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The International Student
Exchange Program (ISEP)
What is it?
ISEP
is a network of more than 200 U.S. and international
universities that engage in reciprocal student exchange. This
means that students of member institutions pay their usual
tuition and fees to their home institutions before they go
abroad, creating a "place" and a set of benefits for an incoming
student. The students within the network then "switch" places. For example, you could go take someone's place in France, while
the French student takes someone's place in Finland, while the
Finnish student takes someone's place in Korea, and so on, and
so on.
Exchange
programs are generally considered to be a full cultural and
academic immersion. Since you are taking someone's place,
you will most likely be the only Virginia Tech student at your
host institution. You will be doing just as the locals
do: taking their courses and living just as they do, much like
the international students who come here to Virginia Tech. The
cultural experience usually begins before you even leave Tech as
you learn about a different system of higher education in your
host country.
Who can go?
Students must
have completed one academic year of study. A minimum 2.75
QCA is required. Students must maintain the equivalent of a
full-time course load during the exchange and may not stay more
than one academic year.
Do I need to
know a foreign language?
It depends. In
most cases, if you study in a non-English speaking country, your
coursework will be in the native language. In some cases,
however, you will have the opportunity to study in English in a
non-English speaking country (the Netherlands or Sweden, for
example).
If you will be
taking courses in a foreign language, you will need to have
completed a 3000 college level language course or have the
equivalent proficiency before you go. Some programs, which
require study in a foreign language during the academic year,
offer intensive language programs prior to the start of the
semester.
How long can
I go?
One-semester,
two-semester, and limited summer programs are offered, but not
all options are available at each university.
Where will I
live?
Do you know the
famous expression, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do"? This
holds true for your accommodations. Accommodations may be in
dormitories, student apartments, or with host families,
depending on what is typical at each university.
How much does it cost?
A $315.00
application fee is due upon application directly payable to
ISEP. An additional $50 VT fee will also be billed to your
Student Account. Fees are non-refundable unless placement
cannot be offered. If placement is not offered, $250.00 will be
refunded.
The standard VT tuition and
fees, along with room and board costs, will be billed to your
Student Account. The room and board costs are subject to change
year to year. The current estimate for room and board costs in
2007-2008 is $2850; this estimate is subject to change, pending
resolution of the Board of Visitors. Students are charged their
normal VT tuition rate, plus fees. All students are
required to purchase ISEP health insurance. The spring 2006
cost is $42.00 per month, payable in full prior to departure. The
ISEP health insurance cost is also subject to change. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements. Travel costs, personal spending money, personal travel, and
textbook costs
are also your responsibility.
At your host
institution abroad, you will be attending classes and living the
life of a typical local student. You will receive equivalent
benefits to those that local students receive, and not
identical benefits to those you leave behind at
Virginia Tech, though you are paying VT tuition
and
fees as usual. Moreover, because higher education is funded
differently throughout the world, your exchange benefits will
almost certainly not be of an exact monetary equivalent to the
benefits you pay for at Virginia Tech. Please keep in mind that
the students coming to Virginia Tech through exchange programs
are paying tuition and fees at their own institutions as well,
under this same arrangement.
To get more
information or to apply:
One of your best
resources will be the ISEP website: WWW.ISEP.ORG. You will be able to research all of the ISEP universities
through this website. Our office also maintains current course
catalogs for the ISEP universities, along with application
materials. The ISEP Membership Directory, also found in the
Education Abroad Office, provides a lot of information as well,
including your chances of placement at the various
institutions.
For
Spring Semester 2007: Priority placement will be given to
applications which are submitted to
Education Abroad by
August 25,
2006.
Applications will still be considered on a rolling basis for
universities that were not full after the August placement
round.
For
Fall Semester 2007 and Academic Year 2007-2008: Priority
placement will be given to applications which are submitted to
Education Abroad by January
26,
2007.
Applications will still be considered on a rolling basis for
universities that were not full after the January placement
round.
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