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ISEP Direct (Non-Exchange) (Study Abroad Program)

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  • Locations: Various, Various
  • Program Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer, Year
  • Restrictions: NWU applicants only
Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Summer 2024 04/02/2024
** 		Rolling Admission TBA TBA
Spring 2025 10/01/2024 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA

** Indicates rolling admission application process. Applicants will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.

Indicates that deadline has passed
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Minimum GPA: 2.75
Program Description:

Study abroad with ISEP Direct!  ISEP logo orange

India color festival
Institution
What the heck is ISEP? 
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a member of ISEP, a non-profit, educational community dedicated to helping students overcome the financial and academic barriers to study abroad.
 
NWU students can choose from over 100 high-quality academic ISEP Direct programs in over 35 countries.
 
Students on ISEP Direct programs discover new cultural surroundings and challenge the unknown. By directly enrolling into classes at ISEP member universities, students build real connections and gain a true understanding of what it is like to live in another culture. With ISEP, students can study alongside locals, in any subject, on a budget they can afford.
 
 
What does it mean to study abroad on an ISEP Direct program?
ISEP Direct programs are considered an NWU Non-Exchange program.  That means that only some of a student’s federal financial aid can be used to help pay for an ISEP Direct program.  Students can NOT use their NWU Scholarships or NWU Grants to help pay for an ISEP Direct program.
 
Students who choose ISEP Direct (or any Non-Exchange program) are NOT eligible to apply for an NWU Education Abroad Grant. See Financial below for more details.
 
However, unlike an ISEP Exchange program, students who choose an ISEP Direct program are guaranteed placement at their top choice ISEP Direct site—as long as the student meets the minimum academic requirements. 
ISEP Direct programs have later application deadlines and may have flexible housing and meal packages.
Locations
NWU students can choose from over 100 ISEP Direct programs in over 35 countries from Europe to Latin America, from Africa to Asia, from the Middle East to North and Central America and Oceania. Over 80 of those ISEP Direct programs offer classes in English – and not just in Australia or the United Kingdom but in more than 25 other countries too, from Argentina to the United Arab Emirates.
 
Use the ISEP website to find a program that is right for you.  Here are a couple of tips to get the most out of your research there:
  1. You’ll need to enter “Nebraska Wesleyan University” as your home university.  Some ISEP universities limit where their students can go with ISEP.  NWU does not.
  2. Use “More Filters” and scroll to the bottom to see only the ISEP Direct programs.
  3. The default for results is a cool map version.  However, often it’s easiest to compare programs if you use the “Detail” button This button makes a handy list  to reorganize the list into a handy table.
 
For more tips or to set up an advising appointment, email studyabroad@nebrwesleyan.edu. 
Academic Calendar
Academic calendars vary by the specific site.  ISEP Direct programs are available for one or two semesters or during the summer.  Summer dates vary by the specific program.
 
For semester programs, generally speaking if you’re looking at a site in the Northern Hemisphere, the semesters will be more similar to NWU’s calendar than if you are looking at sites in the Southern Hemisphere.
 
Semester Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere Traditional Japanese & German
Fall semester Aug/Sept-Dec/Jan Feb/Mar-June/July Sept/Oct-February
Spring semester Jan/Feb-May/June July-Nov/Dec Mar/Apr-July/Aug
Academic year Aug/Sept-June/July Feb/Mar-Nov/Dec Sept/Oct-July/Aug
 
 




To learn more, use the ISEP website. Once you’ve put in your search features, use the “Detail” button This button makes a handy list  to reorganize the list into a handy table so you can see each site’s semester and program dates at a glance.
Housing
Again, your housing choices will vary by the site.  Some ISEP Direct programs may have only one kind of housing available, while others may offer a selection of two or three.
 
The three most common types of housing are as follows:
 
Dorm/Residence Hall
Homestay
Apartment

For more information about housing options, look at a specific site’s Program Details on the ISEP website. 
Financial
Financial Aid & Scholarships
ISEP Direct programs are considered an NWU Non-Exchange program.  That means that only some of a student’s federal financial aid can be used to help pay for an ISEP Direct program.  Students can NOT use their NWU Scholarships or NWU Grants to help pay for an ISEP Direct program.
 
However, because every student’s NWU financial aid package is different, for some students an ISEP Direct program is actually cheaper than a semester at NWU.  Use the budget sheet below to figure out if an ISEP Direct program is the best fit for you financially.
 
