ISEP (International Student Exchange Program)

Participation Conditions

• The ISEP programme is intended for full-time students of Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes at MU.
• At the time of the application deadline, the applicant must be in the second to fourth year of study at MU (i.e. 2nd, 3rd and 4th year of Bachelor's studies, 1st year of Master's studies, or 2nd to 4th year of a "long" Master's study). It is possible to travel beyond the standard period of study.
• The standard length of a study placement is one semester. You can follow up your study in the United States with a work placement of the same length (Academic Training), which allows you to work legally in the US in your field of study. You can find more information here.
• You can participate in the programme only once during your studies at MU.
• The student is obliged to obtain 20 ECTS per semester of study at the host institution or the equivalent in the credit system of the foreign university.
• The programme requires the MU student to submit an application for recognition of courses/credits from the foreign placement at the end of the placement. More information can be found here.
• In case of studying law and medical and pharmaceutical sciences at MU, we recommend careful consideration of participation in the mobility programme to the USA (but also other countries) and consultation with the academic coordinator at the home faculty due to the different system of education in these fields (in case of the consent of the home faculty of the MU student, this placement is also feasible).
• If the student is applying to study abroad as part of a Master's degree (NMgr or 4th and 5th year of a long Master's degree), we recommend careful selection of the receiving institutions (check the catalogues for availability, number and content of courses) and subsequent consultation with the academic coordinator at the home department/faculty before closing the online CZS application.
• The student must be in active full-time study of the field of study at MU for the entire duration of the ISEP study abroad, i.e. the study at MU must not be terminated, interrupted or transferred to a form other than full-time.
• The ISEP programme only supports study at universities outside Europe (mobility within Europe is possible through the Erasmus+ programme).
• MU only supports study within the ISEP Exchange program, not ISEP Direct.

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Financial Conditions

The host institution offers:

• tuition fee waiver at the host institution
• full-time study counted towards the MU degree (more on recognition of results of foreign placements)
• accommodation and board at the host institution or a scholarship to cover these costs (from the host school)

Masaryk University offers:

• The maximum possible scholarship from CZS is CZK 20,000 for one month of study, provided the student is physically present at the foreign university.  CZS strives every year to raise funds for the scholarship, but the award of this scholarship is not guaranteed and is not eligible. CZS reserves the right to reduce or not award the scholarship. In the case of a spring semester placement, CZS is usually able to disburse the scholarship in February, so students should be financially prepared for this possible delay.
• The scholarship is awarded on the basis of an electronic application submitted in the IS MU and after the study agreement has been duly approved by all parties (LA document) in the IS OIS.
• The scholarship is NOT available for online tuition at a foreign university.

Additional costs of the departing student:

• a contribution towards accommodation and meals for a foreign student studying at MU for each semester of their placement at the host university
  • in the academic year 2023/2024 this amount is 50.000 CZK/semester
• Administrative fees paid to ISEP for the administration of the university placement:
  • non-refundable application fee of 100 USD
  • 425 USD internship placement fee. This fee is only paid by the student when they agree to the placement at the host university.
• compulsory health insurance ISEP: approx. 100 USD/month (current rate) must cover the entire duration of the study for full months.
• travel
• study materials
• visa fees, SEVIS fee (USA)
• pocket allowance (the amount can range from 150-400 USD for one month)
• Other (varies according to the fees associated with staying in a particular country, language exam fee, etc.) 

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Application

Application process

The application process for the ISEP program involves two steps:

• 1. Submission of an electronic application to the CZS
  • The online application form for the CZS selection procedure is available here. First register here using your UČO (in case you do not have login details yet) and then fill in the online application form. This will be available approximately 2 months before the actual call.
• 2. Submission of the electronic ISEP application, which is submitted by the student only after he/she has successfully passed the CZS selection procedure. For more information on completing the ISEP application, please contact the CZS Coordinator. Please do not submit the ISEP application yourself without approval from the CZS Coordinator.
  • Important note: Nominated students will need to provide evidence of language proficiency in the ISEP portal for the application according to the requirements of the receiving institutions (available from each institution on the ISEP website). The vast majority of institutions accept the TOEFL or IELTS tests. Meeting the language requirements for the CZS selection process is not sufficient for the ISEP application. Attention: certificates issued by the University of Cambridge (i.e. FCE, CAE and CPE) are usually not recognised! Check carefully the language requirements of your chosen institutions. We recommend that you sign up for a TOEFL or IELTS exam date before the CZS selection process closes so that you receive your results in time to include them in your ISEP application. The results of this exam must be known by February 15 for the start of the fall semester or September 15 for the start of the spring semester.

