring a car, it will take you about 10 minutes to get into town.  You can also ride a bike along the primarily flat, scenic bike path that goes from campus and through Monterey. Bikes are available to rent on campus for a day, month, or semester at a low cost.

When you can get off campus (and many of your CSUMB roommates will have cars), there is plenty to do.  San Francisco is about a two-hour trip north, Santa Cruz is only about 30-40 minutes north, Big Sur is 30-40 minutes to the south, beautiful Carmel is a mere 15 minutes south, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a hop skip and a jump (but two buses) away. 

An international student is one who is studying at a U.S. institution on a non-immigrant visa. Most international students admitted to CSUMB receive an F-1 visa. However, it is possible to enter on other nonimmigrant visas.

Students with valid visas and associated documents who are studying at other U.S. institutions and are currently in approved legal status can transfer to CSUMB without applying for a new visa. Please see admission requirements for transfer students.

We have made a deep commitment to enhancing diversity in our campus community and in our academic programs. The presence of international students on our campus is highly valued. CSUMB’s small student-to-faculty ratio provides for individualized learning with opportunities for community involvement and applied projects. This personalized, hands-on approach is perfect for international students who might need special opportunities to bridge inevitable language and culture gaps.

We currently offer 22 undergraduate majors, 4 teaching credential programs, and 8 graduate degree programs. Most of these programs are broadly interdisciplinary and allow a variety of specific areas of emphasis. Thus, virtually every field of study is available to you.

Students generally love being at CSUMB, but we want to make sure you know what it’s like here. We are not the hot-weathered California that you see on television.  The coast is consistently mild, with an average temperature around 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit (10-20 Celsius) year-round. Warm clear days and cool nights characterize the spring and autumn months, with a bit of a rainy season between November and April. Summer tends to bring fog, especially early and late in the day. 

Dressing in layers is advised since the variations in climate are so great. Generally, light- to medium- weight clothing is appropriate, but jackets and a raincoat are a good idea in winter. Heavy boots are never needed unless you are planning a ski trip in California.

• Scholastic Eligibility - International students who qualify for admission to a major university in their home country will generally qualify for admission to CSUMB. A minimum secondary school grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent is required for first year freshman applicants. A 2.40 GPA or higher in college level coursework is required for students applying for a transfer to the University.
  
  
• Academic Major - To be eligible for a student visa (F-1) international students must pursue a specific degree objective. Please refer to the descriptions of our majors and select a major that fits your educational objectives.
  
  
• English Proficiency - International student applicants are required to demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in English. Applicants who have attended a school where English was the primary language of instruction for at least three years (full time status) immediately preceding admission to CSUMB will have met the proficiency requirement. For undergraduates, a minimum score of 525 on the paper exam or 197 on the computer-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required. For graduates, a minimum score of 550 on the paper exam or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL is required. Our TOEFL code is 1945. For more information, visit the TOEFL website.
  
  
• Financial Statement - In addition to being academically eligible and proficient in English, international student applicants are required to give evidence of sufficient financial support. The current annual estimate of costs is $23,385 for undergraduate students and $21,075 for graduate students. You will be required to document that you have at least one year's funds or financial backing available to you.
  
  
• U.S. Citizens living abroad will not need a Student Visa and therefore do not have to provide a Financial Statement, but should be aware that in addition to student's fees of $1,380.50 per semester, non-California residents are required to pay non-resident tuition of $339.00 per unit.

The initial priority filing periods for all applicants are:

October 1 – July 30 (Fall Applicants)

August 1-31 (Spring Applicants)

1.  Official copy of transcripts from all schools attended
If transcripts are not in English, you will need to submit an official English translation.

2.  Academic Major
To be eligible for a (F-1) Student Visa the student must pursue a specific degree objective. Please refer to the descriptions of our majors and select a major that fits your educational objectives.

3.  English Proficiency
International student applicants are required to demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in English. Applicants who have attended a school full time where English was the primary language of instruction for at least three years immediately preceding admission to CSUMB will have met the proficiency requirement. All other applicants must demonstrate english profiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Our TOEFL code is 1945  www.toefl.org

TOEFL Scores	Undergraduate	Graduate
Paper Based Exam	500	550
Internet Based Exam	61	71

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) www.ielts.org  
CSU Monterey Bay accepts an IELTS minimum overall score of 6 for undergraduates.  Graduate applicants need a minimum overall score of 7 . Official IELTS test scores must be sent to the Office of Admissions.

