No.  Some programs are available to you with no language requirement whatsoever.  Many other programs have language requirements of as few as two semesters.  Please review individual program pages with information regarding specific requirements.

Yes, you need to ask a Viterbi professor to submit a reference for your exchange application.

It is a simple survey form, not a letter.

While on exchange, you may take courses for major credit, specifically toward your CS Technical Electives.

• Only courses that align with your Computer Science Technical Elective requirements are eligible for major credit transfer
• Course equivalency must be reviewed and approved in advance — we recommend working with your academic advisor to confirm which specific overseas courses will count

You will continue to pay regular USC tuition for the semester(s) you're on exchange, just as if you were taking classes on campus.

• Your existing financial aid, scholarships, and grants continue to apply during your exchange semester
• This means your overall cost structure through USC remains largely unchanged

Separately from USC tuition, you are responsible for paying certain costs directly to your host/partner university, which may include:

• Housing/accommodation
• Health insurance fees (as required by the host country or institution)
• Other local fees specific to that university (e.g., student activity fees, lab fees)

These costs vary by school and country, so we recommend reviewing your specific host university's fee structure in advance and budgeting accordingly.

All students going abroad must have a passport, which should be valid for at least six months beyond the last day of their program. Before departing the US, you will also need to obtain a student visa from your host country’s consulate. Visa procedures are different for each country, and processing times can take as little as one day or as long as three months. Note that most consulates keep your passport while processing your visa, so you will not be able to travel outside of the US during that time. International students should keep in mind that visa procedures may differ from those of their US-citizen counterparts.  Once you have decided on a destination, look at the country’s consular website and familiarize yourself with student visa requirements.

For more information about visa requirements, you may also check in with the Office of International Services.