International First-Year Steps to Enroll

Fall 2025 Admission

Congratulations on your offer of admission to San Diego State University! Out of the thousands of applications we received this year, you were selected! Embrace this moment and be proud of yourself. You have worked hard to get here and we are so excited to welcome you to the SDSU family!

Accept your offer of admission and reserve your place for fall 2025 by completing the Steps to Enroll listed below.

Submit all of the following items to the Office of Admissions. If all of the items are not received or postmarked by the date listed, it will be assumed that you do not plan to attend SDSU and your offer of admission will be canceled.

Due May 1, 2025

  1. Accept Your Offer of Admission and Submit Your Nonrefundable Enrollment Deposit in my.SDSU
  2. Submit Housing License Agreement

    Admitted first-year students from outside SDSU's local admission area are required to live on campus for two years. If applicable, the Student Housing License Agreement will be available to you online through the Housing Portal starting March 1, 2025. A nonrefundable $375 initial payment is due with your license agreement.

    All admitted international students living on campus are required to submit for Housing Early Arrival. Check the Housing and Residential Education website to stay updated on how to request Early Arrival. Review the Apply web page on the Housing and Residential Education website for more information.

  • F-1 Visa

    A valid F-1 student visa is required for entry into the United States. An I-20 is required to begin the F-1 application process.

    When the ISC has reviewed and approved your documents, your I-20 will be emailed to you along with further guidance on this process.

  • Submit Financial Statement Form and Supporting Documents

    All admitted international students planning to attend San Diego State University on an F-1 student visa must submit financial documents issued within the past six months to provide evidence of funding for a minimum of one academic year. Students planning to attend SDSU with other visa categories (i.e. H4 or H1B), permanent residency or U.S. citizenship are not required to submit financial documentation.

    Admitted international students must submit the following:

    Upload these documents to my.SDSU. The SDSU International Student Center (ISC) is responsible for supporting admitted students during the I-20 issuance process, and answering I-20 and F-1 visa-related questions. They will review your financial statement and supporting documents. Please allow 7 business days maximum to receive your I-20 via your SDSU Gmail email account, subject to approval of documentation. More information for new international admits is on the International Student Center website.

  • Students Attending an Institution in the U.S. or on Post Completion OPT

    If you currently have an Active Sevis record and intend to request a transfer of your SEVIS record to SDSU, please follow the guidelines on the Guidance for New Admit SEVIS Transfers web page.

  • Health Insurance

    SDSU requires all enrolled international students to have adequate health insurance that meets the SDSU F-1 requirements before the first day of the semester. Review and follow the health insurance information on the ISC website.

  • Stay alert to communication from the International Student Center (ISC)

    The ISC will email you following your financial document submission if additional documentation and/or any clarification is required. Please review requirements prior to submission AND check emails regularly to avoid processing delays. Furthermore, the ISC will communicate with you regularly via email about pre-arrival information, international student requirements pre-arrival, and International Student Welcome Check-in (required).

    Please check your email periodically and look out for this information. If you have any questions about these steps, please email [email protected].

After you submit your Intent to Enroll, you will receive information about your official SDSU Gmail email account, which is the campus standard for communication and collaboration. Future official communication from the university will be delivered to your official SDSU Gmail account after your Intent to Enroll is submitted. Learn more about the student official email address use policy in the University Senate Policy File.

Your Google Workspace

Learn more about your new Google Workspace and your access using Duo Multi-Factor Authentication to enhance security.

Monitor Your Admission Status & Keep Your Contact Information Updated

Visit my.SDSU and select my.SDSU Login. Enter your SDSUid and password, and select Sign In to log in to my.SDSU.

  • Use the Admissions tile to check the status of your admission.
  • Use the Tasks tile to review any checklist items (To Do's) you need to complete.
  • Use the Profile tile to review and update your contact information, if needed.

