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San Francisco State University

World-class academics, a diverse campus and an incredible location are three top reasons students pick San Francisco State University.

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About Location Campus Accommodation Student Experience Route to University

San Francisco State University

Located in the city of San Francisco across two campuses, San Francisco State University (SF State) is one of the most desirable places to study in America. In a globally influential city that’s also home to some of the world’s biggest tech companies, our students have the chance to build the connections and experience that will transform their careers.

SF State students frequently go on to outstanding careers in film, business, the law, medical science, education, entertainment, and the tech industry – with a significant number also heading to local companies such as Apple, Google, Wells Fargo and Oracle.

At the heart of this success are market leading departments like our Business faculty (top 5% nationwide – AACSB accredited (only applied to top 5% courses) and film school. With 21 Pulitzer Prizes, 49 Emmy and 16 Oscar winners and NASA astronauts among our alumni, our students know that with hard work, success can be theirs too.

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1600 Holloway Ave. San Francisco, CA 94132

Features and Benefits

Top 20

Colleges nationwide for best location (niche.com)

27,000

Students from all over the world

1,800

Academic staff

200+

On-campus student clubs

21 Pulitzer Prize

Winners among SF State alumni

16

Academy Award winners among alumni

San Francisco

Long known for its eclectic culture and diversity, San Francisco is a place where international students can feel very much at home. Due to its relatively small size, the city is also easy to get around, and cycling is a very popular method of transport.

Iconic sights such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown will be the backdrop to your university life. Stroll the streets of Downtown, relax in Golden Gate Park and nearby Lake Merced, or check out the famous San Francisco Zoo – the possibilities are endless.

Studying in San Francisco arguably brings you closer to the heart of the global tech industry than anywhere else in the world. The city itself is the home of Twitter, Airbnb, Uber and Lyft, but it is also within easy reach of Silicon Valley, where the headquarters of Apple, Facebook, Google and Adobe can be found. SF State students are often able to find internships or employment with these (or similar) companies when they graduate.

In other fields, San Francisco is also home to 30 international financial institutions and six Fortune 500 companies, as well as being a national hub for marketing, design and biotechnology. Whatever your skills and abilities, you’ll have the chance to start a great career.

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Campus

SF State is ideally situated in uniquely beautiful areas of San Francisco. The main campus is located just east of Lake Merced, a quiet and picturesque area of the city with acres of parkland for relaxation.

Campus - Key Information
  • It’s 30 minutes direct between campuses on Muni (public transit).
  • All classes are delivered on the main SF State campus.
  • SF State main campus is located in a safe, quiet corner of San Francisco just 1.6 km from the Pacific Ocean.

Mashouf Wellness Center

Mashouf Wellness Center facility includes a mix of social and recreational spaces: a two-court gym, a large multi-purpose activities court (MAC), pools for both competitive and recreational swimming, a spa, cardio / fitness areas, a running track, a lounge, and meeting rooms.

Accommodation

Students can choose from a range of three accommodation options, all offering a supportive environment and access to resources.

Homestay

StudentRoomStay
We welcome international students and encourage students to live in personally matched homes with local families to get a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience. We provide students with a welcoming family and a place to call home while pursuing their education. SRS Concierge specializes in providing safe, easy and world-class homestay experiences.

Living on-campus

Residents of SF State have described living on campus as a rewarding and enjoyable experience. SF State is positioned in an ideal San Francisco area—residents are within close proximity to public transportation and bike routes. SF State Housing offers move-in ready, pre-furnished bedrooms and unfurnished bedrooms, which allows residents to bring their own furniture.

For students 19 and under, SF State has residence halls with bath and apartment-style 1 – 3 bedroom/ 1-2 bathroom units.

For students 19 and over, SF State has a wide array of low- and high-rise apartment-style housing ranging from 1 –4 bedrooms/ 1-2 bathroom apartments.

Information about housing can be found here.