4.  Photo copy of your passport (front page with personal photo only)

5.  Financial Statement:  Affidavit of Financial Support
In addition to being academically eligible and proficient in English, international student applicants are required to give evidence of sufficient financial support. The current annual estimate of costs is $30,555. You will be required to document that you have at least one year's funds or financial backing available to you. U.S. Citizens living abroad will not need a Student Visa and therefore do not have to provide a Financial Statement, but should be aware that in addition to the student fees of $1576.05 per semester, non-California residents are required to pay non-resident tuition of $391.00 per unit.

Affidavit of Financial Support must be completed and submitted as part of the Application for Admission to California State University, Monterey Bay, A final decision on admission for an international applicant and the issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) for a student visa requires verification of financial resources.

Download the CSUMB International Programs Application for Exchange (73kb pdf file - opens in a new browser tab/window).

Download the CSUMB International Programs Financial Affidavit for Students Coming on Exchange to CSUMB (136kb pdf file - opens in a new browser tab/window).

To be admitted as a graduate student at CSUMB, you must apply and be accepted by both the Graduate Division and the specific department in which you are interested. Each graduate department has different deadlines. Please check the Admissions page to find the application deadlines.

Semester@CSU Monterey Bay

Cost - $11,331

Tuition - $4500 (Includes 12 units including six prescribed units*.)

Fees - $950

Housing - $2856 (double occupancy in Sanderling or other Divarty dorm)

Meals - $1500

Personal costs – Medical insurance - $600 (required)
                          Additional meals - $400 (required)
                          Additional travel - $600 (optional)       
                          Excursions - $525 
Includes:

• Orientation – Pick up at airport, transportation to Monterey from SFO.  Extra night of housing in campus dorm, four meals including meals with student leaders, campus and local area tours.
  
  
• Fall only – Weekend trip to Yosemite National Park. Includes transportation, two nights in shared permanent canvas tents with beds, entrance fees, student guides. Meals not included.
  
  
• Fall only – Day trip of kayaking and wildlife viewing in the Elkhorn Slough. Transportation and kayak rental included.
  
  
• Fall only – Day trip to San Francisco. Includes transportation, entrance fees, professional or student guides. Meals not included.
  
  
• Fall – Tour of Carmel and Pebble Beach, docent led tour of Carmel Mission. Scavenger hunt in Carmel and Carmel Beach, transportation and entrance fees included.

  -or-

• Orientation – Pick up at airport at prearranged time, transportation to Monterey from SFO.  Extra night of housing in campus dorm, four meals including meals with student leaders, campus and local area tours.
  
  
• Spring only – Weekend trip to San Francisco and Santa Cruz includes transportation, two nights supervised accommodation in local home, entrance fees, student and professional guides. Light breakfasts included.
  
  
• Spring only – Day trip to Big Sur, Highway 1, Hearst Castle, and stop at beach to view Elephant Seal. Includes transportation, entrance fees, and professional guides.
  
  
• Spring – Day trip of Carmel and Pebble Beach, docent led tour of Carmel Mission. Scavenger hunt in Carmel and Carmel Beach, transportation and entrance fees included.
  
  
• Spring only – Day trip whale watching in the Monterey Bay. Transportation and boat charter included.

*Prescribed courses may include Colloquial English or Academic English and “Defining Culture: Unpacking and repacking your bags”, which includes relevant pre-excursion lectures, discussions of California history, what culture is and how it impacts students studying abroad.

a. Keep your passport valid at all times.

b. Enroll in and complete a full course of study (12 units for undergraduates; 8 units for graduates) each fall and spring semester.

c. If, for any reason, you cannot enroll in or complete a full course of study each semester, you must speak with a DSO (Designated School Official) BEFORE dropping below full-time student status.

d. Go to the DSO to update your address with CSUMB within 10 days of your move.

e. File for any necessary extensions of stay before your present stay expires.

f. Do not work off-campus without official permission.

g. Do not travel outside the United States , even briefly, (including trips to Canada or Mexico) without the proper documents.

h. If you are about to graduate or otherwise complete your studies at CSUMB and want to remain in the U.S. for further study or some other activity, apply for your extension or change of status at least 90 days before you complete your current studies.

i. Make and keep photocopies of all your documents and safeguard the originals.

j. Inform the DSO whenever you plan to return to your home country permanently, transfer to another U.S. school, or change your status (i.e. to an H-1B, permanent resident, etc.).