Due May 1, 2025

Due July 15, 2025

Due May 1, 2025

  1. Official Transcripts
    • High School Transcript(s) including fall 2024 grades: You must submit transcripts from all high schools attended.
    • College Transcripts: If you have college transcripts to submit, please note that SDSU will accept only electronic transcripts from the schools listed on the Transcripts web page. Be sure to indicate this preference when making your request. If your college does not send electronic transcripts, then they can mail the official transcript to the address listed on the Transcripts web page.
    • Review the information on how to submit and check the status of your transcripts on the Transcripts web page.
  2. Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Score Reports
    • May 1, 2025 is the submission deadline for AP exams taken prior to your senior year in high school.
    • July 15, 2025 is the submission deadline for AP exams taken during your senior year of high school.
    • Advanced Placement exam score reports and passing scores are required in order to obtain college credit for AP high school courses.
    • Submit electronic score reports to SDSU. You can contact the AP Grade Reporting Service to obtain your AP test scores if your exam scores were taken within the last four years.

      AP Services
      P.O. Box 6671
      Princeton, NJ 08541-6671
      (888) 225-5427
      College Board
      SDSU code: 4682

Due July 15, 2025

  1. Final Official Transcripts
    • Review the information on how to submit and check the status of your transcripts on the Transcripts web page.
    • High School Transcript(s): Your school needs to send final official transcripts, which include spring 2025 grades/credits and date of graduation. All courses you listed on your application as in progress or planned in your senior year must be completed with grades of C- or higher. You must also maintain your reported overall grade point average. If your grade point average and/or current course grades drop, or if there is a discrepancy in what you reported on your application compared to your transcript(s), your offer of admission may be withdrawn.
    • College Transcripts: Transcripts from all colleges you attended while in high school, including any spring 2025 coursework (if applicable) must be submitted by the deadline date. Please note that SDSU will accept only electronic transcripts from the schools listed on the Transcripts web page. Be sure to indicate this preference when making your request. For colleges that do not supply electronic transcripts, then they can mail the official transcript to the address listed on the Transcripts web page.
  2. Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Score Reports (if applicable)
    • July 15, 2025 is the submission deadline for AP exams taken during your senior year of high school.
    • Advanced Placement exam score reports and passing scores are required in order to obtain college credit for AP high school courses.
    • Submit electronic score reports to SDSU. You can contact the AP Grade Reporting Service to obtain your AP test scores if your exam scores were taken within the last four years.

      AP Services
      P.O. Box 6671
      Princeton, NJ 08541-6671
      (888) 225-5427
      College Board
      SDSU code: 4682

  3. Official International Baccalaureate (IB) Test Scores (if applicable)
    • All International Baccalaureate exam score reports and passing scores are required in order to obtain college credit for the IB exam.
    • Send results for senior year IB courses by July 15, 2025. To place a request contact:

      Americas Global Centre
      7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 200 West
      Bethesda, MD 20814
      (301) 202-3000
      International Baccalaureate

In case of an emergency, having accurate contact information ensures that the right people can be notified promptly. Use the Tasks tile to access and enter your emergency contact information in my.SDSU. This will be available in March 2025 and must be completed by May 16, 2025.

All first-year students are placed in a student success pathway. The completion of the Student Success Pathway Preference Form helps determine your pathway, which includes your learning community, pre-enrolled courses, and your assigned Coordinated Care Advisor.

  • Students who will be living on campus in the 2025-26 academic year should complete the Residential Success Pathway Preference Form (available April 2025).
  • Students who will be living off campus in the 2025-26 academic year should complete the Commuter Success Pathway Preference Form (available April 2025).

This form must be completed by May 20, 2025.

Immunization Requirements

All students must meet specific immunization requirements.

Immunizations – Due Prior to July 15, 2025

Provide proof of your immunizations and complete your Tuberculosis (TB) Risk Assessment prior to July 15, 2025. Review the Immunization Requirements web page ahead of time to review the requirements that apply to you and begin working with your healthcare professional to ensure you have completed all of the required immunizations. Make sure you have acceptable proof of completed immunizations available for submission. Acceptable proof includes records from your high school, private healthcare provider, local health department, or campus health center. Log in to the HealtheConnect portal and upload your proof of immunizations.