CZS ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FORM

A student's electronic application will only be accepted for the selection process if it is closed by the deadline, contains all attachments and the letter of recommendation is received at CZS by the deadline date.

In the application form, students choose the universities they want to study at abroad –⁠ the minimum number is one, the maximum number is up to ten.

A list of host universities from which to choose can be found on the ISEP website (Find a Program > Start a search > Select university (Masaryk University) > Select semester, year, language).

The number of universities filled in is not a decisive criterion, but the applicant must take into account the fact that a higher number of universities will ensure a higher chance of successful placement (which is done by ISEP). For example, if you only choose universities from highly competitive countries such as Australia and New Zealand, ISEP may not be able to place you at any of them and will offer you an alternative at its discretion.

The ISEP programme of MU only supports studies at universities outside Europe! (Mobility across Europe is possible through the Erasmus+ programme.)

MU only supports study within the ISEP Exchange program, not ISEP Direct.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

After completing all parts of the online application, you must upload the following documents to the online interface, which are part of the online application for the ISEP:

• An academic motivation letter in AJ and possibly in another language in which you will study abroad (the number of these letters corresponds to the number of schools listed in the first three places on the application form, up to a maximum of three institutions). In the letter, explain why each of your chosen institutions is suitable for your academic plans (max. 1 A4 page per institution). Be specific, make clear your academic reasons for choosing a particular school. Cover letters matter a lot; general or copied information will not guarantee you progression to the interview.
• Proof of foreign language skills. If you are interested in studying in English, you must provide proof of your English language skills for the selection process at CZS
  • Accepted documents include language certificates such as TOEFL, IELTS, CAE, FCE (all at B2 level), or studies in English at MU (PedF and FF MU).
  • Students studying at MU in the English programme do not need to submit any AJ exams or other documents for the selection process at the CZS.
  • Other students must prove their proficiency in an English language test organised by the Centre for International Cooperation.
    • You can apply for the AJ test using the online form.
    • Students who have taken this test in the past and are interested in repeating it must seek approval from the CZS Coordinator.
    • The level of the test corresponds to the European classification level B2. Listening comprehension, lexical and grammatical knowledge and reading comprehension are tested. The total test time is 60 minutes. The date(s) of the AJ test can be found in the link above.
• Important note: Nominated students will need to provide evidence of language proficiency in the ISEP portal for the application according to the requirements of the receiving institutions (available from each institution on the ISEP website). The vast majority of institutions accept the TOEFL or IELTS tests. Meeting the language requirements for the CZS selection process is not sufficient for the ISEP application. Attention: certificates issued by the University of Cambridge (i.e. FCE, CAE and CPE) are usually not recognised! Check carefully the language requirements of your chosen institutions. We recommend that you sign up for a TOEFL or IELTS exam date before the CZS selection process closes so that you receive your results in time to include them in your ISEP application. The results of this exam must be known by March 1 for the start of the fall semester or by September 15 for the start of the spring semester. For information on the language proficiency requirements recognized by ISEP, please visit the ISEP website.
• A letter of recommendation from an MU teacher (even from an external student) in AJ must be written on the form provided (Academic Reference form can be found in the Documents section) and delivered in a sealed envelope, which the teacher signs on a label. The teacher can also send the letter of recommendation by e-mail from ISU by the deadline for submitting the application form to the CZS (e-mail smith@czs.muni.cz), using the given scanned form (Academic Reference –⁠ both parts). Letters of recommendation to ISEP will not be accepted in any other form.
• Extract of grades from the IS MU in AJ for all MU studies or other relevant studies of the university you declare in your application. Students can generate a list of MU grades in the IS MU (application transcripts).

