ISEP exchange
NB! The links in this article open up in a new tab.
ISEP (International Student Exchange Program) is an international student exchange programme based on reciprocity, and it is administered from the United States.
You can search for feedback from previous ISEP exchange students in the SoleMOVE application system. You will find instructions on how to search for feedback in the SoleMOVE instructions. NB! When searching for feedback, leave the Your home unit -filter empty and select “ISEP Exchange” as the Exchange program in the advanced filters.
Feedback is available by country, and often under the title International Student Exchange Program (ISEP). Please note that there may not be feedback available for all the destinations in the programme.
For whom?
Bachelor’s and Master’s level students of various fields.
NB! Students from outside the EU/EEA are advised to discuss with their study programme coordinator if exchange studies would extend their studies and/or affect their tuition fee.
There are more universities offering Bachelor’s level courses than Master’s level courses. Students must have completed one year of academic studies before the beginning of their exchange.
Where can I go?
North and Latin America, Asia. Some universities in the United Kingdom and few in Africa and Oceania. ISEP features hundreds of universities from the United States and elsewhere in the world. More information on the universities is available on the ISEP website (new tab).
NB! EU region host countries are not available through the ISEP programme. The programme includes some universities that are in the EU region, but UEF students may only apply for host universities outside of Europe (excl. UK). Students interested in exchanges within the EU region should apply through the Erasmus+, Nordlys and YUFE Alliance programmes.
When searching for potential exchange destinations on the ISEP website, we recommend using search filters to find results. It is possible to filter results to exclusively search for ISEP Exchange destinations by selecting ISEP Exchange as the program under the More filters option in the search engine. By only searching for ISEP Exchange destinations, it is possible to exclude tuition fee charging ISEP Direct -options (below).
Applying
The annual first call for applications for ISEP exchange is 1–15 November. A second call for applications will be organised 1-15 May if there are places left. A second call for ISEP applications is not organised usually, because all the available places are filled in the first call for applications.
Applying for ISEP Exchange is a two-stage process: first step is applying to become UEF’s candidate for ISEP exchange, the second step is starting the ISEP online application.
- In the first stage of the process (internal selection process of the home university), students apply to be accepted as UEF candidates for ISEP exchange. The application is submitted in the online application system SoleMOVE. In the letter of motivation, the applicants describe why they are applying for ISEP Exchange programme and to which country/countries they plan to apply, and they should state clearly if there are at least 5 suitable host universities in the ISEP Exchange programme. General instructions on the letter of motivation and applying may be found on the article called Applying for student exchange and traineeship abroad.
- In the second stage of the process, those who were accepted in the first stage as UEF candidates for ISEP exchange complete an application in the ISEP online application system. The applicant sends a request to start the ISEP application to the coordinator of the home university who then accepts it and after this, the applicant is able to start the application. The applicant lists 5–10 host institutions in their ISEP application and ISEP aims at offering a placement in one of these institutions. The applicant may apply for institutions in different countries. Before submitting the application, the applicant should explore the host institutions in detail, because after submitting the application, the list of institutions cannot be altered.
In the second stage, certain attachments are required with the application, e.g. an academic reference letter and a proof of language skills document.
Academic reference: one academic reference from a member of the UEF academic staff who knows the student and is thus able to describe them in the reference, and a proof of language skills. The students must make arrangements with the referee and send them a request to fill out ISEP’s academic reference form. The referee may also submit a letter of reference in a separate document, but it should be uploaded through ISEP’s request form.
Proof of language skills: most host institutions in North America require a TOEFL iBT test result (new tab) with the application. Some host universities accept a IELTS test result (new tab). The language skills and test requirements of each institution must be checked individually. ISEP also offers their own LPR (Language Proficiency Report) form to be used as a language proof document. The LPR should be filled out by a staff member from a language course the student has completed. Not all ISEP host institutions accept the LPR as a language proof document: this should be checked individually.
- NB! All applicants are required to submit some form of proof of language skills. The only exception to this is students who have completed an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree in an English-speaking country, or have completed high school education in an English-speaking country. For these students, a copy of either undergraduate degree diploma or high school diploma is required. More information about ISEP’s language requirements can be found on ISEP’s website.
ISEP offers a preliminary placement to the student and informs them about this, and the student makes a preliminary study plan for the host university in question. ISEP then sends the application documents to the host institution that decides on the acceptance. The student’s host institution is confirmed only at this stage. If a placement cannot be offered at any of the universities on the list, the student will be contacted by ISEP that will try to find an alternative host university that meets the student’s situation and wishes.
ISEP Chances of Placement
ISEP uses a Chances of Placement (new tab) ranking on their host institutions. This means that ISEP indicates how likely it is for a student to be placed in any particular host institution according to this ranking. Institutions that are ranked as Most Competitive are extremely difficult for students to be placed into.
Students are only able to add one Most Competitive ranked institution in their ISEP application in the second stage of the application process. Please keep this in mind when you are searching the ISEP website for possible host institutions.
NB! Due to the Chances of Placement ranking, it is generally not possibly to apply to only Australia or New Zealand, as most (if not all) of these sites are listed as Most Competitive. Students interested in these countries are expected to be willing to apply and commit to other host countries as well.
Duration
Due to the popularity of the programme and limited availability of places, it has been necessary to restrict the duration of ISEP exchanges to one (1) semester.
Funding
Tuition fees are not charged from the students. The students participating in the ISEP programme pay the accommodation and living costs of their exchange period to their home university before the beginning of the exchange. In exchange for this payment, the host university will arrange accommodation and a meal plan for the student. The students are required to cover the costs of their travel, study materials, and leisure activities as well as the mandatory ISEP insurance. The ISEP fee at University of Eastern Finland for the academic year 2024-2025 is EUR 2,500 for one semester.
The outgoing ISEP exchange students receive a mobility grant from University of Eastern Finland. The amount of the grant is determined on an annual basis and published in the call for applications. In the academic year 2024-2025, the mobility grant for ISEP exchange for European destinations is EUR 1,200 for one semester and for destinations outside Europe EUR 1,800 for one semester. For more information on funding, please check the article called Funding your studies abroad.
Please note
The studies completed during ISEP exchange must be included in the student’s degree at University of Eastern Finland. A study-related internship in the United States can also be linked to the ISEP exchange. The maximum duration of the internship is equal to the maximum exchange study period at an ISEP university. Students can only apply for internships after arriving in the host country and must obtain the internship themselves. The ISEP fee is paid in a single instalment before the beginning of the exchange.
While you will apply for ISEP exchange according to UEF’s academic calendar during the first stage of the application process (see above), the actual dates and duration of the exchange will be according to your host university’s academic calendar.
ISEP Direct
ISEP Direct is an alternative for students who only want to apply for one specific university or a most competitive university. Some universities only participate in ISEP Exchange and others solely in ISEP Direct. Many universities are also available through both programmes. On ISEP Direct, the participants are required to pay the tuition fees of the host university. The number of places available through Direct is not limited. As long as the minimum academic requirements are met, applicants are guaranteed a place at the host university.
Please note that the application periods and practices of ISEP Direct are different from ISEP Exchange.
Tip: The tuition fees of universities participating in Direct can be viewed in the Find a Program (new tab) section of the ISEP website, by clicking on ’Detail’ in the application menu above the universities in the sidebar. This will open a list showing all Exchange and Direct options. A single university can be listed more than once depending on the exchange programme (Exchange or Direct) and time (fall semester, spring semester, full year).
More information on the ISEP Direct programme is available on the ISEP website (new tab) and UEF International Mobility Services.