- Students from ISEP Member institutions are invited to apply for ISEP-Exchange and ISEP-Direct programs. Students from Affiliate institutions are welcome to apply for ISEP-Direct programs. Check the Directory to be sure your university is a Member or Affiliate.
- enrolled and in good academic standing at an ISEP member or affiliate institution
- have completed at least one academic year of university coursework
- minimum GPA of 2.75 for most sites
- have the personal maturity needed to study abroad
- additional criteria may be set by your home university
- Make an appointment with the ISEP Coordinator or Office of Study Abroad. Your university may also have an information session you can attend. The ISEP Coordinator is your primary contact with ISEP and will advise you on all aspects of the program.
- Make an appointment with your academic advisor to see what courses you need to take abroad. You will need to carefully research courses on the host institution's website and complete a Course Request List for each school on your Host Site Request List. Once you have been placed, you will receive more specific course information and schedules. It is your responsibility to know about your home institution's policies regarding transfer credit gained abroad; talk to your ISEP Coordinator and academic advisor for details and requirements.
- Download the appropriate ISEP application (left). You can type in your answers in the blanks or print the application to complete later. Please note that if you type in your answers, it is not possible to save and continue later in a PDF.
| Eligibility
Requirements
|
| Components of the ISEP Application | |
|---|---|
| Submit original of the following: | |
| Application Checklist | Use as a cover sheet when you turn in your application |
| Official transcripts | From each college or university attended. Do not open! |
| Application/Placement Fee | See ISEP-Exchange or ISEP-Direct and ISEP Coordinator |
| Submit original and a photocopy of the following: | |
| Participant Profile | General student information and terms |
| Host Site Request List | List of your preferred ISEP sites abroad |
| Language Proficiency report | Evaluation of your language skills by your home university |
| Educational History form | International students only; description of past studies |
| Personal Statements | Two 250-word short answer essays |
| 2 Academic References | Completed by two professors |
| Course Request Lists | List of courses requested at each host site requested |
| 2 Photocopies of Passport | Make two legible copies of the identification page of your passport, if available. If you have not yet obtained a passport, please submit copies when available. |
- US Students: Check the Sites
Open for Applications on the ISEP website to make sure your
requested host universities are still available.
International Students applying for USA: Check the US Anticipated Openings list to ensure that the sites you have chosen have plenty of openings. Important: If you apply for a Restricted site, it must be listed as your first choice; you are only permitted to apply for ONE Restricted site.
International Students applying to International sites: Check the Sites Open Outside the USA to make sure your requested host universities are still available. - Check the host university’s information in the Directory for Special ISEP Application Instructions for your requested sites to make sure there are no additional requirements or early deadlines.
- Check the Language Requirements in the Directory descriptions for requested sites and submit the appropriate language proficiency test scores if required.
- US students: For priority consideration,
apply by February 1 for programs beginning in July, August or September
and by September 1 for programs beginning in January, February or
March. ISEP accepts applications after these dates; some sites
are filled early, but other openings remain. Your university
will likely have an internal deadline that is slightly before this
date, so be sure to check with the ISEP Coordinator.
International students: For priority consideration, apply by February 15 for programs beginning in July, August or September and by September 1 for programs beginning in January, February or March. Your university will likely have an internal deadline that is slightly before this date, so be sure to check with the ISEP Coordinator. ISEP accepts applications after these dates, but openings are limited.
Summer programs, all students: May 1 unless otherwise noted. - Submit your application, transcripts, and application fee directly to your on-campus ISEP Coordinator. Do not mail your application to ISEP. Students are usually notified on the status of their application 6-8 weeks after it is received at the ISEP Central office. Read about the Placement Process for details.
- While waiting to hear about the status of your ISEP placement, you can prepare by getting your passport, researching visa requirements, and learning more about your host country. The Country Handbook is a great place to start! You can also talk to other students on your campus that have been abroad or visiting international students to get advice. Also, see the Preparing to Go Checklist.