»Student Exchange Program

Chapman’s Student Exchange Program offers you the opportunity to study in Southern California while earning college credit. With a wide range of academic disciplines available, you can tailor your exchange experience to align with your interests.

This page has pre-arrival information, key dates and deadlines, and additional resources for incoming exchange students. Whether you’ve been accepted, nominated, or interested in attending, we look forward to welcoming you to the Chapman community!

Why study at Chapman?

Chapman is a nationally ranked private university that offers academic excellence and a vibrant campus life, making it an ideal choice for your exchange experience.

Here are just a few more reasons why Chapman stands out:

Chapman welcomes about 15 new exchange students each semester.
Approximately 10,000 undergraduate students in total.
12:1 student-to-teacher ratio (among the lowest in the United States).
Students can choose from over 100 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education.
Categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution.
Students learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors and Academy Award winners.
Home to 200+ student clubs and organizations, 20 athletic teams, and 5 intramural sports teams.
Conveniently located about 30 miles south of Los Angeles, 10 minutes from Disneyland, and 20 minutes from local beaches.

For information on why you should choose Chapman, visit our Student Life website.

Si-Hyun Kim

Exchange student from Korea University

"Embracing the cultural differences in the USA was challenging at first, but I soon fell in love with the community and academics at Chapman. My semester in California was unforgettable, with visits to local beaches and Disneyland. Despite initial homesickness, this journey was a chapter in my life that was completely worth it!”

Nomination and application process

Chapman will review nominated students through the Nomination Form during the application period.

Nominations are reviewed after the nomination deadline, and then students are preliminarily accepted.
Once accepted, you will be contacted with a link to complete Chapman’s application requirements.
- While completing the Chapman application, you can contact exchange@chapman.edu with any questions.
You will then arrive in Orange County, attend exchange student orientation, and study at Chapman for one semester or academic year.

Eligibility requirements

To qualify as an exchange student at Chapman, you must:

Meet the minimum language requirement: 80+ on TOEFL iBT or other demonstrated English proficiency.
Meet the minimum GPA: 3.0 (US 4.0 scale)
Be nominated by an eligible partner university or organization.

Important dates and deadlines

Key application dates and deadlines for exchange students are listed below:

Incoming Fall/AY Students

Fall 2025 Nomination Deadline: March 15, 2025
Fall 2025 Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
Fall 2025 Course Registration Period: mid-April
Fall 2025 Program Dates: August 19 - December 13
- Suggested Arrival Date: August 19, 2025
- Mandatory Exchange Orientation: August 20, 2025
- Classes start: August 25, 2025

Incoming Spring Students

Spring 2025 Nomination Deadline: October 1, 2024
Spring 2025 Application Deadline: November 1, 2024
Spring 2025 Course Registration Period: November 4 - 14
Spring 2025 Program Dates: January 28 - May 24
- Suggested Arrival Date: January 28, 2025
- Mandatory Exchange Orientation: January 30, 2025
- Classes start: February 3, 2025

Exchange Student Spotlight: Sonia Liu

Tune in to hear Sonia share her unique perspectives and experiences as a full-time student at Chapman following her journey from Soochow University in Taiwan.