Michigan State University exchange programs give students the opportunity to engage with a new culture and experience life as a fully integrated student in the MSU community.
Students are eligible to participate on exchange if they:
MSU can only accept a limited number of exchange students per year, so contact your home school's study abroad office early to find out if you are eligible for exchange.
If your home institution has a special one-way agreement, or if exchange numbers are unevenly balanced, the American Semester Program might be of interest to you.
Follow the five steps below to complete your application to the American Semester Program.
Step 1: Create Your Traveler Profile
Create a Traveler Profile in our online application system, viaTRM. When creating your profile, please list your name as it appears in the machine readable portion of your passport. We also ask that you please include your home university name, area of study, and picture in your profile information.
Step 2: Review Admissions Requirements and Gather Your Documents
Confirm that you meet all Admissions Requirements before beginning your application.
Once you have confirmed your eligibility, gather the following required documents to complete your application:
Note: all documents must be submitted in English.
Step 3: Select and Apply to Your Program
Once you have created your Traveler Profile and gathered all required application documents, browse our programs and apply to the program that corresponds to your academic level.
Select the appropriate program:
Estimated application completion time: 20–30 minutes. Please make sure not to accidentally apply to the American Semester Program.
Step 4: Pay the Application Fee
As part of the application process, you must submit a non-refundable application fee of USD $75.
Important: Your application fee must be paid before your application can be considered or processed.
To pay the fee, visit our Cashnet Storefront and follow these instructions:
Step 5: Monitor Your Application Status
After submitting your application, check back periodically for application updates.
Once you have been admitted, our office will provide additional instructions and information regarding next steps, including housing and course requests.
Important Information:
Who should use this application process?
The application process outlined above is for MSU Exchange Program participants (semester and academic year) only. It does not apply to summer short course or American Semester Program applicants.
All proof of funds (bank letter or bank statement) must be on letterhead or stamped, signed, dated and no older than 6 months. All supporting documents must be in English or provided in its original form with a third party translation (cannot be done by you or a family member) that includes the ‘Certification by Translator’ found below.
The following example must be reproduced on a separate document:
For more information about this program, please contact msuex@msu.edu.
Exchange students are short-term, non-degree seeking students who study at MSU for one or two semesters while also being enrolled and completing degree requirements at their home universities. Students enrolled at one of MSU's exchange partner institutions may apply to study at MSU as an exchange student for one or two semesters after they have been nominated by their home university.
Criteria for Exchange Participation:
Students should work with their home university to apply for an exchange program at MSU. To be eligible to become an exchange student you must meet the following criteria regardless of institution, country, or field of study.
Admissions Requirements:
Exchange students must meet all of the below admissions requirements. For questions about these requirements, refer to your home institution or contact our team.
Applicants for the exchange program must be sponsored to participate in the exchange program. This is shown through supplying a copy of the nomination from your home university to MSU.
Most MSU exchange agreements are open to undergraduate students only. There are certain agreements which include graduate level participation. If unsure, please inquire with our team at msuex@msu.edu.
Students must be in good academic standing with their home university. Specific requirements and prerequisites may apply to certain courses or academic departments at MSU.
Standardized English language test results are required unless English is designated as the primary language of instruction at the student's home institution.
Applicants must meet the minimum score requirement for one of the following English language proficiency tests:
Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT)
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
Duolingo English Test
Note: MSU accepts the TOEFL Home Edition test.
Additional information for graduate students: Graduate-level students may have different English language proficiency requirements depending on their intended coursework or academic faculty.
Applicants will be asked to submit an essay (500 word maximum) addressing the following prompts:
To obtain a visa to study in the U.S. all prospective exchange students must provide documentation verifying that they'll have sufficient funds to support themselves during their studies at MSU. This documentation must be included with the initial application and can be personal (student or parent) bank account statements or bank letters stating the student will have sufficient funds for each semester at MSU.
All documents must be in English, on bank letterhead and stamped, signed and dated by the bank.
Financial funds must be liquid and available to the student during their exchange program at MSU.
If you plan to use your parent or legal guardian's financial documents to show proof of funding, please complete the Statement of Financial Support Form and upload it along with all other financial documents.
Need to have a document translated? Visit the MSU Translation Center website for assistance.
Spring 2027 Semester:
Fall 2027 Semester:
Spring 2028 Semester:
See MSU's Academic Calendar for more information.
The following costs reflect the minimum amounts required to show before immigration documentation can be issued.
Please note these are not the actual charges that will be assessed. Actual rates are determined every July for the next academic year.
Fall 2026:
Undergraduate
Living expenses = $9,297
Health Insurance = $1,527
TOTAL = $10,824
Graduate
Living Expenses = $11,500
Health Insurance = $1,527
TOTAL = $13,027
Spring 2027:
Undergraduate
Living expenses = $9,297
Health Insurance = $2,486
TOTAL = $11,783
Graduate
Living Expenses = $11,500
Health Insurance = $2,486
TOTAL = $13,986
Additional costs:
All students will be required to pay a USD $100 non-refundable fee at the time of application. This must be paid before your application will be considered or processed. Visit our Cashnet Storefront to make this payment. Once there, select "Semester Program Payments & Registrations", then click "American Semester Program Application Fee" or "Exchanges Application Fee" and follow the prompts.
Other costs you may encounter include:
Cost of Living Considerations:
Studying in North America may, in many cases, be a rather expensive place to study abroad. Living expenses, insurance costs, and travel expenses are higher than many other destinations around the globe.
If you are concerned about financing your education abroad experience, please set up an appointment with your home university education abroad office to discuss your options in further detail.