A: ISEP is a worldwide network for international education, consisting of 265 member universities in the United States and 35 other countries. ISEP is a nonprofit membership organization providing affordable study abroad and exchange options for over 1,800 students each year.

Each ISEP member university designates a staff member to be the ISEP Coordinator. Your on-campus ISEP Coordinator will advise you and help you through the application and placement process. There will also be ISEP Coordinator at the host university who will help with your academic and housing arrangements, provide an on-site orientation, and serve as your local resource.

The ISEP Staff in Washington, DC evaluate students’ applications, make placements, and facilitates the exchange process by serving as the communication link between the ISEP Coordinators in the USA and around the world. ISEP also sends the transcript from your host to home university.

A: You can study at one of the 135 member universities in the United States. If your university participates in International-to-International ISEP-Exchanges, there are 21 additional countries to choose from. See the Directory (top right) or Search for a Program for details.

A: The ISEP experience is a unique opportunity to really learn about another country through immersion in the host culture. Students are placed directly in the host university, and typically enroll in the same courses and live similarly to the student of that country. Students on ISEP programs welcome the differences and challenges that life in another culture brings, and have the maturity and flexibility to succeed in a more independent type of study abroad program.

A: ISEP is one of the most affordable ways to study abroad. Please see your international exchange office for details. ISEP has two types of programs with different fee structures:

• ISEP-Exchanges allow you to pay your regular home university tuition, housing and meal fees, and then take the place of a university student abroad; an international student will take your place at your home university. A non-refundable $315 placement fee is required with your application.
• ISEP-Direct programs are only available for certain ISEP destinations, and students pay an affordable, established program fee directly to ISEP instead of exchanging places with an international student. A non-refundable application fee of $60 is required with your application; a $500 deposit is required upon acceptance; the program fee (ranging from $5,000-11,000 per semester) is invoiced one month before departure. Please see the ISEP-Direct sites for complete details.

Additional costs include transportation, required ISEP health insurance (approximately $265 USD/semester), visa fees, books, and personal expenses.

A: Students whose home university is in the U.S. are considered "US students" by ISEP for logistical purposes. "International students" on this website refers to any student whose home university is located outside the U.S.

A: ISEP programs are available for students who have completed at least one year of university coursework. Students must also demonstrate the personal maturity needed to study abroad, which is evaluated by your essays and professor recommendations. If you are not a native speaker of the host language, you must also demonstrate proficiency in the language. Your home university may have additional requirements.

A: When you apply to ISEP, you will list the classes you wish to take. Once you’ve been accepted to the program, you will follow the procedures at your university to have your classes conditionally pre-approved before you go. After you return, ISEP will send an official transcript to your home institution, and the credits will be transferred according to procedures set by your university.

A: If you speak another language, there is a world of possibilities awaiting you. To study in the host language with other native students, you should have taken at least 2 years of college-level language courses (or be a native speaker), and feel very comfortable speaking, reading, and writing in that language.

For study in the USA, most universities require proof of language proficiency through a test such as TOEFL or IELTS. See English Language Requirements for more information.

For students going to countries besides the USA, there are many options in English and other languages. Use the Search for a Program feature to find a site with courses in the language you need.

A: Students should think carefully and research about what life is like for a student in the host country, and expect to live and study in similar conditions. ISEP benefits include full-time enrollment in the host institution, 19 meals per week or an equivalent stipend, and housing typical to that of other local students. ISEP students receive advising and a predeparture orientation from their home ISEP Coordinator, and an on-site orientation and local support as needed from the host ISEP Coordinator.

A: For study in the U.S., you will need a visa and ISEP will be your J-1 visa sponsor. For study in another country, you may or may not need a visa depending on each country's visa regulations. See the Country Handbooks for more information.

A: In the USA, the first four years of university are called "undergraduate" and lead to a Bachelor's degree. The post-graduate studies are called "graduate" and lead to a Master's degree or a PhD. Some ISEP members accept students at the graduate level. See US Higher Education for more information.

A: 95% of international applicants are placed; however, students may have to be flexible about the destination. Since ISEP-Exchanges are based on the number of students switching places, only an equal amount of outgoing and incoming students can go through a specific university.

The ISEP website will help you estimate your chances for being accepted to a certain site. It is to your benefit to spend some time researching this information carefully and to have realistic expectations about where you will be able to study.

See Applying to a US Site to find tips for applying and the Anticipated Openings list of institutions with the most space available.

If applying to another country, check the Sites Open for Applications to see which sites are still open for the current application season.

Also read the notes in the Directory pages about the particular institution to see chances of placement and any special application procedures. Any sites with an R (US) or I* (International) have very limited space, so you should apply by the deadline and have several alternatives.

A: The ISEP placement process consists of several steps. First, your home university forwards your application to ISEP. ISEP reviews your application and determines which of your choices is the best fit, and then sends the application to the host university abroad. This process may take some time because often specific academic departments also evaluate your application. Once the host institution accepts you, ISEP will forward acceptance materials to your home university. You should receive your acceptance packet within six to eight weeks after your application arrives at ISEP.

A: Since each university has a designated on-campus ISEP Coordinator, they will serve as your point of contact for advising and information throughout the process. Information about specific programs, how to apply, and student resources can be found on the ISEP website.

The ISEP Central Office in Washington, DC provides information via the web and printed brochures, processes student applications and serves as a resource to the ISEP Coordinators at each university.