Program Structure & Fees

Global Seminars are an exciting and rewarding way to study away with Stanford University. Taught and led by Stanford faculty, these programs are specifically designed to integrate course content and program location.

Program Structure

Global Seminars are 2-4 week programs during the summer.  Program locations and course topics change every year. Each seminar is a 2-unit course.

Each seminar is limited to 15-20 students. As determined by each faculty leader, the grading basis is either mandatory satisfactory/no credit (S/NC) or mandatory letter grade.

Program Cost

Students pay a highly subsidized program fee based on the length of the program. This fee covers only a small part of the total costs and may increase in the future. Students are only charged the program fee and not per-unit tuition. The current program fees are:

Financial Assistance

At BOSP, we are committed to making global learning opportunities accessible to all students, regardless of financial circumstances. Approximately half of Global Seminar participants receive financial assistance. Financial need does not impact admission decisions—every applicant is automatically considered for financial support, which includes a program fee waiver and a travel grant.

Students with demonstrated financial need, as determined by the Financial Aid Office, will be notified of their eligibility for a program fee waiver of up to 100%. BOSP provides financial assistance details well before the withdrawal deadline, ensuring students can make informed decisions. Additionally, students receiving a Federal Pell Grant may qualify for further federal funding, as determined by the Financial Aid Office.

Expectations and Preparation

All program participants are required to attend the entire program from the scheduled arrival date/time through the scheduled departure date/time. Before their programs, BOSP and Faculty Leaders conduct a series of mandatory orientation sessions, which include an online orientation module and an in-person orientation in Spring Quarter. Some Faculty Leaders may also offer a required pre-program course and/or additional meetings. The "Quick Facts" section of the program-specific web pages lists a complete list of academic prerequisites.

Activity Level

The activity level of Global Seminars varies depending on the location and academic focus. You can find more information about the activity level for your program(s) of interest in the "Quick Facts" section of the program-specific webpage. If you have questions about the activity level for a specific program, please contact a BOSP Program Manager.

• Light: Activities may include city walking tours, easy/short hikes, museum, and other site visits
• Light/Moderate: Activities may include city walking tours, easy/short hikes, museum and other site visits as well as an occasional physical activity such as snorkeling, hiking, or kayaking.
• Moderate: Participants should expect to spend multiple hours each day engaging in physical activity such as hiking or snorkeling.
• Moderate/Strenuous: Participants should expect to spend multiple hours engaging in physical activity such as hiking or snorkeling. Some days might require more physical activity such as a full day or snorkeling or hiking on steep terrain.
• Strenuous: Activities may include full-day hikes (sometimes at high altitude and on steep terrain that may or may not be exposed) or full-day kayaking excursions or other physical activities.

• Extremely Strenuous: Activities will include full-day hikes at high altitude and on steep, exposed terrain or full-day kayaking excursions or other physical activities.

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Program Modification and Cancellation

Stanford reserves the right to cancel or modify the Program before or during its operation for any reason, including natural disasters, emergencies, low enrollment, unavailability of facilities or personnel, or compliance with the University's International Travel Policy.