The countries below are open to international students whose home university participates in International-to-International ISEP-Exchanges. Please refer to the list of participating institutions.
All international students may participate in ISEP-Direct programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, North & South America (regardless of whether or not their home university participates in International-to-International ISEP Exchanges). Please refer to ISEP-Direct Programs & Costs.
Language Choices & Requirements
The guidelines below list the language requirements for all sites. Most of the institutions where the language of instruction is not English offer intensive pre-session language programs or supplemental language courses during the academic year.
Institutions in Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as some institutions
that offer programs taught in English, require the Test of English as
a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or another comparable test of all international
applicants who are not native speakers of English.
Courses taught in English are also available in Austria, the Czech Republic,
Finland, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, South Africa, and Sweden.
| Argentina | Finland | Nicaragua |
| Austria | France | South Africa |
| Brazil | Germany | Spain |
| Canada | Italy | Sweden |
| Chile | Japan | Switzerland |
| Czech Republic | Korea | United Kingdom |
| Denmark | Mexico | Uruguay |
| Estonia | Netherlands |
ARGENTINA
Academic calendar: March to July; July to November/December
Language of instruction: Spanish
Language proficiency requirements: LPR; good command of Spanish language required (minimum of 4-5 semesters of university-level Spanish). Salvador offers an ISEP-Direct Intensive Spanish Program (PEI) for students at the beginner level, who have taken no more than 3 semesters of Spanish.
Chances of placement: Córdoba and Salvador: very limited. Palermo: closed for 08-09. The number of applicants significantly exceeds the number of openings; each institution is asked to nominate only one candidate for one semester for each of these institutions. Students should consider the ISEP-Direct option.
AUSTRIA
Academic calendar: Late September to late January; late February to late June
Language of instruction: German
Both Graz and TU Graz offer a substantial number of courses taught in English and will accept students with little or no prior German language knowledge - provided students can find enough courses taught in English in their field of study. Students with no prior German are required to enroll in a pre-exchange intensive German language course.
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; minimum 1 year of German language training
Chances of placement: Graz – Excellent; TU Graz - Good
BRAZIL
Academic calendar: Early March to mid-July; early August to mid-December
Language of instruction: Portuguese
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; minimum 4 semesters university-level Portuguese language, or advanced-level Spanish. PUC-Rio offers a joint Portuguese-English Program (semester-long) for students with little or no Portuguese. FAAP offers an Extensive Portuguese Language Program (semester-long) for students with little or no Portuguese.
Chances of placement: PUC-Rio: very limited, consider the ISEP-Direct option; FAAP: limited.
CANADA
Academic calendar: Early September to December; early January to April
Language of instruction: English and French
Language proficiency requirement: Applicants who are not native English speakers and who plan to study in English must submit a minimum TOEFL of 550 (213 CBT) or an IELTS (Brock: 7; Laurentian: 6.5).
Chances of placement: The number of applicants significantly exceeds the number of openings. Each institution is asked to nominate no more than one candidate for Canada. Consider the ISEP-Direct option at Laurentian.
CHILE
Academic calendar: March to July; July to November/December
Language of instruction: Spanish
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; good command of Spanish language required (minimum 5 semesters of university-level Spanish)
Chances of placement:At PUC Valparaíso, the number of applicants exceeds the number of openings. Each institution is asked to nominate only one candidate for one semester. Consider the ISEP-Direct option. At Universidad Católica del Norte, chance of placement is fair to good.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Academic calendar: September to December; February to May
Language of instruction: English
Language proficiency requirement: LPR
Chances of placement: The number of students applying is expected to be higher than the number of available openings.
DENMARK
Academic calendar:Late August to mid to late November; Early February to mid May
Language of instruction: English and Danish
Language proficiency requirement: LPR
Chances of placement: Good chance of placement.
ESTONIA
Academic calendar: September to December with examinations in January; February to May with examinations in June.
Language of instruction: English, Estonian and Russian
Language proficiency requirement: LPR
Chances of placement: Good chance of placement. ISEP-Direct January-term program After Empire: The Collapse of Communism and Beyond
FINLAND
Academic calendar: Early September to late December; early January to May
Language of instruction: English and Finnish
Language proficiency requirement: LPR, TOEFL (550 paper/213 CBT), or IELTS
Chances of placement:Good chance of placement. Consider University of Kuopio, University of Joensuu, University of Tampere, University of Jyväskylä, and University of Oulu.
FRANCE
Academic calendar: Mid-September/mid-October to late January; late January to May/June
Language of instruction: French
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; minimum 2-3 years French language training
Chances of placement: Limited. At most sites, the demand for
placement exceeds the number of places available. Contact program officer
for further information.