After the application deadline, selected students may be invited to the second round of the selection process. This involves a possible personal interview in AJ (or another language depending on the language of instruction) where the coordinators will discuss in detail their academic motivation, study plans at the institutions and other details of the programme. Interviews, if any, take place after the Christmas break, and usually last between 10 and 15 minutes each.

Only after the second round of the selection process is completed will the final confirmation of the successful candidates be made. All students will be informed of the results by email.

The following criteria are evaluated in the online application:

• academic cover letter (40 % total)
• teacher recommendation (10%)
• proof of language proficiency (20 %)
• study results (MU study percentile 15%)
• electronic application (15%)

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Before Departure

• You will be informed by email by the programme coordinator once you have been selected in the CZS selection procedure.
• The next step is to complete the application form in the ISEP portal. Based on this application, ISEP will place you in one of your listed schools. The CCI Coordinator will communicate with you regarding this step. This coordinator will handle the administrative steps with you from MU prior to your departure, and will also disburse your scholarship. He/she will be your liaison with MU until the end of your stay. Please communicate any changes in your placement with us as well! Remember that you are still an MU student even when abroad.
• From the nomination you will also be in contact with the ISEP coordinator (with them you will deal with your ISEP application, placement, visa documents, insurance, ...) and after placement at the receiving institution also with the coordinator from that institution (with them you will deal with courses, Learning Agreement, ...).
• The student is obliged to conclude a Learning Agreement. It is filled in ONLINE in IS OIS, see the Instructions for filling in the Learning Agreement online (you can find it in the Documents section) 
• The student consults the study contract with the person in charge of the MU department/faculty of the field of study through which he/she is travelling. The authorized person proposes the method of recognition of studies and confirms by his/her electronic signature that the courses taken abroad will be recognized upon the student's return.
• The study contract is then confirmed with an electronic signature by the CZS coordinator and then the document is automatically sent to the foreign institution for confirmation.
• MU only accepts an electronic study contract completed in the IS OIS.
• Students must complete at least 20 ECTS credits per semester abroad.
• The student records the study placement in the MU IS (Personal Administration –⁠ Personal Data section) and uploads the signed study contract (at least by an authorised MU person) to the MU IS system.
• Students must arrange their visas, flights, accommodation and other requirements in cooperation with the CZS and the coordinator of the host university.
• When purchasing tickets, we recommend arranging trip cancellation insurance.
• Students can apply for a scholarship to support their study abroad. To do so, they need to submit the Application for Scholarship Abroad electronically in the IS MU (the link is sent by the CZS coordinator by e-mail). The scholarship is usually paid before the start of the placement. It is necessary to submit the application with the exact expected start and end dates of the study, not the placement, at the earliest one month before the planned start.
• The scholarship is paid to the Czech koruna account listed in the IS MU in one instalment if it falls within one calendar year. In the event of a top-up in a new calendar year, the second instalment is sent automatically without the need to apply for it.

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While Abroad

• The student has the right to make changes to the study contract, but these must be made no later than 4 weeks after the start of the semester at the foreign institution.
• All changes to the study contract must be agreed electronically by both the sending and receiving institutions.
• Changes to the Learning Agreement are filled in online by the student in IS OIS according to the Instructions for filling in the Learning Agreement and its changes (see section Documents)
• The student will have the Confirmation of Studies document, i.e. Confirmation of the actual duration of the study placement (available for download directly in the application form in IS OIS), and will also arrange for the issue of a statement of grades or other documents required for the recognition of credits/courses completed.

