The Program

ISEP is the world's largest network of universities cooperating to provide international education experiences for their students. UW-Eau Claire is an ISEP Affiliate member, which gives our students access to ISEP-Direct. ISEP-Direct programs are fee-paid programs that provide study opportunities at select ISEP institutions outside the United States.

Location

UW-Eau Claire currently participates in ISEP-Direct in the following countries. The language of instruction is also noted. In general, if the language of instruction is not English, you must have completed at least 4 semesters of university-level study in the indicated language by the beginning of the program.

Brazil (Portuguese/Advanced Spanish)
Bulgaria (English)
Canada (English/French)
Chile (Spanish)
China (English/Chinese)
Costa Rica (Spanish)
Czech Republic (English)
Ghana (English)
Malta (English)
The Netherlands (English)
New Zealand (English)
South Africa (English)
Spain (Spanish)
Thailand (English)
Uruguay (Spanish)

To date, UW-Eau Claire students have studied in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Ghana, Thailand and Uruguay through ISEP-Direct. In 2008-2009, students are planning on studying in Chile, China, Malta and the Netherlands.

You can find current descriptions of all ISEP-Direct universities at : http://www.isep.org/students/Programs/isep_direct.asp

Housing varies by site. There are host family options in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, and Uruguay. Other sites house students on-campus or in off-campus apartments.


Who Should Choose ISEP

The best way to think of an ISEP-Direct experience is to imagine that you are going to study at a university abroad, just as international students come to study in the U.S. If you are independent, flexible, and adventurous, ISEP-Direct programs are a good choice for you. Here's why:

Adventure
Because you may be the first UW-Eau Claire student going to an ISEP university, you will not have all of the details available to you that you could expect if you chose one of the more group-oriented UW-Eau Claire programs.

Flexibility
Communication with your host university may take longer. You will need to be flexible and willing to live with a fair amount of ambiguity as your prepare to go abroad.

Independence
You may be the only UW-Eau Claire student going to a particular ISEP-Direct site. However, you may also be one of a large number of international students at your site, and you may need to ask many questions to find your way around at first.

Academic Calendar

The ISEP-Direct institutions in Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Ghana, Spain and Thailand run on a calendar similar to the U.S. academic calendar, with fall semester beginning in late August or early September and ending in December, and spring running from January through May.

Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, New Zealand, South Africa and Uruguay follow the calendar year. First semester begins in February or March and ends in June or July; second semester begins in July or August and ends in November or December. Start your program during UW-Eau Claire's spring semester for best course selection and on-site orientation.

Malta, and some programs in the Netherlands, are on a European academic calendar: fall semester is October to February and spring semester is March to July. These sites are not possible for fall semester only unless you do not intend to take classes at UW-Eau Claire in the spring. Other programs at Leiden run September through early January and later January through June.

Is ISEP-Direct For Me?

If you are considering an ISEP site, please make an appointment with one of the study abroad coordinators. They can help you assess your options and compare ISEP sites to other UW-Eau Claire offerings.

Expenses

ISEP-Direct fees vary by country, by university, and by what is included in the program cost. For example, some universities include meal costs in their ISEP charge, others do not. You can find 2008-2009 cost estimates for each program site at http://www.isep.org/students/Programs/isep_direct.asp. 2009-2010 costs will be updated as they are available.

Additional costs you will pay to UW-Eau Claire:$425 UW-Eau Claire international programs fee, required UW-System study abroad insurance (currently $31/month), Minnesota reciprocity or a $900 non-resident fee.

Other expenses to anticipate: passport, visa, books, personal expenses, local transportation, and airfare. All costs are estimated and may change at any time.

Financial Aid/Scholarships

If you qualify for financial aid, you can apply your aid to program costs.  Your financial aid package will be based on actual costs abroad, including the cost of round-trip airfare.  You can learn about additional options, including a study abroad grant through the UW-Eau Claire Foundation; a Wisconsin Grant for Study Abroad and scholarships for specific majors and national study abroad scholarships at http://uwec.edu/CIE/sac/finaid.htm.

Eligibility

To apply you must be a currently-enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduate UW-Eau Claire student. You must be in good academic standing, and have the minimum cumulative resident GPA specified by your program site. ISEP sites generally require at least a 2.75 GPA; and at most ISEP sites, you may apply as a freshman but must have sophomore standing when the program begins. A few sites require a 3.0 GPA and/or junior standing. See the specific university description for details.

Application Deadline

Applications for Fall 2009/Academic Year 2009-2010 are accepted beginning September 2, 2008.  The priority application deadline for Fall 2009 is November 15, 2008.

Applications for Spring 2010 are accepted beginning January 15, 2009.  The priority application deadline for Spring 2010 is April 1, 2009. 

Complete applications will be reviewed after these dates. Late applications will be considered if space is still available. Please contact the Center for International Education to find out if spaces are available before submitting a late application. No applications will be accepted after January 30, 2009 for Fall 2009/Academic Year 2009-2010 or after May 1, 2009 for Spring 2010.

You can download an application at online applications, or stop by to pick up an application in the Center for International Education.

Additional Information

For more information and an application, contact:

Center for International Education
Schofield 111
UW-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI  54702-4004

Phone: (715) 836-4411
Fax: (715) 836-4948
Email: studyabroad@uwec.edu