All international (F-1 visa) students must be enrolled in and complete a full course of study each fall and spring semester. The minimum number of units each student must carry are:

            Undergraduate: 12 units

            Graduate: 8 units

If you cannot enroll in or complete a full course of study at CSUMB for any reason, you must speak with your DSO (Designated School Official) at OIP before dropping below full-time status. You will also need to complete a “Reduced Course Load” form, available in our office. If you have a legitimate reason (i.e. medical or academic problem) for not being able to carry a full-time load, you should talk to your academic adviser (or a doctor, if the reason is medical) and obtain a written certification that your reason is legitimate. This certification must then be given to the Office of International Programs.

Each procedure has specific instructions. The Office of International Programs had individual instruction sheets available to assist you. Check with your DSO (Designated School Official) to be sure you understand the directions. We advise that you begin the process at least 90 days in advance of your anticipated application.

F-1 visa students are eligible to work on campus during their first term at CSUMB. On campus employment is strictly limited to no more than 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, and USCIS approval is not needed. You can work full time on campus (more than 20 hours) during the summer, winter, and spring breaks when you are not required to enroll in classes.

You may also qualify to work through the Practical Training Program. In order to qualify, you must be in F-1 status for at least one academic year (two semesters), be in good academic standing, and find a job that is related to your major field of study. Refer to OPT policy (pdf file - opens in new browser tab/window).

Occupational Practical Training is availble to students either post-completion of their degrees or pre-completion under some circumstances. See the OPT policy linked above. Approval by USCIS is required. Applications must be submitted 90 days in advance.

F-1 visa holders who are registered as full-time students may work no more than 20 hours per week on-campus during the regular academic year (Fall & Spring Semesters). Registered F-1 students do not require authorization from the USCIS for on-campus employment. However, full-time (more than 20 hours per week) of on-campus work is allowed during breaks between semesters (i.e. summer, winter and spring breaks) if the student has otherwise been maintaining status.

A Social Security card lists a social security number, which is a U.S. government identification number. You will need a social security card only if you are employed. You do not need one to apply for a driver's license or open a bank account.

To apply for a social security card:

Step 1:
Gather the following documents:

• Your passport
• Your I-94, which is attached to your passport
• Your I-20
• Your CSUMB ID card
• The Social Security Card application form (available at the Social Security Office)
• A letter from OIP after you have obtained a job offer letter

Step 2:
Go to a Social Security Office.

The offices are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The closest office to CSU Monterey Bay is at #155, 928 East Blanco Road, Salinas - phone number (800) 772-1213.

International students who are working in the U.S. (either on or off-campus) are subject to federal and state income taxes, which are normally withheld from each paycheck. If you were employed at any time and taxes were withheld, you must file federal and state income tax returns. Forms are available at many post offices as well as from OIP. Tax forms are filed with the Internal Revenue Service (federal tax forms) and with the Franchise Tax Board (state income tax) between January 1 and April 15. You must enclose a copy of your W-2 forms (summary of income earned and taxes paid) for the calendar year, with both returns. Your employer must provide you with your W-2 forms before January 31.
In addition, all F, J, and M visa holders are required to file Form 8843 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) even if they did not work in the U.S. For those students who did not work in the U.S., the Form 8843 must be filed before June 15.

Your spouse and/or children may be admitted to the U.S. on an F-2 visa, which is issued by the American Embassy or Consulate in your home country upon presentation of a signed CSUMB 1-20 form. You must first obtain a new I-20 form for your spouse or child(ren) from OIP. Proof of sufficient financial support for family members is needed before we can issue you an I-20 form for your dependent(s). Each family member adds $4000 to your minimum proof.

No! Holders of F-2 visas cannot work under any circumstances.

a. Valid 1-94
b. Passport (valid for at least 6 months past travel date)
c. An F-1 student visa stamp in your passport (does not need to be valid)
d. Page 3 of a CSUMB SEVIS 1-20 used for previous entry (and signed by a DSO) or a new I-20 form.*
    *Plan ahead! You must have a signature before departure.

Attention: We recommend that you contact the consulate of the country you wish to visit at least 60 days prior to your departure. The addresses and phone numbers of foreign consulates and embassies are available from the OIP web site.

A visa represents permission from the U.S. State Department for you to enter the United States for a particular purpose (i.e. study, work, visit, etc.). In the past, visas were rubber-stamped on the passport page with multi-colored ink. Presently, a machine-readable, label-type of visa, with your photograph is issued by the U.S. embassy or consulate overseas. You used the visa to enter the U.S. Your visa is numbered, and shows your name, the visa category (for example, F-1), the date and place of issue, the expiration date, and the name of the consular official who issued it.