French Advising Chart for International Students 
GERMANY
Academic calendar: Early October to February; late March to July
Language of instruction: German
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; minimum 2-3 years German language training for immersion. Dortmund and Trier can accommodate advanced beginners - minimum of 1-2 semesters of German language - through a combination of additional language support and courses taught in English
Chances of placement:Trier and Dortmund - Excellent, Hannover and Marburg - Good but competitive
ITALY
Academic calendar: Early, mid and late September to mid and late February; early and mid February to late June and late July.
Language of instruction: Italian (English and Italian at Sacro Cuore)
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; minimum 4 semesters Italian language. Joint English and Italian Language Program at Sacro Cuore for advanced beginners and low intermediate.
Chances of placement: Pavia-Very Limited; Sacro Cuore-Excellent; Trieste-Limited; Urbino-Fairly Good. Chances of placement on Direct at Pavia and Urbino: Excellent.
JAPAN
Academic calendar:
Chukyo: April to December (full year) [and April to July]
*Applications for the academic year beginning in April 2009, are due
November 1, 2008
Kansai Gaidai & Nanzan: August/September to December; January to
May
*Kansai Gaidai – one semester placements only
*Nanzan – one semester placements and limited full year placements
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University: October to January; April to July
Language of instruction:
Chukyo: Japanese
Kansai Gaidai & Nanzan: English
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University: English and Japanese
Language Proficiency Requirement:
Chukyo: LPR and statement of purpose in English and Japanese; 2 years
Japanese language background recommended
Kansai Gaidai & Nanzan: LPR for English and Japanese
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University: TOEFL
Chances of placement: The demand for placement in Japan significantly
exceeds the number of places available; however, students have a good chance of placement at Chukyo. Students must have a strong
academic record, as well as a demonstrable interest in Japan. Exchange
space fills during the February placement round, therefore, SM2 applicants
should apply by February 1.
KOREA
Academic calendar: Late August to December; late January to June
Language of instruction: English and Korean
Language proficiency requirement: LPR, TOEFL, or IELTS
Chances of placement: Chance of placement is good at Korea and Yonsei Universities and excellent at Ajou, Ewha Womans and Keimyung Universities.
MEXICO
Academic calendar: Late July/August to December; mid/late January to late May/June
Guidelines: Semester placements only at ITESM (see "chances of placement" below)
Language of instruction: Spanish
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; intermediate Spanish level required
Chances of placement: Excellent.
NETHERLANDS
Academic calendar: Early September to January; early/late January to (late) June
Language of instruction: English and Dutch
Language proficiency requirement: LPR, TOEFL, or IELTS
Chances of placement: Very Limited
NICARAGUA
Academic calendar: Late February to June; early August to December
Language of instruction: Spanish
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; minimum 2-3 years Spanish language training
Chances of placement: Excellent
SOUTH AFRICA
Academic calendar: Observes the Southern Hemisphere Calendar. Late January to late June; mid-July to mid-December
Language of instruction: English, Afrikaans
Language proficiency requirement: LPR or TOEFL if native language is not English
Chances of placement: Exchange—Limited, ISEP-Direct—Excellent
SPAIN
Academic calendar: October to February; February to late June
Guidelines: Apply in February for best chances of placement
Language of instruction: Spanish (some sites also offer courses taught in regional languages)
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; for non-native speakers, a minimum of 6 semesters of Spanish (or the equivalent) must be completed before departure
Chances of placement: Chance of placement is good at Navarra and limited at Almería and Málaga.
SWEDEN
Academic calendar: Mid-August to December/mid-January; mid-January to late May/early June
Language of instruction: English and Swedish
Language proficiency requirement: LPR or TOEFL
Chances of placement: Very limited chance of placement.
SWITZERLAND
Academic calendar: SM1: September-December (Fribourg)/January (Bern); SM2: February-June
Language of instruction: French and German
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; minimum 2-3 years French or German language training
Chances of placement: Limited. At most sites, the demand for placement exceeds the number of places available. Contact program officer for further information.
French Advising Chart for International Students
UNITED KINGDOM
Academic calendar: Late September to December/January; February to early/mid-June
Language of instruction: English
Language proficiency requirement: LPR, TOEFL, or IELTS
Chances of placement: There are no exchange openings in the UK. Consider the ISEP-Direct programs.
URUGUAY
Academic calendar: Early March to July; late July to November
Language of instruction: Spanish
Language proficiency requirement: LPR; minimum 4 semesters Spanish language training
Chances of placement: Good. ISEP-Direct is also an option