It’s been 4 years since Jonathan is working in Australia. He belongs to the interiors of Ireland and had always wanted to settle abroad. He had two options after his Masters degree. First was to either find a PhD abroad or to find a high paying job that helps him make investments for the future. Before starting his professional career, he wanted to see what it’s like to study abroad…testing waters they say. Something that doesn’t take a lot of time to complete yet is an enriching experience. That’s when Jonathan learnt about a student exchange program that his office colleague was a part of.
Student Exchange Programs have lost their popularity over the past few years because of the availability of scholarships to study abroad. Most would prefer paying to get an extra degree rather than paying for a short term academic experience. However, a student exchange program is easier to get into and has a number of benefits that are not widely known.
What Is A Student Exchange Program?
A student exchange program often takes place between at least 2 countries. Often hosted by schools and universities, students are selected based on their academic performance and personality characteristics. If you are interested in being a part of a student exchange program, you can apply for these at various Exchange Program Agencies. Foreign exchange students are offered the opportunity to study away from home for a period of 6 to 12 months.
If you have a mindset to challenge yourself and broaden your horizons by facilitating a global perspective, a student exchange program is the perfect opportunity for you.
Student exchange programs became popular after the 2nd World War. It was made useful in order to help students develop a global perspective. Additionally, student exchange programs have also helped students and professionals to learn new languages, understand different cultures and learn from new experiences.
Why Should You Opt For A Student Exchange Program?
Student exchange programs are often considered as alternatives to study abroad programs. If you wish to experience a student life abroad but do not wish to commit as a full time student, a student exchange program is the best option for you.
Having experience with different types of education systems will improve your credibility in the academic industry. This means that you will have the knowledge to contribute your opinions in questions related to your home country’s education policies.
Additionally, your chances to find work away from your home county will also increase multifold. This is because you will already have demonstrated a very important skill set, that is adapting yourself in foriegn environments.
It goes without saying that you will be making friends around the world. This means that you will have a strong network for your business which might help you later in your career.
How Does A Student Exchange Program Work?
To become an exchange student, you will first need to contact an agency that deals in student exchange programs such as ISEP Study Abroad. By doing this, you will be able to seek an exchange university, the destination of your exchange program. Moreover, the agency will also help you find a host family where you can stay for the duration of your study.
It is a common misconception that only school and university students are eligible to apply for student exchange programs, however, even working professionals can apply for this. These exchange programs will help you to learn new life skills, broaden your perspective and be a classic addition to your resume.
How To Apply At ISEP Study Abroad For An Exchange Program?
Step 1: Create an account with ISEP Study Abroad to understand each detail you need to declare in order to apply for a study abroad program. Here, you also need to keep yourself updated with the ISEP instructions that are updated without notice.
Step 2: Once you have submitted your initial details while signing up, an ISEP Coordinator will assist you with your application. For this purpose, you will need to submit a preliminary application form, start the nomination process and check if you are eligible to apply for a student exchange program.
Step 3: You need to decide the type of academic program you wish to be considered for. ISEP Exchange Program will allow you to trade positions with another student from an ISEP recognised institution. Alternatively, ISEP Direct will help you to directly study at the university and country of your choice.
Step 4: In the academic section of the application, mention the courses/subjects you want to learn at the host institution. You must make sure that the subjects you choose align with your interest and are a good fit for your academic and professional career.
Step 5: Prepare academic references from your home university. You need to submit this while filling your application. In addition, if your destination country/university has special language requirements, you must meet the ISEP Language evaluation criteria or submit your language score cards such as IELTS or TOEFL.
Step 6: Upload your passport in the biography section of your application and other necessary documents.
Step 7: Create and declare a budget. This will allow you to prove that you are able to fund yourself throughout the duration of the student exchange program. This can also include any scholarships you have gained for the period of your study.
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Thanks for reading our blog on FAQs: Student Exchange Program Edition. If you are seeking scholarships to study abroad, we can help you find the scholarships and awards that suit you best. The following reads may be of help:
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I have done Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts from India and completed my graduation in the year 2022 .I am 22 years old. After graduation, I have done 1 year paid internship from USA .Now, I would like to take occupational experience and learn culinary skills and also do masters in Culinary arts.How can I find the college n best course / country where I can persue studying further