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After Return

• The student uploads the Confirmation of Studies to the application form in the IS OIS within 10 days of the end of the study placement.
• The student uploads a Transcript of Records (Transcript of Credits, minimum 20 ECTS) to the application form in the IS OIS –⁠ we recommend finding out in advance how the document will be distributed (often it is issued after the student's departure), preferably within 5 weeks of the end of the study placement.
• The student will prepare a final report on the placement, preferably within 30 days of the end of the placement. The report is completed online in the OIS database (select Final Reports in the Open Programs Overview section).
• Students must apply for recognition of courses/credits from their study abroad after completing their studies abroad. Recognition of courses/credits is the full responsibility of individual faculties/departments/institutes and the MU person in charge. More information is available here.

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Work placement – Academic Training

Students can follow up their study placement in the USA with a work placement of the same length (Academic Training). The internship usually takes place after the study placement and must be related to the field of study.

• For one-semester ISEP students, it is possible to extend the validity of their US visa (and therefore the time they can do their work placement) by up to 4 months.
• For students who take a full year of ISEP, it is possible to extend the validity of their US visa (and therefore the time they can do their work placement) by up to 9 months.
• Students must provide proof of financial support if their traineeship is unpaid.
• You must also provide proof of work authorization to ISEP once the student receives a job offer from the employer.
• The Academic Training Internship can be supported by CZS MU with a scholarship up to the amount of the scholarship for the study placement. Each year CZS strives to raise funds for the scholarship, however, the award of this scholarship is not guaranteed and is not eligible. CZS reserves the right to reduce or not award the scholarship. In order to receive the scholarship, it is essential that the work placement be approved by the home department, registered in the IS, and approved in the Traineeship Agreement.

For more information on the requirements for the work placement, please visit the ISEP website and contact the coordinators. Only the second option –⁠ Academic Training Internship (during or directly after your studies) –⁠ applies to MU students.

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FAQ

I noticed on the ISEP website that you can fill out the application there as well. So where should I fill it in –⁠ in ISOIS or on the ISEP website?

You must first apply to MU via the ISOIS application portal. If you are selected for MU, only then will you send your application to ISEP. Do not submit your application on the ISEP portal without being invited, you will be informed by us well in advance.

Can I use an old stamp listing?

The stamp listing must be as up-to-date as possible. You must use the grade transcript from the course you are applying for.

What if I'm only in my first semester of a graduate programme?

Then please upload the Diploma Supplement from your Bachelor's degree.

I took the AJ test for my Erasmus+ placement, can you give me credit for it?

We cannot accept the test written for Erasmus+ placements for ISEP purposes. You must apply for the CZS test. This test cannot be accepted for Erasmus+ applications.

Can I take the CZS AJ test multiple times?

You write the test only once each cycle/semester.

I have taken the CZS AJ test in the past, can you accept my results?

Students who have passed the test in the previous selection period may have this result counted towards their current application. Results from earlier tests cannot be counted. The test must be retaken.

I have an FCE/CAE/CPE certificate, is it enough to meet the language competency requirements?

For admission to the MU selection procedure, yes. It is important for us to make sure that the student's English is at a sufficient level to cope with studying abroad. But for application purposes in the ISEP portal and for university placement, usually not. Look carefully at the requirements of the receiving institutions on the ISEP website. The vast majority of institutions only accept the TOEFL or IELTS tests. We recommend that you register for a TOEFL or IELTS test date before the CZS selection process closes so that you can include your results in your ISEP application and not miss the deadline. The ISEP portal application must be complete by February 15 for the start of the fall semester or September 1 for the start of the spring semester.

What should I include in my cover letter?

In cover letters, we are mainly looking for information about what attracted you to the foreign institution and why you want to go there. These are mainly academic goals. Do not write entire letters using the copy paste method. If we see three cover letters with the same text, just with the name of the university changed, they will not be evaluated well. And editing matters too.

Who should I address my cover letters to, who all will read them?

Address cover letters generally. They are used for the internal selection procedure at MU (or CZS), but they can also be used for your application to ISEP at the admissions institution in case you are successful.

The Academic Reference document is a bit confusing. What exactly should I fill in and what does the teacher fill in?

Download the form in the Documents section, fill in the details in the header. And don't forget to sign! At the bottom of the form, either fill in the coordinator's name and email in the box or leave the box blank. Forward the form to the instructor when completed in this way.

