Important FAQs for National Student Exchange
Who is eligible to participate in NSE?
- Any full-time student (12 or more hours per semester) enrolled in a baccalaureate program at UW-W, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, who has completed at least 30 credit hours at UW-W is eligible to apply.
- The OIEP recommends participating in the NSE program during a student’s sophomore or junior year.
How do I select a school?
- The NSE coordinator has NSE catalogues, as well as the booklet, “Widening Your Educational Horizons,” to help you identify appropriate institutions.
- Students should also plan to review the web page of participating universities in order to ensure that a prospective campus meets all of the student’s needs (like academics, location, cost or special needs).
- Students need to discuss prospective exchange programs with the appropriate academic advisor to determine which institutions have comparable fields of study.
- Plan to identify several potential exchange institutions. The OIEP recommends finding 3 to 5 selections that are suitable for what the student is looking for in a host NSE school.
Participating Universities
- Click here to review a list of participating universities.
How long is the exchange?
- Normally, a student will participate in the NSE program for one semester (fall or spring) or one academic year.
- Students may participate in the NSE program for a total of one academic year.
What about costs?
- At UW Whitewater, UW-W is a part of NSE via “Plan B” only.
- On "Plan B," students are billed their regular UW-W tuition and fees here at UW-W.
- At the host campus, the student will be responsible for paying the expenses for transportation, room, board and books.
- A $200 NSE fee will be billed to the student’s UW-W student account during the normal billing cycle the semester of participation.
How does financial aid apply?
- If a student is eligible for financial aid, it will apply to the cost of the NSE program.
- On "Plan B," aid will be disbursed through the UW-W financial aid office.
- Students should consult with the Financial Aid Office early in the NSE application process.
What about courses and grades?
- Before participating in NSE, students will complete an advising agreement with their academic advisor.
- The advising agreement will ensure that students understand how courses taken at the host school will transfer back to UW-W, and how the courses will apply toward the student’s degree program.
- Students will earn "direct credit" while studying on NSE’s Plan “B.”
- This means that students will receive courses, credits and grades, which are recorded on a student’s UW-W transcript as if the student had studied at UW-W.
- All credits earned while on exchange may count towards the student’s UW-W degree program.
- Grades earned while on the NSE program will be listed on the student's Whitewater transcript, but will not be calculated into the student's Whitewater GPA.
How do I apply?
- After a student decides on prospective NSE schools, the student must submit an NSE application to the OIEP.
- Applications will be initially reviewed at UW-W and then complete applications will be submitted at the annual NSE placement conference for further review.
When is the application deadline?
Applications and letters of recommendation have a Priority February 1st for the following fall, academic year and spring semesters and a Final Deadline of February 28th. Please plan early!Where do I get more details?
For more information and application materials, please contact:Kevin Spears
Assistant Director for Education Abroad
Office of International Education and Programs
University of Wisconsin Whitewater 800 West Main St.
Andersen Library, Room 2243
Whitewater, WI 53190
Ph: 262-472-5759
Fax: 262-472-1491
studyabroad@uww.edu