School for Field Studies Costa Rica —

This is an affiliate program. You receive resident credit for the courses you take. Your grades factor into your University of Minnesota GPA and each course appears on your transcript with an A/F grade. Consult the Learning Abroad Center's Academic Policies for more information.

The School for Field Studies creates transformative study abroad experiences through field-based learning and research. Their educational programs explore the human and ecological dimensions of the complex environmental problems faced by local partners, contributing to sustainable solutions in the places where students live and work.

Affiliate organizations and partner universities will not accept applications from UMTC students without the endorsement of the Learning Abroad Center. Students must participate in affiliate organization and partner university programs through the standard Learning Abroad Center application process.

Visit the School for Field Studies' website for specific program features and eligibility requirements.

Visit your affiliate's website for program dates and application deadlines.

SFS grants admission to programs on a rolling basis as long as space is available, so there is no application deadline. You are welcome to apply for programs up to one year in advance of the program start date. Early submissions are strongly encouraged as some programs fill to capacity.

Orientation will be conducted in 2 parts: an online orientation, which is mandatory for all students, and an in-person session. You will receive more information about the online orientation via email. Failure to complete the online orientation will impact your ability to go abroad.

The in-person orientation takes place on a Friday afternoon towards the end of each semester for students departing in the upcoming term(s).  You will receive specific details for the date/time/location of the in-person pre-departure orientation as it gets closer.

University of Minnesota participants pay the program fee instead of on-campus tuition and fees for the term they are abroad.

To calculate your total program fee:

Find your Affiliate program fee

For more specific information about fees, visit the School for Field Studies website.

UofM students on SFS programs receive an automatic fee reduction of $3,000 for semester, $600 for summer sessions 6 or more weeks in length and/or sequential summer programs, and $300 for summer sessions 4 weeks in length. UofM students can also take advantage of SFS's financial aid, in the form of scholarships, grants, and zero- or low-interest loans.

Add APAAC
Refer to the Affiliate Program Fees. Follow instructions on that page to determine your APAAC.

Add International Health Insurance
Multiply the number of months you will be away by $45.

Subtract Affiliate Fee Reduction
Visit the Affiliate Program Fees to determine the fee reduction you receive for being a University of Minnesota student.

Students participating on affiliated programs are charged a program fee that is inclusive of the affiliate's program fee, University of Minnesota Advising, Placement, Academic, and Administrative Costs (APAAC) and international health insurance.The APAAC covers:

• application processing
• advising services, orientation
• course registration
• grade transfer and posting for resident credit
• program billing and assistance with financial aid (when applicable)

Based on these additional services and benefits, the total program fee may be higher than the affiliate's published program fee.

Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.

Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.

 

Each of our affiliated programs awards its own array of scholarships. While many are need-based, others are based on merit, location, academic area, or diversity criteria. Explore your options within specific affiliates' scholarship pages.

Before you apply to or confirm your participation on this program, review the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation Policy to inform yourself of the timeline and financial obligations for canceling.

 

Complete pre-application advising.

Be aware: All programs require a $50 application fee. This fee will be charged to your student account upon submission of an online application.

To complete the online application for this program, you will need to select or provide the following information on the online application:

Note: If the specific track and term of the affiliated program you wish to apply to cannot be found within the application system, select “Program Not Found” on the application, and enter your specific application information in the fields given to request an application. Our staff will review your application and update your program, track, and term information.

Submit to Learning Abroad Center:

• School for Field Studies (SFS) Participation Approval

Submit to School for Field Studies:

• School for Field Studies Online Application

Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.

Be aware: Learning Abroad Center programs require a $50 application fee. This fee will be charged to your student account upon submission of an online application.

University of Minnesota Student—apply

After you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received. Submitted applications are assigned an application checklist, which will include the following items:

1. Upon submitting the online application, you will receive an automated email message indicating your application was received.
2. Follow the instructions on your application checklist to submit all of the items. Your application is not considered complete until all items on your application checklist are either received or waived.
3. Complete the affiliate program's application requirements as applicable.
4. Your completed application is reviewed by our program team. If nominated for participation, the Learning Abroad Center contacts the affiliate's staff to notify them of your status.
5. You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email. If accepted, you will be assigned a confirmation checklist. Log in to the online application to review the confirmation checklist and submit the required items.
6. Do not pay the affiliate’s confirmation deposit. The affiliate accepts the Learning Abroad Center’s deposit as indication of confirmation. The Learning Abroad Center deposit is submitted by completing the Confirmation and Payment Agreement found on the confirmation checklist assigned to you.
7. If you decide not to continue with the application process, log in to the online application and submit a Cancel Request. You must also notify your affiliate of your cancellation.