The teacher then fills in the table and attaches a letter in AJ (signed). The teacher then sends these two documents either scanned to the e-mail address smith@czs.muni.cz from his/her IS MU e-mail or physically in a sealed envelope directly to the CZS address.

Can you advise me on how to search for university admissions?

Definitely! In the first step, we will exclude universities that cannot be reached via ISEP. Firstly, MU does not send students to universities in Europe via ISEP, that is what the Erasmus+ programme is for. Second, there are two types of ISEP programmes: direct and exchange. From MU, you can only apply to Exchange. Pay attention to the programme offerings on the schools' websites. Many of them offer both types of programmes!

Choose from the ISEP Study Abroad website, where you can set up your search according to different filters (video tutorial here).

When selecting universities, follow the “Chances of Placement” on each university's profile. If a university indicates “most competitive” or “very limited/limited” be prepared that you will probably not be placed at that school and put another school you would like to go to where the Chances of Placement are better as high as possible on your list. You can find an overview of Chances of Placement here.

I am (or will be during my placement) a Master's student. Does the choice of schools change for me?

Please note that not every university accepts graduate students, this should be checked on the individual university profiles on the ISEP website. Really look carefully at each individual school and its degree offerings in your field of study to make sure there is enough choice. Then consult your selection with your field supervisor or designated academic coordinator in your department/faculty (designee).

Also make sure that the course offerings of your chosen universities include face to face courses, not just online (this would be a problem for visas). This could be a particular problem for Master's level courses.

Can I apply for a PhD?

In theory, yes, it depends on whether the university accepts doctoral students for mobility. Within the list of universities you can use additional filters and select Ph.D. under Academic Level.

What are my chances of being selected for ISEP?

If you fill out the application form in ISOIS correctly and in detail and deliver all the documents on time, a relatively large. We cannot include many students in the selection process due to application deficiencies. If you make sure that your application is in order and your cover letters make your academic motivation clear, then it will be a competition. Different numbers of students apply each year, so it is not possible to give a blanket ratio of successful and unsuccessful applicants. If you are unsure about anything regarding your application, please do not hesitate to contact the pre-nomination coordinator.

How soon after the tender closes will I know the results?

After the application deadline, selected students will be invited to the second round of the selection process. This will be a personal interview where you will clarify with the coordinator whether you understand the conditions of the programme correctly. The interviews will take place after the Christmas period, i.e. until approximately the first half of January. Only after the second round of the selection process is completed will the final selection of successful candidates be made. All students will be informed of the results by email.

Will I know which school I will be going to right after I successfully complete the CZS selection process?

You will be placed at a specific school by ISEP, not by CZS.

How does ISEP place students at each university?

The placement process is all about ensuring that you meet the admission requirements for all the institutions (note the proof of language competences) you have listed. Then also look at what Chances of Placement each institution has and include some schools with Chances of “fair” and “good” in your list. Then it's all about capacity. You can expect to hear from ISEP about specific placement about a week or two after applications close.

So if I am not placed directly by CZS, can I still re-evaluate my choice of schools to have a better chance of placement?

Yes, you can change the choice of schools you enter on the CZS application form in the ISEP application. This selection is not final until the ISEP application is confirmed. If you want to be sure of your placement options, contact your ISEP coordinator.

What are the chances of getting into schools in Australia or New Zealand?

Australia and New Zealand are very competitive and there is little chance that ISEP will be able to place you at an institution in this region. Capacities are small and demand from around the world exceeds them by several times. Take your time and find institutions in other countries where your heart and your field of study draw you.

Could it be that ISEP will not be able to place me in any of my chosen schools? What is the procedure then?

Yes, it can happen, the reasons may be different. If ISEP is unable to place you at any of your chosen schools, it will offer you an alternative depending on your field and level of study. If you do not like the school, you may not accept the nomination. ISEP will not offer other alternatives. Therefore, we recommend that you avoid these situations and select at least one or two institutions with “fair” or “good” Chances of Placement for your list.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the ISEP coordinators, they will be happy to help you!

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