The role of International Programs (IP) at LSU is to foster global mindsets and create collaborative opportunities to advance a global campus community, in consistency with the LSU Strategic Plan 2025. Complementing Louisiana’s rich history of global commerce, International Programs is the port of connectivity to a world that is becoming increasingly small and easier to navigate. We establish and maintain partnerships with international universities and institutions through which we develop opportunities for students, faculty and staff to achieve a higher level of global awareness, competency, collaboration, and engagement. Four IP units facilitate the mobility of students, faculty, and staff around the world. Academic Programs Abroad provide study abroad experiences for students; the International Services Office (ISO) provides immigration advice and counseling to international students, scholars, and faculty; the International Cultural Center oversees student engagement and integration to the campus community; the International Partnerships Office (IPO) initiates and manages global agreements such as MOUs on behalf of the university and academic departments.
International Programs promotes comprehensive internationalization activities through various scholarship programs for students studying abroad, international students, faculty, research, service and a number of other activities that enhance cultural adeptness and global engagement.
Through its support of all aspects of international education, International Programs contribute to the formation of human capital that makes LSU students, faculty, and staff more globally competent and competitive by:
- Making internationalization an integral part of teaching, research and service;
- Promoting the involvement of all students in significant international education experiences;
- Creating and maintaining an inviting and stimulating environment for academic and cultural experiences for international students and scholars;
- Facilitating an increase in participation by faculty and professional staff in international activities;
- Assisting academic units in internationalizing their curriculum;
- Promoting and facilitating interdisciplinary collaborative research and scholarship; and
- Enhancing international awareness as part of an appropriate balance in student and faculty engagement.
Academic Programs Abroad
Students participating in Academic Programs Abroad (APA) travel worldwide to study for a summer, semester, or academic year. Students earn credit toward LSU degrees and return to LSU to complete their degree. Study abroad is open to all majors.
Through study abroad, students are immersed in foreign languages and cultures, have access to course work unavailable on the home campus, develop personal independence and global awareness, and enjoy academic and travel opportunities that enrich their general education. Many students find that studying abroad gives them an advantage in the job market and in applying for graduate school. Others discover routes to international careers in business, government, law, the arts, and engineering.
Students select from a variety of destination options. Many join group programs led by LSU faculty to locations in Europe, Australia, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Others participate in exchange and junior year abroad programs, which place students directly in overseas universities. Others participate in domestic exchanges to over 170 U. S. universities in places such as New York, California, and Hawaii. Some students join programs offered by other U. S. schools or enroll directly at a foreign university.
Summer and intersession programs are open to all students with a 2.5 grade point average or better, regardless of classification. International semester or year-long exchanges are open to students with a 2.75 grade point average or better. Domestic exchanges are open to students who have a 2.5 grade point average or better.
Students receive academic credit for study abroad. In LSU faculty-led programs, students receive regular credit in LSU courses, just as they would on campus. In exchange programs and direct-enrollment programs, students earn credits at the host institution and can transfer these credits to LSU. However, prior approval of course selection is required of all students who desire credit for overseas course work. During the period students are away on exchange, they are concurrently enrolled at LSU. Only students who are enrolled at LSU the semester prior to the semester of study abroad are eligible for concurrent enrollment.
Students scheduled for full-time studies abroad may use TOPS and most LSU and federal financial aid for their programs. Other scholarship opportunities specifically for study abroad are also available.
The best time for students to begin thinking about study abroad is during the freshman year. At this time, students can decide which courses to take abroad and which courses they plan to complete at LSU. They can also prepare for any language or other skills necessary for the overseas experience.
Interested students are urged to contact Academic Programs Abroad, 103 Hatcher Hall, visit our website, email, or call 225-578-6801 for information and an application.
International Services
International Services (ISO) provides primarily immigration advisory services to international students regarding their educational, financial, immigration, and personal concerns. Similar services are available to international faculty, staff, and research scholars. International Services is responsible for providing the U.S. student visa documents of F and J nonimmigrant students based on financial and immigration eligibility after university admission. This office prepares documentation and processes electronic records necessary for F and J international students to achieve and/or maintain lawful nonimmigrant F and J student status in the U.S. as an LSU student. ISO is responsible for the University’s federal regulation compliance with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration, and other federal agencies.
All F and J nonimmigrant international students seeking permission to work off campus must receive approval from this office through U.S. federal regulations.
ISO assists with the coordination of the university’s international student services and programs with community organizations, faculty, campus and student groups, and governmental and private agencies. At this office, international students may apply for very small, short-term personal emergency loans through the University valued at $500 or less depending on availability.
All F and J visa status holders are automatically billed for the mandatory university International Student Service Charge (ISSC) and the LSU Student Health Insurance Plan each semester of registration.
International Cultural Center
The International Cultural Center (ICC), which is largely funded and governed by international students provides institutional support and engagement for international undergraduate and graduate students. The ICC strives to offer meaningful programming and an international experience to all students, faculty, and staff. The educational, cultural, and social programming from the ICC contributes to global understanding and exchange at LSU.
International Partnerships
The mission of the International Partnerships Office (IPO) is to cultivate and promote partnerships with international higher education institutions and organizations which advance LSU’s academic, research, and comprehensive internationalization goals. IPO accomplishes this by facilitating the design and implementation of agreements and identifying new opportunities for strategic initiatives.
International agreements provide opportunities for undergraduate students to study abroad and faculty to conduct collaborative research, teach, and host joint workshops and conferences. These agreements also allow faculty, students, and scholars from partner universities to come to LSU on short-term bi-lateral exchanges.
Inbound student and scholar exchange is coordinated by IPO. LSU receives approximately 80 short-term exchange students and 120 visiting scholars per year. IPO supports inbound students with pre-arrival orientation and advising, while also helping students familiarize themselves with US academic and local culture during their exchange. IPO provides a similar service for all visiting scholars, welcoming them to the LSU campus and to the greater Baton Rouge community. This service will include assisting with logistics such as housing, meal plans, and complying with health insurance requirements. IPO also serves as a liaison with the hosting college/department and International Services for any immigration-related issues.
IPO facilitates four scholarship programs that support LSU faculty involvement in international research collaborations, international students studying at LSU, domestic students studying abroad and support international students’ involvement in research and international collaborations.
Crucial to the comprehensive internationalization mission, IPO manages all International Program’s strategic communications. As Louisiana’s flagship university, LSU has a long history of international collaboration and diversity. IPO will use its resources to elevate LSU’s visibility as a globally influential university.
partnerships facilitate international engagement by LSU faculty and students, allowing faculty to use their expertise to take up global issues while granting students the opportunity to participate in international activities.
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