Host University Brochure 2025

Your

Partner for Visiting Students

Study Abroad Foundation Headquarters 33 W. Monroe St., Suite 2300 Chicago, IL 60603 United States of America

This is dedicated to you—for your commitment to developing the next generation of global leaders with the Study Abroad Foundation

Photo: Dalhousie University

ABOUT US

In 2017, SAF joined forces with IES Abroad, bringing together two of the most highly regarded notfor-profit providers in international education. U.S.-based IES Abroad, holds 75 years of leadership in study abroad and internships and has helped over 130,000 students study abroad.

Today, from our U.S. headquarters and our global offices in China, Japan, and Korea, we partner with 170+ institutions worldwide and welcome more than 1,300+ students annually on over 145 programs.

WELCOME TO SAF

For two decades, SAF has changed lives by introducing promising young minds to the best international programming available. As a U.S. not-for-profit, we have established an exceptional network of the world’s most preeminent educational institutions, with over 30 academic centers in all corners of the globe, from Rome to Cape Town, Nagoya to the Galapagos Islands.

Our mission is to transform today’s top students into the next generation of global leadership, through opportunity and immersive overseas experiences that equip them for the challenges of tomorrow.

Study abroad CHANGES LIVES. And changed lives CHANGE THE WORLD.

As a former study abroad student myself, I firmly believe in the power of international education, and its ability to help individuals reach their full potential to become the global leaders of tomorrow. We provide that opportunity, bridging scholars from around the world with a prestigious network of university members spanning the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Asia.

Discover what possibilities our long-standing partnerships could present you with, by exploring our global opportunities.

Dr. Gregory D. Hess President & CEO

EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT COOPERATION

A pioneer in the field, SAF was among the first to recognize that fully preparing and supporting visiting non-degree students—while critical in achieving internationalization goals—could burden hosting institutions’ human and financial resources. As a result, we offer sophisticated enrollment management services that dramatically reduce hosting institutions’ time, costs and efforts related to recruitment and enrollment of visiting non-degree students.

The Study Abroad Foundation sends students to us on a regular basis and we always feel the students are well-supported throughout their study journey. It’s a pleasure to work with the staff at SAF who are responsive, flexible, and friendly in their approach. We value our relationship highly.

Lisa Morgan

Assistant Dean, International and Specialized Programs, University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

We have worked with SAF since 2015, and have been impressed with how well-prepared the students joining us through the Foundation have been. SAF staff have also always been helpful and responsive whenever we have contacted them.

Stephanie Nixon

International Programmes Officer, University of Manchester

Working with SAF is very easy because they are very professional and they perfectly know the market and their job. The staff of SAF is very efficient, kind, supportive and attentive to the students and the partners. It’s a real pleasure to work with SAF. Thank you for everything!

Florence Plessis

Directrice du Centre International D’Etudes Françaises, Université Catholique de l’Ouest

HOW IT WORKS

Recruitment

Knowledgeable staff based in our offices in Asia and the United States learn your institution’s mission, culture and initiatives to provide you with qualified students from our top tier Network.

Advising

Expert advisors help SAF Scholars determine the programs that best suit their academic qualifications and interests in order to support our students’ success in the classroom.

Applying

Students apply to SAF and we ensure their applications are complete and accurate before delivering them to you. Our application and visa preparation support ensures your admissions officers receive complete applications on time, every time.

Payment

We collect tuition and fees directly from our students and remit payment on their behalf directly to your institution’s financial office, simplifying the payment process.

Housing

We work efficiently with student-centered housing providers to secure for SAF Scholars appropriate housing that is on or close to campus.

Health & Safety

We require international health insurance, and we provide 24/7 emergency assistance for our students, easing the burden on your staff.

Acclimate

We host cross-cultural predeparture orientations in Asia to ready SAF Scholars for the academic and campus culture of your university.

Integrate

We host on-site cultural activities each semester for SAF Scholars to help our students quickly adapt to life on your campus and fully engage in and contribute to the broader university community.

SAF SCHOLARS: MEETING YOUR QUALIFICATIONS, EXCEEDING YOUR EXPECTATIONS

As hosting institutions welcome increasing numbers of international students, they’re fielding questions as to whether these students can measure up to academic demands. SAF Scholars hail from top universities in Asia, and our expert staff evaluate our applicants to ensure they meet your specific academic requirements.

3.25/4.0

average GPA of SAF applicants the combined number of China’s Project 985 and 211 universities that are Members of our Network

25% of scholars hail from Asia’s top 20 universities as ranked by Times Higher Education World University Rankings

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

average TOEFL iBT of SAF applicants

feel their language skills improved because of their study abroad experience

FUTURE FOCUSED

60%

of scholars from China

approach study abroad as a way to enhance competitiveness for graduate applications

40%

approach study abroad

as a way to improve language competence

75%

believe their study abroad experience

will benefit them in future academic pursuits

80%

feel their study abroad experience

allows them to develop knowledge and skills that will benefit them in their future careers

Source:

PROMOTING YOUR PROGRAMS

Institutions can’t always commit the resources they would like to promoting their visiting student programs abroad.