Student Health Services

Medical care is an important part of taking care of one's own health and well-being. SDSU Student Health Services (SHS) is a vital program, but it does not cover medical emergencies, after-hours care, a full range of medical specialists, hospital facilities or other medical services provided outside of SHS. In addition, access to SHS does not meet the government mandate for health insurance. Therefore, it is recommended that students arrange with their health plan to have a local primary care physician. International students are required to purchase a separate health insurance plan as part of SDSU's F-1 requirements.

While the University does not provide accident or health insurance coverage to students, we do have services available to assist students with obtaining or utilizing health care. Students can meet with a staff member in the Well-being & Health Promotion department to learn more about their health insurance and to find local providers who accept their insurance, students can also be connected with an enrollment specialist if they are looking to obtain health insurance or to better understand their options. To make an appointment, call (619) 594-4133 or find out more on the Well-being & Health Promotion website.

It is important that you fulfill prerequisite courses for mathematics and chemistry prior to your first semester at SDSU in order to stay on track to graduate in four years. Some majors at SDSU (including most science and engineering majors) recommend taking Chem 200 (General Chemistry) or Chem 202 (General Chemistry for Engineers), and/or Math 124 (Calculus for the Life Sciences) or Math 150 (Calculus I) during your first semester at SDSU. Some majors (for example, biology) also recommend taking a math course in the spring semester of your first year. You must satisfy prerequisites prior to enrolling in these courses, which may be fulfilled with Advanced Placement (AP) credit or college credit that was earned while in high school. If you do not have AP or college credit for the prerequisite courses, then you will need to take the applicable placement exam(s), which we recommend taking as soon as possible. 

Review the Math Placement Information for New First Year Students to determine your first year mathematics class and how you can meet prerequisites. Review the Online Chemistry Placement Assessment web page to determine if you have earned college credit for chemistry. In some instances, you may not be required to take the chemistry and/or mathematics placement exam(s) if you have already received academic course credit. For questions regarding your AP credit, contact the Office of the Registrar.

New Student Orientation (NSO) for first-year students is offered virtually in July.

You can make your reservation online in May. Specific details about New Student Orientation will be available on the Office of New Student and Parent Programs website. For more information, email the Office of New Student and Parent Programs at [email protected].

Things to do before attending New Student Orientation:

  • Request and submit final official transcripts be sent to SDSU from all high schools and colleges attended (if you haven't done so already).
  • Visit the How do I get my SDSUcard? website and follow the steps to obtain your SDSUcard. This is REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS.

Visit the International Student Immigration Orientation Programming web page for more information. All international students are required to attend as it covers important information about immigration regulations.

Information about your basic tuition and fees will be available to you on the Unviersity Bursar's Office website.

For your specific payment deadline to pay your basic tuition and fees, log into your my.SDSU and select the Financial Account tile.

For students using a 529 plan, ePayment options are available.

Learn how to accept your offer of admission and pay your nonrefundable deposit in my.SDSU.

Finalize Your Enrollment Guide

Keep your grades up!

If you misreported grades for any required courses, your offer of admission may be withdrawn. In addition, you must maintain your overall GPA as reported on the application, and courses taken in your senior year must be completed with grades of C- or higher by the end of the spring 2025 term. If your GPA drops or you earn a D or F during your senior year in any course, any offer of admission may be withdrawn.

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Disability Services

Student Disability Services (SDS) at San Diego State University authorizes and provides a variety of services and accommodations, which are determined on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with an SDS counselor. Their goal is to remove barriers to accessibility so that all students have an equal opportunity to be successful in college. If you will be applying for services from SDS, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible to assure that accommodations are in place by the time you begin your academic journey.