School for Field Studies Costa Rica

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 consist of:

• Online Health & Safety Orientation. This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory.
• LAC Affiliate Orientation (live Zoom session). UofM-specific information will be covered (academic planning, finances, etc.). Details on the LAC affiliate orientation will be sent to you via email.
• Affiliate Provider Orientation. This orientation will cover program-specific information. Your affiliate provider will invite you to a pre-departure orientation leading up to your departure.

Understand it is your responsibility to review the information shared at these orientations.

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

You will be billed approximately $2/day for your international health insurance.

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.

You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.

Apply Now

If your program and term does not appear in the drop-down list of available programs, select ‘SFS—Other Programs Not Listed Here’ and complete the application item ‘Affiliate Program Information’ found in your application checklist.

In addition to completing the LAC application, submit to School for Field Studies (SFS):

• School for Field Studies (SFS) Online Application

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

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 admission decision by email. If admitted, 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.