The National Student Exchange (NSE) is a program for undergraduate exchange within the United States and Canada. Instead of crossing oceans, NSE students cross state, regional, provincial, and cultural borders.
The National Student Exchange is an association of colleges and universities in the United States and Canada which has provided exchange opportunities to more than 90,000 undergraduate students since its founding in 1968. Students apply for participation on their home campus and pay their normal tuition.
Through the National Student Exchange, students may study for up to one academic year at another location while paying regular IPFW tuition and fees.
For further information on the National Student Exchange please visit the official NSE Web site.
With nearly 200 colleges and universities from which to choose, students are able to find a university with just the right combination of courses, facilities, and environment to meet academic and personal needs and interests.
You can take new courses, make new friends, see new places and experience life from a different point of view by exploring life in a new location.
Click for a list of member campuses participating in exchanges this year.
Where do you want to study next year?
NSE provides students with affordable and practical opportunities to experience new and diverse settings in which to study and live. NSE has found that exchange within the U.S. and Canada can be just as exhilarating and culturally enriching as international study and one of the most significant experiences of a student's undergraduate education. NSE students access new academic options, immerse themselves in a different environment, search for graduate schools or future employment, acquire life skills, experience life from a different point of view, and expand their personal and educational perspectives.
Students participate in NSE in order to:
- experience personal growth
- live in a different geographic area
- become more independent and resourceful
- broaden personal and educational perspectives
- explore and appreciate new cultures
- widen university boundaries
- take courses not offered on their home campus
- learn from different professors
- access courses with different perspectives
- explore new areas of study
- investigate graduate or professional schools
- look for future employment opportunities
Participating in NSE can be exhilarating, culturally enriching, and one of the most significant experiences of your undergraduate education. The changes seen in student attitudes, understanding of other people in other settings, maturity, self-confidence, and decision-making are similar to the experiences of students who study internationally.
Curious about what our students are doing on exchange?
Check out our Facebook page for pictures and comments!
While on an NSE exchange, IPFW student Nicholas Daughenbaugh saw a need in his exchange community and started ROTO Threads, which supports orphans. See their first radio interview by clicking here.
Information outgoing students should keep in mind is paraphrased from the NSE Web site under the "During Exchange" section.
Your Host NSE Coordinator
You are expected to attend the orientation scheduled by your host NSE coordinator, which will familiarize you with the host institution and introduce you to other NSE participants. If you arrive ahead of an orientation or one is not scheduled, introduce yourself to your NSE coordinator. This person is familiar with university policies and procedures, and is the first person you should contact if issues arise while on exchange. If the coordinator is unable to assist, this individual will know the appropriate personnel to address your questions or concerns. Upon arrival, you should give your mailing address, phone, e-mail address, and emergency contact to both host and home campus NSE coordinators.
Adjusting to Your New Environment
Some students may experience difficulty in adjusting to their new environment; you may experience home-sickness, isolation, and disillusionment. This mental, physical, and emotional adjustment to living in a new place is referred to as culture shock. Culture shock happens because, unconsciously, you may expect other people and situations to be just like back home, something in your new environment will not fit a frame of reference and won’t be fully comprehended or liked. Sometimes trivial differences become the most grating and may be blown out of proportion.
Keep in mind that initial discomfort is a normal part of adjusting to a new environment. Share your feelings with other exchange participants, keep an open mind, be flexible, get involved in activities, and look at the experience as a mind-stretching process that will increase your understanding of your host setting and of yourself. If you continue to feel uncomfortable in your new setting, contact your NSE coordinator for assistance.
Maintaining Exchange Eligibility
Your home and host coordinators will inform you of the GPA you will be required to retain in order to remain eligible to continue in the NSE program from one term to the next. These requirements may be different between your home and host institutions, and may be different from your host or home institution’s normal academic retention standards. It is your responsibility to know what will be expected of you as an NSE participant to maintain program eligibility.
In addition to maintaining a required GPA, you must also be enrolled full-time while at the host campus. Students not maintaining full-time enrollment and/or the required GPA will have their exchanges cancelled by either the home or host institution. Further action may also be taken by the home and host campuses.
Rules and Regulations
While on exchange, you are governed by the Conditions of Placement as outlined on the Placement Acceptance Form you signed, as well as the rules and regulations of your host college or university. These regulations may be different than those of your home campus. You will be subject to academic standards; residence hall rules, regulations, and contractual obligations; financial obligations and payment deadlines; course registration and withdrawal schedules; and codes of social/behavioral conduct.
Information on university rules and regulations may be found in the university catalog, schedule of classes, student handbook, campus Web site, and other information as provided by the host campus and your host NSE coordinator. It is your responsibility to know host campus rules and regulations and abide by them. Students who are in violation of host campus policies should expect the same consequences or disciplinary action as students who are native to the host campus. Further action, including cancellation of your exchange, may also be taken.
Personal Safety
While on exchange, you are responsible for acting prudently and exercising caution and common sense at all times. Take time to learn about your new environment and familiarize yourself with campus and neighborhood surroundings. Heed the safety advice provided by your host campus coordinator, residence life staff, and others familiar with your environment. Inform your parents, guardians, spouse, or significant other of how to reach you and your NSE coordinator, and maintain regular contact with those back home.
Crisis Awareness
If an extreme weather (e.g., hurricane, flood, earthquake, tornado, etc.) or another emergency situation arises while you are on exchange, follow the instructions provided by your NSE coordinator and the appropriate safety and student services personnel on your host campus. Advise your parents, guardians, spouse, or significant other of the nature of the emergency and periodically reassure them of your safety.
Financial Responsibility
You are expected to pay tuition, fees, room, meals, and other financial obligations in accordance with stated home and host campus deadlines. Failure to make full payment of all required fees or to resolve other debts to the home or host institution will result in the cancellation of your exchange. Until all outstanding financial obligations have been paid, your host campus will not release a transcript; and your home university will not permit re-enrollment, issue a transcript, or award a diploma. Home and host campuses work together to resolve outstanding financial obligations.
Host Campus Transcript
At the conclusion of your exchange, it is your responsibility to request that an official transcript be sent to your home campus. Posting of the host campus work on your home campus permanent record completes your exchange agreement. If a transcript is not sent to your home campus, your permanent record at the home campus is incomplete with consequences which may affect graduation and requests for future home campus transcripts.
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