We work with you to identify existing programs to grow with SAF Scholars or customize programs to improve our ability to effectively recruit students for you.

With our global offices and expert knowledge of Asia, here are some of the ways we effectively partner with you:

Continually develop, evaluate and support our invitation-only Network of top universities in Asia that connect us with highly qualified students

Produce marketing materials in the local language

Host and attend on-campus seminars and study abroad fairs in Asia

Cultivate ongoing relationships with government officials, scholarship programs and esteemed university faculty in Asia

Organize Professional Development Programs (PDPs) comprised of host campus tours and information sessions to acquaint our partners in Asia with your university and better facilitate enrollment

Engage in social media marketing on Asia-specific platforms

Delegates from the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) at NAFSA 2024

OUR PROGRAM TYPES

Academic Programs

Working across our university consortium, enroll in term-based undergraduate or graduate courses and be assessed on the same basis as degree-seeking students.

Generally for full credit

Concurrent Programs

Students who don’t quite meet the language requirements for a regular Academic program can enroll in a combination of academic and language courses through a Concurrent Program.

Generally for partial credit

Language Standalone Programs

Students with any level of language proficiency can study abroad. SAF partners exclusively with university campus language centers to offer language courses designed to improve proficiency.

Generally non-credit

Language Pathway Programs

Students aspiring toward a for-credit study abroad program who don’t yet meet language requirements can take a language pathway program before progressing to for-credit study in the following semester.

Generally non-credit, leading into a full credit semester

Summer Programs

Enroll in a summer session at an SAF partner university. Tailored specifically for international students, summer programs often include pre-arranged extra-curricular activities.

Generally for full credit

Research Programs

Working in partnership with host university faculty, our students enjoy participation in a dedicated research effort during the academic session.

Generally for full credit

Internship Programs

Working with a limited number of quality partners, SAF facilitates professional internship placements to enable students to apply their learning in the real world.

Generally for full credit

Academic Study Tour Programs

SAF facilitates short-term, customized academic programs across IES Abroad locations and our university consortium.

Generally non-credit

GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS

Global

QUITO

BUENOS AIRES

SANTIAGO

In association with: SAF Host Universities IES Abroad Centers

Program locations

RABAT

CAPE TOWN

SYDNEY

BRISBANE

SEOUL

NAGOYA TOKYO

AUCKLAND

CHRISTCHURCH

DUNEDIN

HISTORY

The Study Abroad Foundation, also known as SAF, originated in 2000 when a group of international educators came together to open the world of study abroad to students from Asia.

Established as a U.S. non-profit organization with an independent board of directors, the Study Abroad Foundation has held at its core a vision to provide high-quality study abroad opportunities and personal support for university students. These efforts have taken us across the globe, with sstudents from Brunei, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, and Singapore benefiting from the experiences we develop.

The Study Abroad Foundation earned a reputation for excellence amongst universities in the United States, leading to partnership development, throughout the 2000s, in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Our ambitions to provide world-class international opportunities prompted in 2017 the Study Abroad Foundation’s merger with the leading study abroad provider in the United States, IES Abroad, ushering in a new era of pioneering and innovation.

Today, we lead the field of study abroad.

SAF AS PART OF IES GLOBAL

SA F

SAF is a part of IES Global, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Chicago in the United States. SAF operates offices in China, Japan, and Korea.

IES Global is overseen by an independent board of directors—a group of elite business and academic leaders in their field—and is held to the highest U.S. government transparency and ethical business standards.

The Study Abroad Foundation specializes in educational services, including the administration of study abroad programs, academic advising and assistance in choosing programs, assisting with arrangements for participation, and facilitating transcripts of overseas academic program credits.

■ In merging with SAF in 2017, IES Global identified a number of synergies between the organizations:

■ Two similarly mission-driven organizations focused on high quality academic and internship programming, and thoughtful preparation of our students for intercultural experiences.

Everything we do is about the student. We’re a passionate team of study abroad professionals who believe in creating once-in-a-lifetime educational adventures that transcend expectations. We believe every student should have the opportunity to go abroad in an enriching, safe, and superior academic and cultural environment.

