Application and Participation

Explore Participation

• Meet with your home campus NSE coordinator or attend a virtual information session with NSE-HQ 
• Research the available exchange placement options through nse.org
• Consult your academic advisor
• Consider how much flexibility you have regarding course selection and destination
• Discuss your potential participation with loved ones 
• Determine your financial resources for exchange by speaking with a financial aid specialist in All-In-One
• Complete the NSE preliminary application and meet with NSE advisor in the CISP to finalize your application

Application Process

All interested students apply via the preliminary online application form. CSU's NSE coordinator is available to help you complete the application process, determine your eligibility, and rank your school selections so as to maximize your placement acceptance chances. Once a preliminary application and meeting/appointment have taken place, students will be asked to pay a non-refundable $156 fee to the NSE consortium headquarters. 

In addition to meeting eligibility criteria, additional factors which may be considered including your flexibility, the ability to adapt to short-term relocation, clear academic and personal goals, support of your academic advisors, and a willingness to be a positive representative of your home campus while on exchange. Applications are considered complete once all of the components have been received and a meeting has taken place between the applicant and the home campus NSE coordinator. Rolling admissions take place throughout the year however, students will find the highest availability of placements if they adhere to:

Priority application deadline is Feb 15 for following academic year

Cost

Cleveland State undergraduates may participate in NSE through the HOME PAY option only. Students who participate on HOME pay, will be assessed their normal tuition/fees while on exchange. There may be some encillary fees assessed by the HOST university (e.g., laboratory courses, general service, computer, technology, art and photography supplies) check the Campus Detail tabs for each campus for details. 

Room and board (rent and food) are always paid at your host campus. You are responsible for transportation, personal expenses, and sightseeing opportunities while on exchange. Financial aid may be used and a new cost-of-attendance budget can be submitted to the CSU Office of Financial Aid via a consortium agreement. 

Scholarships

Students may apply for the CISP Education Abroad Scholarship to help with the costs associated with participating in an exchange program through the National Student Exchange Program.

If applying to study in Canada, students may also apply to the Killam Scholarship's open competition program which awards up to $5,000.

Courses and Grading

Your credits taken off-campus are considered as "in residence" at CSU since you will be charged and paying CSU tuition. Your credits and grades are recorded on your CSU academic record although the grades are not factored into your CSU grade point average (GPA). Consult your academic advisor(s) (faculty and/or College professional) regarding tentative course selection prior to going on exchange and preferably during the time you are exploring possible host campuses. A written advising agreement, indicating how work completed at the host campus will fit into your CSU degree program, must be completed after the placement process and prior to leaving for your exchange. 

Eligibility

Each year approximately 1,700 students from around the nation participate in NSE. They continue to make progress toward home campus degree programs while studying in new places, meeting new people, and enrolling in specialized courses or unique academic options which may not be available on their home campuses.

Exchange participation is a privilege, not a right. Listed below are the minimum requirements for NSE participation.

• Full-time enrollment at CSU in the semester prior to exchange
• Cumulative 2.5 GPA (4.0 scale) or better
• Good standing (academic, personal, and financial)
• undergraduate standing

There may be additional requirements and/or restrictions imposed by your host campus. You can learn of these from your campus NSE coordinator Julie Good and from the website of NSE.

Placement

Most placements are made through the negotiation of home and host coordinators at NSE's annual conference in early March. Annually, 97% of the applicants are placed at one of their campus choices. Placement probabilities are governed by the number of openings at an institution and the number of students seeking that location.

After Placement

Placements are confirmed by signing a Placement Acceptance Form (PAF). Upon receipt of the form, the host NSE coordinator will forward enrollment materials which usually include a housing application, an institutional admissions form, and registration information. All materials must be completed and returned by stated deadlines. At the end of the term preceding exchange you must have maintained all eligibility requirements applicable at the time of your application or your exchange will be canceled.

Length of Exchange

You may participate in NSE for a single term or a full academic year.