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Key Features & Amenities

Social spaces

Network of support staff

Sports facilities

Community dining spaces available

Free Wi-Fi Access

Student Experience

As an inclusive, diverse university, SF State students will have a strong support network as they embark on their higher education.

Known for being one of the most diverse colleges in America, SF State is bound to make international students feel at home. It is also part of the California State University system, meaning it offers low tuition fees for overseas students.

Whatever your interests, you can find a sports club for you at SF State. Options range from Jiu Jitsu and volleyball to indoor basketball and swimming. Students also run more than 200 clubs from politics to religious organisations.

Accommodation spread out across two campuses means you have access to both quiet, green spaces and the buzz of the city.

There is a big focus on what comes after your studies. SF State students frequently go on to pursue careers in film, business, law, entertainment and the tech industry. A significant number also had to local companies such as Apple, Google, Wells Fargo and Oracle.

27,000

Students on campus

144-acre

Campus

Strong links

With industry

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200+ clubs and societies mean students can choose to learn and practice Jiu Jitsu, volleyball, indoor basketball and swimming. They also run clubs from politics to religious organisations.

SF State offers students the opportunity to live and breathe the air of the world’s most popular city for technology start-ups. Apple, Twitter and Google are all headquartered in and around the city.

Your Route to this University

The International Year One program gives students the opportunity to ease into the US university way of life.

The University Pathway Program is designed for students with an IELTS score of 5.0+. This program allows students to take credit-bearing SF State general education courses alongside additional academic and English language courses. The carefully selected credit-bearing courses allow first-year students to discover new topics and further explore already strong subjects. Once International Year One is completed, students proceed directly to their second year of degree study at SF State.

We also offer a Pre-Sessional English Program for students with an IELTS entry of 4.0-4.5, which helps to enhance the comprehension and usage of the English language and academic skills required for university-level studies. After successfully completing the assigned Pre-Sessional term(s), students will progress to the International Year One Pathway Program (IY1). Upon successful completion of IY1, students will be admitted to SF State.

Your route to SF State

Study Routes

Degree Courses

After the International Year One at San Francisco students can progress for over 84 degree courses at the University.

Discover all degrees available

Supporting students to success

Learn more about what our students have to say when studying across our education network.

As DMUIC is situated in England’s most vibrant and multicultural city, I had the opportunity to make friends from different countries. The most amazing thing was that the DMUIC staff including all teachers and the office persons were very motivational and welcoming. They provide the best routes for study to every individual.”

Syed Asim Pakistan , De Montfort University International College (DMUIC)

I’ve enjoyed studying at DMUIC, the tutors are excellent and have helped me settle into life as a university student. They are also really supportive and have helped myself and other students with other issues outside of the classroom such as accommodation.

Nafisa Bangladesh , De Montfort University International College (DMUIC)

I have successfully progressed onto my degree course at the University of Bradford because of UBIC's reliable policies and teaching programme. To the new students, those who just started their foundation at Bradford International College, I must say you are going to pass the class, the only thing required is your attention and leave the rest on UBIC's staff because they are the one that are going to lead you to a brilliant future as it is a pathway to success.

Shoaib Pakistan , University of Bradford International College

I have a lot of international friends here at BUIC, and I’ve learnt so much from them. There is always a lot to do together both on and off-campus.

Sagar Nepal , Bangor University International College (BUIC)

I would recommend UGIC because it is based on the main University of Greenwich campus, a cosmopolitan university. At UGIC, there are students from all around the world, and I've made a lot of friends from exciting places."

Gozel Turkmenistan , University of Greenwich International College

I think one of the main reasons the IIM (pre-masters) has been so helpful is because the staff are so supportive and are always able to help me. Whether it is understanding a module or finding out how to sort accommodation, they will help you with everything. I’ve enjoyed studying at Bangor, the people are friendly, and the environment is also really peaceful and safe. It’s given me the best opportunity to succeed in my studies here in the UK.

Tong Tong China , Bangor University International College (BUIC)