St ud y Abroa d Foun da ti on

AN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY NETWORK

SENDING

UNIVERSITIES

CHINA

Beijing Forestry University

Beijing Institute of Technology

Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture

Capital Normal University

Capital University of Economics and Business

Central China Normal University

Changchun Guanghua University

China University of Mining and Technology

China University of Petroleum

Communication University of China

Dalian Maritime University

Dalian University of Technology

Dongbei University of Finance and Economics

Donghua University

East China University of Political Science and Law

Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University

Fujian Normal University

Fujian University of Technology

Fuzhou Unviersity

Guangdong University of Foreign Studies

Guangzhou College of Technology

Hunan University

Inner Mongolia University

Jiangnan University

Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics

Jiangsu Second Normal University

Jimei University

Jinan University

Lanzhou University

Nanchang Hangkong University

Nanchang University

Nanjing University of Science and Technology

Nanjing Unvierity of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Nankai University

North Electric Power University

Northeast Normal University

Northeastern University

Northwestern Polytech university

Ocean University of China

Qingdao University of Science and Technology

Shaanxi Normal University

Shanghai Maritime University

Shanghai Normal University

Shanxi Medical University

Shenzhen University

Soochow University

South China University of Technology

Southeast University

Southwest Unviersity

Tianjin University

Tongji University

University of Electrical Science & Technology in China

University of International Business & Economics

University of Science &Technology Beijing

Wenzhou University of Technology

Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University

Xi’an Shiyou University

Xi’an University of Posts & Telecommunications

Xiamen Institute of Technology

Xiamen University

Xiamen University of Technology

Zhejiang International Studies University

JAPAN

Aichi Prefectural University

Aichi Prefectural University of the Arts

Aoyama Gakuin University

Asia University

Chiba University

Chiba University of Commerce

Chukyo University

Chuo University

Doshisha University

Eikei University of Hiroshima

Ferris University

Fukuoka Women’s University (FWU)

Future University Hakodate (FUN)

Gakushuin University (Faculty of International Social Sciences)

Japan Women’s University

Juntendo University

Kanda University of International Studies

Keio University

Komazawa University

Konan University - Hirao School of Management

Konan Women’s University

Kwansei Gakuin University

Kyoto University of Foreign Studies

Meiji Gakuin University (Department of International Business)

Meiji University

Musashi University

Nanzan University

Nara Women’s University

Nihon University

Ochanomizu University

Okinawa International University

Osaka University of Economics

Otemon Gakuin University

Prefectural University of Kumamoto

Rikkyo University

Rikkyo University (College of Intercultural Communication)

Ryukoku University

Sapporo City University

Seinan Gakuin University

Shigakkan University

Shinshu University

Showa Women’s University

Soka University

Sophia University

Takushoku University

Tamagawa University

Teikyo University

Tohoku Gakuin University

Tokyo University of Science

Tokyo Woman’s Christian University

Toyo University

Waseda University

ZEN University

KOREA

Busan University of Foreign Studies

Catholic University of Korea

Chonnam National University

Chung-Ang University

Chungbuk National University

Chungnam National University

Dankook University

Dongduk Women’s University

Duksung Women’s University

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Hanyang University

Hongik University

Incheon National University & SONAS

Inha University

Jeju National University

Kangwon National University

Kongju National University

Kookmin University

HOSTING UNIVERSITIES

ASIA

Japan

Nanzan University*

Korea

Hanyang University

Yonsei University

CANADA

Dalhousie University

University of Calgary

University of Toronto

University of Victoria

EUROPE

France

École Normale de Musique de Paris / Alfred Cortot*

Institut Catholique de Paris*

SKEMA Business School*

Université Catholique de L’Ouest

Université Paris-Sorbonne, Paris IV*

Germany

University of Leipzig

Ireland

Dublin City University

Trinity College Dublin*

University of Limerick

Spain

Universidad de León

Universidad de Salamanca*

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona*

Universitat de Barcelona*

Universitat de Vic*

Universitat Pompeu Fabra*

Universitat Ramon Llull*

The Netherlands

Universiteit van Amsterdam*

OCEANIA

Australia

University of New South Wales*

University of Queensland

Korea Aerospace University

Korea National University of Heritage

Korea University

Kwangwoon University

Kyungpook National University

Myeongji University

Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)

Pusan National University

Sangmyung University

Seoul National University

Seoul National University of Science and Technology

Seoul Women’s University

Sogang University

Sookmyung Women’s University

Soongsil University

Sun Moon University

Sungkyunkwan University

University of Seoul

Yeungnam University

Yonsei University

New Zealand

University of Otago

UNITED KINGDOM

City St. George’s, University of London*

London Contemporary Dance School*

London School of Economics

Queen Mary, University of London*

University College London

University of Bristol

University of Cambridge, Pembroke-King’s College*

University of Edinburgh

University of Glasgow

University of Manchester

University of Oxford, St. Anne’s College

University of Oxford, Lady Margaret Hall

University of the Arts London

University of Westminster

UNITED STATES

American University

American University, Washington Semester Program

Arizona State University

California State University, Long Beach

California State University, San Marcos

Columbia University

Cornell University

Johns Hopkins University

Michigan State University

San Jose State University

University of Arkansas

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, San Diego

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of Hawaii Hilo

University of Mississippi

University of Montana

University of Oregon

University of Pennsylvania

■ Access prestigious universities

■ Tailored program offerings

■

33 W. Monroe St., Suite 2300 Chicago, IL 60603 United States

Tel: +1 317-925-2943 info@safabroad.org