How can RU students apply to participate in ISEP -  the International Student Exchange Program?

Finding the Right Program

 

Students should glance at the online ISEP application and learn what is expected on them.  It looks like a lot of work, but it really isn't!

 

Now it's time to check out available programs.  ISEP offers two different options: Exchange and Direct enrollments. 

 

Exchange: This is the optimal situation where students pay RU tuition/room/board and travel to their overseas placement. 

 

Direct: Some schools - particularly in Australia, the UK, and Spain - are so popular among US students, it's next to impossible to satisfy the demand for study places through exchanges.  Thus, these institutions have set up relationships with ISEP that allow students to pay a bit more to study abroad, but with assurance that they gain access to their desired institution overseas.

 

With that in mind, go to ISEP's page on "Finding the Right Site" and consider their helpful hints.   Then go to the ISEP "Search for a Program" search engine and input your desired program content - using subject areas and language of instruction as your guide.

 

ISEP allows you to choose up to ten possible exchange locations on your application, and you will need to rank these locations.  The vast majority receive a placement at one of their top three choices.

 

Discuss Your Options

 

You should now get together with the International Education Center and your academic advisors to discuss your options.  The IEC will walk you through the course approval process, which takes the courses offered overseas and matches them up with RU equivalents.  Your academic advisor will touch base with you about your academic requirements and make sure that your overseas classes work toward your desired degree.

 

We recommend that students find desired courses at three to five different ISEP institutions that would work toward their RU degree programs.

 

Apply to ISEP

 

The next step is the ISEP application itself.  It looks long...and it is!...but it is time well spent.  You can use the online application and fill in the PDF file, but you can't save the finished copy.  We recommend that you fill out a blank application on paper and input the data in one computer session, printing out your finished product at the end.  Note: you will need TWO completed copies of the application to send to ISEP.

 

Await Your Placement

 

Once ISEP has your application, it enters the "placement" phase.  Once you pass the screening at ISEP's DC headquarters, your application is sent to one of the institutions on your list for placement.  Usually this process takes six to seven weeks to complete.  If the overseas institution doesn't accept your application, ISEP goes to another institution on your list and attempts a placement there.  Over 90% of applications submitted to ISEP are placed, with many placed at one of the top three choices noted on the application.

 

Prepare for Departure!

 

At long last, students find out the status of their applications and accept their placement!  Students will then work closely with the RU International Education Center to deal with RU bureaucracy, ISEP bureaucracy, and important pre-departure issues as students prepare for their international adventure!

 

ISEP deadline are early - for Spring 2009, applications must be in Washington by September 1, 2008!  RU students will need to work closely with the RU International Education Center over the summer to prepare successful applications. For Fall 2009, RU will be screening applications in the Fall 2008 semester for submission to ISEP/Washington by February 1, 2009.

 

For more information, contact the IEC in Cook Hall at iec@radford.edu and be sure to note "ISEP" in your subject line.  We are open 7:30am-4pm during the summer and 8:00-12noon/1pm-5pm during the regular academic year.