| EXCHANGE
STUDY OVERVIEW |
| Overview |
Currently
enrolled NMSU stduents who have completed at
least 2 full-time semesters of university study may
consider applying to study on exchange at over
200 foreign universities. Students choose to
study on exchange to enroll in classes full-time
at the host university and to integrate into
the academic life of the host institution and
community. Students typically study on exchange
Fall and/or Spring semesters, with a few summer
options available to them also. While many
options are available to study in English,
sometimes while also studying the local language,
some programs require an intermediate to advanced
level of language competency to study on exchange.
Studying on exchange is challenging and requires
students to have strong independent study skills
and tolerance for systems that may be radically
different from the U.S. system of education.
While challenging, the rewards are great for
those who study on exchange. Exchanges
are usually the most cost effective way to
study abroad long term.
|
| Procedures for
Transfer Credit |
Exchange
programs follow transfer credit program procedures. All
students must complete the NMSU WebCT orientation
course and the NMSU final evaluation survey
to receive credit. Students
will have to consult with their college advisors
to pre-determine what credit will transfer
to NMSU upon successful completion of courses
studied abroad.
|
| Forms |
Students
studying on exchange use the form NMSU Study
Abroad Agreement-Transfer Credit Programs to
finalize NMSU approval to study abroad.
|
| Scholarships |
Various
scholarships are available from NMSU, from partner
organizations, and from the U.S. Government for
study abroad on exchanges. NMSU students have
been successful in obtaining many of the awards
open for study abroad. Students must apply early
and on-time. Most scholarships require a 3.0
GPA, but some, such as the NMSU administered
IFSA grant, require a 2.75 or above. Students
receiving scholarships (such as NM Lottery),
grants, and loans administered by NMSU may use
this aid for study abroad on approved exchanges.
Students with Pell grants should apply for Gilman awards
(up to $5,000) for study abroad.
|
| Application
Deadlines |
Each
exchange program sets its own application deadlines. As
a general rule, students should apply at least
4-6 months prior to anticipated enrollment.
|
| Office
of Study Abroad Priority Administrative Deadlines |
The
Office of Study Abroad needs sufficient time
to process applications, set up files, administer
orientation, and enroll students in NMSU study
abroad courses (for transfer credit).The Office
has set May 1 as the deadline
for programs starting Summer or Fall, and November
1 for those starting Spring. By
these priority deadlines, students must have
(1) submitted
the application to the Office for endorsement
and forwarding to the ovreseas exchange contact,
(2) paid the NMSU application processing fee
(or the ISEP application fee), (3) completed
the appropriate Study Abroad Agreement and turned
it in to the Office, and (4) completed
both WebCT
orientation quizzes. Students
who apply after the priority deadline or fail
to complete the other requirements listed above
are subject to a Late Processing Fee of $50.
|
| NMSU
Fees |
NMSU
fees are posted with the site link. NMSU
charges its tuition for all exchanges,
but may or may not charge for housing and meals. NMSU
fees are subject to change at any time. Penalties
may apply for early withdrawal after accepting
placement.
|
| Other
Costs |
If
room and board is not covered under the exchange
agreement, students arrange this with the host
university or on their own. If
students do not accept the recommended housing
options on which the cost of room and board is
based, students may have to pay extra. If students
are placed in apartments as the exchange option,
they may be subject to paying the cost of utilities.
Students also pay for a passport (about
$110), student or tourist visa fees
or residency permit fees, travel to site by air-bus-train,
insurance, and personal miscellaneous expenses. Since
currency exchange rates fluctuate, review the
most current
rates for converting U.S. dollars to the
foreign currency of the country in which you
will study.
|
|