A visa permits you to request entry into the U.S. at a port of entry (for example at the San Francisco International Airport). Once you are in the U.S., your visa may expire without any penalty (as long as you maintain your full-time student status), since it governs only your entry and not your stay.

However, if you travel outside of the U.S. and then wish to return to continue your studies after your visa has expired, you need to get a new visa stamp in your passport (at a U.S. embassy/consulate preferably in your home country) before you can return to the U.S..

Furthermore, visas are not renewed; a new visa is issued to replace an expired one. And visas are not generally issued from within the U.S. You need to return to your home country (or go to another country) and apply for a new visa at the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate.

The Form I-94 (Arrival and Departure record), is your permission to remain in the U.S. It is a small white card, part of a longer form that you completed on the plane during your flight to the U.S. When you arrive in the U.S., the USCIS inspector removes the bottom section and staples the I-94 card into your passport (usually to the page next to your visa stamp). The I-94 card indicates the date and port of entry, the inspector's identification number and the status in which you were admitted to the U.S. (i.e. F-1 student). All F-1 visa international students should have the notation "D/S" stamped in the upper right-hand corner of their I-94 cards. D/S stands for "Duration of Status" and means that you can stay in the U.S. (with a few exceptions) for as long as you are a full-time student pursuing your academic program. Make sure you safeguard your I-94 in your passport! Replacing it costs over $300.

At minimum, you will need the visa application form and any certificate of eligibility (i.e. I-20 form) or approval that may be associated with the status for which you are applying.
Visa officers at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, however, have the authority to ask for any other type of documentation they feel is necessary to make a decision. They ask for this documentation as evidence that you are eligible for the status you are requesting, and/or that you are not "excludable."
The essential documentary concerns of most people coming to CSUMB are:

a. The certificate of eligibility (I-20 form);
b. Proof that you have sufficient funds to carry out the activities permitted by the visa without resorting to unauthorized employment;
c. Evidence that you have a compelling reason to return to your home country.

No! The visa stamp in your passport is an "entry permit" only, so you do not need to be concerned if it expires once you have already entered the U.S. unless you plan to travel out of the U.S and re-enter, in which case you will need to go to the U.S. Consulate (preferably in your home country) and apply for a new visa.

When you go to the Consulate to apply for the new visa, you should bring with you your I-20 (if you are a student on an F-1 visa), which should be signed at the bottom of page 3 by a DSO. You will also want to bring proof that you have the funding to cover your tuition and living expenses (see Affidavit), a support letter from OIP stating that you are in good standing and making adequate progress toward your degree, as well as an official copy of your CSUMB transcripts.

As soon as you have a place to live, and whenever you move, you must report your residential address and telephone number to the DSO within 40 days of moving.

Currently, international students can apply for the Presidential Fee Waiver; this is a competitive process and is very limited. International students may apply for the Singleton Scholarship ($1000 maximum) after attending CSUMB for at least three academic semesters.

Persons needing advice on legal problems should consult first with OIP. Immigration problems which are beyond the scope of our office may require the assistance of an immigration lawyer.

F-1 students may not work off campus without proper authorization from the Office of International Programs or the U.S. Immigration Service. Permission may be given in the case of severe economic hardship.

Off campus employment due to economic hardship is permitted only in cases where there is proven and severe hardship. The purpose of this kind of work is to enable a student to earn income that is needed to pay tuition and living expenses because his/her sponsor cannot provide sufficient funds. A student applying for permission to work off campus must prove there is economic necessity due to unforeseen circumstances. In other words, a student must provide evidence that he/she is not receiving enough money to pay for school expenses and that the cause for not receiving enough money is something that was not expected to happen when he/she came to the U.S. Permission to work off campus is granted by the USCIS. Students interested in applying must first contact the Office of International Programs. (A student may not apply for this work permission until he/she has been in full-time F-1 status for two semesters.)

A Social Security card lists a social security number, which is a U.S. government identification number. You will need a social security card only if you are employed. You do not need one to apply for a driver's license or open a bank account.

To apply for a social security card:

Step 1:
Gather the following documents:

• Your passport
• Your I-94, which is attached to your passport
• Your I-20
• Your CSUMB ID card
• The Social Security Card application form (available at the Social Security Office)
• A letter from OIP after you have obtained a job offer letter

Step 2:
Go to a Social Security Office.
The offices are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The closest office to CSU Monterey Bay is at #155, 928 East Blanco Road, Salinas - phone number (800) 772-1213.