Students who choose ISEP Direct (or any Non-Exchange program) are NOT eligible to apply for an NWU Education Abroad Grant.
 
ISEP’s commitment to affordable study abroad programs means that ISEP has some of their own scholarships that NWU students can apply for.  For instance, NWU students who get their ISEP applications submitted by the Priority Deadline are eligible to apply for ISEP’s Community Scholarship.  Learn more about the ISEP scholarships available to NWU students.


Learn about other study abroad scholarships that might work for an ISEP Direct program.


Program Costs
Paid to NWU – you will only pay NWU a $300 Non-Exchange Fee. 
Paid to ISEP – you will pay ISEP a $100 application fee and the ISEP Direct Fee.  ISEP Direct Fees vary by program. 

Estimated Additional Costs
Most of your additional costs will vary by the site you choose.  In addition to using the ISEP website, you can meet with the NWU Office of Global Engagement staff to help you estimate your costs.  To set up a meeting, please email studyabroad@nebrwesleyan.edu with 2-3 times that work for your schedule.
 
However, you can use this ISEP Direct Budgeting Tool to help you estimate the additional costs.  It has three options:
  1. You know where you want to go, but you’re not sure if you want to go for a semester or a full year.
  2. You know you want to go for 1 semester, but several places appeal to you.
  3. You know you want to go for a full year, but there are so many places to choose from.
 
 
Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance.  When planning for estimated additional costs, students are encouraged to research currency conversion rates.  Please email studyabroad@nebrwesleyan.edu for additional information about estimated costs.
Academics
Students can take classes around the world in their major or in subjects unavailable at NWU – in English (at more than 80 programs) or another language.  Details vary from one ISEP Direct site to the next.
 
Students may want to develop their foreign language skills by taking classes in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish. 
Other students may want to start learning a language unavailable at NWU: from Arabic to Twi, from Czech to Italian, from Korean to Hindi, Urdu or another language of India. 
Students can also take some of their classes in English and other(s) in a foreign language.
 
Internships, volunteering, and service-learning are also possible at some ISEP Direct sites.
 
To learn more, use the ISEP website. With the “Field Of Study” filter, students can search for classes across the academic spectrum: from Agriculture to Visual & Performing Arts, from Business to Sports Studies – as well as classes in Law, the Humanities, the Social Sciences, Hospitality, Health Sciences, and Psychology just to name a few.
Once you’ve put in your search features, use the “Detail” button This button makes a handy list  to reorganize the list into a handy table so you can see each site’s semester and program dates at a glance.
 
 
For more detailed course information and information about possible internship or service-learning opportunities, please contact the Office of Global Engagement.

Language requirements
Individual programs will list language requirements for those students wanting to take all their classes in a foreign language or to take classes beyond the beginner level.  See steps below for how to find out if the ISEP Direct program you’re interested in has a minimum language requirement.
 
Other Requirements
Some ISEP Direct programs accept sophomores and some don’t.  Most ISEP Direct programs require a GPA of 2.75 or higher. 
You can find the details of the requirements for the ISEP Direct programs you’re interested in, by following these steps:
  1. Click on the “Program Name”
  2. Go to the “Academics” section
  3. Reveal the details about the academics by clicking on the This button makes a handy list icon
  4. Scroll to the bottom of that section to see that program’s specific “Academic Requirements”
 
Meet with the NWU Office of Global Engagement staff to help you learn more about sites that will best fit your study abroad goals.  To set up a meeting, please email studyabroad@nebrwesleyan.edu with 2-3 times that work for your schedule.
Outside the Classroom
Opportunities to get outside of the classroom are plentiful.  While the exact details of how you can get involved in your host community will vary from one ISEP site to the next, students commonly participate in one or more of the student clubs/organizations available at their host university.  Many programs include excursions to help you learn more about your host city and country, as well as volunteering, service-learning or internships.
Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and some programs may fill up before the listed deadline.  Pay attention to the Priority ISEP deadline if you want to apply for ISEP Scholarships.
 
Each year applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer will open up on August 1st.  After opening, the deadline will be listed below and an Apply Now button will be available at the top and bottom of this page. 
ISEP Direct applications have a 2-part application process so students are encouraged to complete their NWU application as soon as they know they want to study abroad on an ISEP Direct program – even if they don’t know which specific ISEP Direct program.

 For more information about deadlines and how to apply, please email studyabroad@nebrwesleyan.edu.