Among the most immersive and affordable study abroad options, direct programs are USD sponsored offerings allow you to take courses directly at a foreign partner institution. With USD Direct programs, you'll pay regular USD tuition and fees plus the cost of living while attending your foreign university.

USD Direct Program Benefits

• Affordability: USD Direct programs allow you to continue using federal financial aid and most USD scholarships, including the Mickelson, Presidential Alumni, Ullyot, Study Abroad, Coyote Beginnings and South Dakota Opportunity. You pay tuition and fees to USD and housing and other on-site living costs to your host university.
• Courses and countries: Choose from a wide range of courses from our renowned partner institutions all across the globe. Gain an international perspective of business, finance, marketing, education or the fine arts. Or, enhance your studies with courses not currently available at USD such as German area studies,  Eastern European studies and Japanese language.
• Independent and immersive: Experience the culture. Dive in, learn the language and get involved in the local university community through clubs, sports and student activities.
• Live like a local: Live and learn with local university students and other international students from around the world.

To view our direct programs, use this link.

Faculty-led programs give you the opportunity to take a course while traveling domestically or abroad with other USD students and faculty members. You can expect to earn three to six credits, depending on the program duration and course content. Most trips are one to two weeks.

Faculty-Led Program Benefits

• Affordable and flexible - Programs range from $1,500 - $6,000, depending on the location and duration of the trip. These prices often include most on-site costs such as lodging, meals, local transportation and cultural excursions. Also, because they are short-term, you can make them work with your academic or personal schedules during winter, spring or summer breaks.
• Stay within your comfort zone - Faculty-led programs offer you the ability to travel elsewhere in the U.S. or abroad while still having the comfort of familiar faces from USD.
• Form new friendships - Traveling is an intense experience that brings about new ways of thinking and acting. Since you're traveling in a tight-knit group, our programs offer you an excellent opportunity to meet other students at USD who have similar interests.

To view our faculty-led programs, use this link.

The National Student Exchange (NSE) facilitates the exchange of students between universities in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Like going on a study abroad program, you're able to study for a semester or academic year at one of the 200 participating universities. With options in every U.S. state and beyond, NSE offers you the opportunity to explore a different academic and social experience as a college student.

NSE Benefits

• Explore new courses: Take classes you can't take at USD, like marine biology, tourism and hospitality or cultural studies.
• Expand your horizons: Immerse yourself in a new environment and discover what life is like at a different university.
• Experience affordable opportunities: Attend an out-of-state university for a USD price, while receiving all regular federal financial aid and USD scholarships.

Apply to NSE

Study Abroad through third-party (non-USD) program providers offers extensive on-site support; including airport pick-up, course registration, housing placement, cultural excursions and more.

You do not pay USD tuition or fees when you study abroad through a third-party program provider, but instead, you pay a program fee directly to the program provider. USD chooses to partner with these program providers based upon reputation, academic quality, excellent student support services and correspondence with our students' needs.

To view our third-party program providers, use this link.

Financial Aid

When studying abroad through a USD-approved third-party provider, you can use both your USD financial aid and scholarships, including Mickelson, Presidential Alumni, Ullyot, Coyote Beginnings and South Dakota Opportunity, toward the cost of the program:

Third-party Program Provider Benefits

• A world of options. You are given a wider range of program options and locations than USD Direct Programs.
• Flexible and affordable. Third-party program providers give you more flexibility in finding a program that best suits your academic, financial and personal needs.
• Additional scholarships. Third-party providers will offer additional and scholarship opportunities.

Tips for Finding the Right Study Abroad Option through a Program Provider

• Searching for programs: All USD third-party programs can be found by either using the Simple Search or Advanced Search functions.\
• Compare costs: If you're deciding based on cost - compare what is and is not included, paying attention to the number of meals per week provided, how many excursions are included and where they go, how many credits you will bring back to USD, etc.
• Start early: You should plan on giving yourself two months to research, decide and apply to a program. You will need to complete the application from the program provider, in addition to the Gallagher International Center application; make sure you can complete all the material by the deadlines.

Current Third Party Program Partners

• USAC
• International Studies Abroad
• AIFS Abroad