Frequently asked questions
Yes. The College recruits for the following fall semester and academic year exchanges in January-March. Recruitment for spring semester is August-September.
Check the College Bulletin. Under All academic programs, select Degrees and Majors. If you are majoring in one of these disciplines, you are eligible.
You can apply for a passport through most U.S. post offices.
If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after the end of your proposed exchange term. If it is not, plan on renewing it soon.
Not as much as you might think, and exchanges can be an affordable way to go abroad. For instance, the estimated cost for room and board, books and incidentals, international airfare, and insurance at SKKU in South Korea is about $6,000. You pay IU tuition at your regular residency rate. A semester in Bloomington costs an estimated $8,856 on top of tuition (see MoneySmarts), so even with the airfare the cost can be comparable to or less than a semester in Bloomington.
Yes. Since you enroll at IUB (in a placeholder course), your tuition will show up on your bursar account and any scholarships, loans, or other assistance will be applied to that. Students who have aid that goes above the cost of tuition should arrange for direct deposit so that the overage may be used for housing and books, which are paid for at the partner campus.
Yes. The College International Office makes travel grants available to nominated students on a competitive basis. Please visit our Funding Opportunities webpage to find additional opportunities.
You will have the opportunity to take classes with highly qualified faculty, just as you do at IUB. At universities in many other countries, there is a greater emphasis on individual learning. While class attendance and participation are important, students are likely to find that the syllabus is not as detailed, grades are based on just one or two assignments or a final exam, and students are graded on a curve or there is less clarity on how a grade is assigned.
The academic calendar varies by institution. Frequently, however, the examination period for the fall semester takes place in January. If you are studying on exchange for the fall semester at a university that has a January exam period, you will need to look at courses that offer the option of an early assessment, namely, assignments or exams that can be completed in December.
Student finalists will have interviews, about 20 minutes, with College International staff, in addition to attending a session on academics. In most cases, these will be in person, but may take place by phone or Zoom if necessary. In this meeting, College International will talk with you about your goals for the exchange, any opportunities or potential obstacles, adjusting to life in a different culture, and specific academic objectives.
Upon selection for the exchange, you will need to take care of several administrative matters. You will need to apply to the host university, arrange housing, apply for a student visa, and purchase airline tickets. College International will host a pre-departure orientation for all of its students going on an exchange. This orientation will be in person on the Bloomington campus, in December for spring exchange participants and April for fall exchange participants. This will be supplemented by preparation materials provided online.