International Exchange

International Exchange Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I have to know another language to go on an international exchange?
2. What is the difference between ISEP and Bilateral?
3. Is it really expensive to go on an international exchange?
4. If I am interested in studying abroad, when should I start filling out my paperwork?
5. I attended the Study Abroad Fair; what is my next step?
6. Where is the Study Abroad Office located?
7. Can I get an application online to study abroad?
8. Is it too late to apply to study abroad for the spring ’11 semester?
9. Can I use my financial aid?
10. Are scholarships available to help me finance my exchange?
11. Will the credits I earn on my exchange transfer back to LSU?
12. Can I study abroad as a graduate student?
13. I know I want to go on an international exchange, but I really don't know how to start or where to go. What do I do?
14. Do you have to be a particular major to go on an international exchange?
15. I received a scholarship from an outside organization (e.g., Rotary Club), but I have to study at a school LSU isn't affiliated with. What can I do?

1. No, you don't necessarily have to know another language to go on an international exchange. You can search for our offerings by language of instruction here.

2. ISEP allows you to pay LSU tuition and LSU room and board, with the exception of ISEP Direct schools. ISEP Direct schools require you to pay the other school's tuition and lodging rates. If you wish to continue paying what you pay here at LSU, you are encouraged to explore sites other than the ISEP Direct schools.

Note: Benefits for ISEP exchanges are equivalent, not identical, and may differ from housing/meal costs at LSU. For example, you may receive a meal stipend that differs monetarily from your cost at LSU. The stipend you receive at the host university is based on the local cost of living and is the amount a student from that university who went out on exchange paid on your behalf.

Bilateral allows you to pay LSU tuition and fees while you pay room & board abroad. Please note that room & board abroad can often be cheaper than what you pay here in the U.S. Moreover, some foreign governments offer financial assistance to students to offset the cost of lodging while in school.

3. To reduce the cost of study abroad, you are encouraged to study abroad using the established LSU study abroad program opportunities with LSU bilateral and ISEP partner universities. It is through these programs that you will be permitted to pay your usual LSU tuition and fee rates and apply your TOPS to offset the cost of exchange. As noted in the previous question, with the exception of ISEP Direct, students pay LSU tuition and fees and LSU room and board rates when going on exchange to an ISEP partner institution. Students going on exchange to an LSU bilateral institution will pay LSU tuition and fees and pay their room & board abroad. Be reminded that you may apply TOPS and most scholarships to LSU-sponsored international exchange programs.

Should you choose to study abroad with a non-LSU program, you will be subject to their fee rates and will not pay the LSU tuition rate. These programs can be much more expensive than what is offered to you through LSU. However, most scholarships will apply to these programs, just as they do to LSU-sponsored programs.

4. To study abroad in fall, you will need to turn in your application by early January, and to study abroad in the spring, you need to turn in your application in August. You must first come to APA (103 Hatcher Hall) and get information on all the programs. You can get an overview from our website. You also will need to schedule a meeting with the international exchange coordinator. You can call or come by the office to do this, but, by your meeting time, you should have narrowed down your school choices to five. The international exchange coordinator will give you an application and explain all the steps. Almost all of the applications will require an essay and 2 letters of reccommendation.

5. What you need to do next is choose three or four schools to which you are seriously considering applying. Visit their websites and check out the classes offered, their locations, etc. to find out which universities would best suit what your goals. Then you will need to come in to our office (103 Hatcher Hall) for a one-on-one with the international exchange coordinator. She will talk with you and determine whether you're ready for an application. You can schedule your one-on-one now if you have an idea of when you'll have your schools narrowed down.

6. We are located in 103 Hatcher Hall. Hatcher Hall is next to Hodges Hall on Field House Drive. We're directly in front of the football stadium.

7. No, you must come by our office to receive an application.

8. The deadline for exchanging for spring is mid-August and the deadline for exchanging for fall is mid-Janaury. Contact studyabroad@lsu.edu for exact dates. International exchange requires planning ahead, so you should begin thinking about it now. You may always come into our office and get information about studying abroad.

9. With the exception of Chancellor’s Aid and Federal Work Study, most financial aid will apply to study abroad here at LSU. To verify whether your financial aid will apply, please consult your financial aid counselor in the Office of Student Aid & Scholarships, in Pleasant Hall.

10. Of course! There are many study abroad-related scholarships available nationally. You will find a list of several of them here. You should also contact LSU's Office of Student Aid & Scholarships to see what aid is available to you through LSU.

11. In order to successfully transfer credit from abroad, you must take the necessary steps to ensure transfer upon your return. All courses you take abroad must be pre-approved prior to your departure to your host university. Each semester, there is a concurrent enrollment meeting to explain the process of course pre-approval, using your financial aid, and full-time status requirements for exchanges. This meeting is mandatory and everyone who is going on an exchange (national or international) must attend. The process is simple and straightforward as long as you follow all instructions given to you at the concurrent enrollment meeting.

12. At this time, the LSU Graduate School does not currently allow Academic Programs Abroad to concurrently enroll graduate students here at LSU at an outside institution in North America or abroad. However, certain LSU-directed summer programs offer graduate-level credit to allow you to participate in LSU exchange programs. Consult the list of current summer programs to explore which programs will offer graduate credit this summer.

13. As you begin pondering participation an international exchange program, the best thing to do is to stop by 103Hatcher Hall to discuss your interests with one of our Peer Advisors. APA can provide you with information on the process for study abroad as well as outline the different opportunities available to you regarding international exchange. Our office is located in 103 Hatcher and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

14. All majors may participate in an exchange program here at LSU. With an array of host sites located across North America and abroad, you can easily find schools where you will be able to enroll in courses relevant to your major. You will have to seek pre-approval of courses in which you intend to enroll abroad prior to departure. This procedure is explained in greater detail at the concurrent enrollment meetings that take place once you have been accepted for exchange.

15. Your scholarships will normally still apply. You must follow the steps for a non-LSU program to have the program approved for credit. Academic Programs Abroad can provide you with a sheet with instructions to facilitate this process. With regard to your scholarships, you will need to consult the Office of Student Aid & Scholarships to discuss the applicability of your scholarship to the program.