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National Student Exchange Program Description

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About the National Student Exchange Program

The National Student Exchange (NSE) is an exciting opportunity to attend one of over 190 colleges and universities across the country and in Canada. Access is also available to international study abroad programs around the world. If you qualify, you can join the 85,000 students who have participated in the NSE program since its inception. UH Hilo was one of the first members, having joined in the 1970's.

The main NSE website address is <www.nse.org>. There you will find a description of the entire program, as well as a listing of member campuses.

What are some of the reasons to go on exchange?

  • To learn more about yourself
  • To live in a different geographic setting
  • To experience a different college setting
  • To explore a particular academic interest
  • To learn about a different culture
  • To learn to appreciate your own culture more
  • To form lasting friendships with students from other parts of the world

Who is eligible?

Students who:

  • Are enrolled full-time at UHH at the time of application
  • Were full-time in the term prior to exchange
  • Are in good standing
  • Must have completed 24 credits the term prior to exchange
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) at the completion of the term prior to exchange and maintain while on exchange.

Note: Resident, non-resident, International students and those on Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) are eligible. Additional exchange criteria may apply.

Note: Freshman may apply during their second semester to exchange the following term.

What is the Cost?

Generally, students may select between two tuition/fee payment plans: Plan A or Plan B. Each participating school determines which plan (A, B or both) can be used. On Plan A, tuition/fees are assessed at the in-state (resident) rate of the "host" campus. On Plan B, tuition/fees are paid to your "home" school at the rate you normally pay. Tuition/fee rates can be found in the free Directory of Exchange Opportunities available at the NSE campus office. On-campus housing and meals are paid for at the "host" school. Transportation costs to and from the exchange campus, and personal expenses must be paid for by the student.

Whether you participate under Plan A or Plan B, you will also be expected to pay those fees at the host school which are assessed as a condition of enrollment (i.e., general service fee, laboratory fee, art and photography supplies, and computer fees, for example.) Field trips and special event fees may be charged for NSE group activities on your host campus. Some host campuses may also assess an institutional application fee, and/or an NSE activity/orientation fee. For example, "incoming" exchange students to the UHH campus currently pay a $50 institutional (admission) application fee and a $65 NSE activity fee.

"Outgoing" UHH students are assessed a $135 NSE application fee $95 of which is forwarded to the central NSE office while the remaining $40 is used for local NSE program administration.

How does Financial Aid work on exchange?

In general, students exchanging under Plan A, apply for financial aid from their "host" schools. The student must remember to enter the school's FAFSA code on the FAFSA application. FAFSA codes for all NSE-schools can be found in the free Directory of Exchange Opportunities available at the campus NSE office.

Students exchanging under Plan B apply through UHH---their "home" institution. UHH students on Plan B exchanges who qualify for financial aid generally will have their funds deposited directly into their UHH "student account." In some instances, (for example, certain scholarship monies) a "paper" check is mailed to the "host" school financial aid office for disbursement. Details about financial aid should be discussed with the UHH Financial Aid office, including treatment of home campus "work study" eligibility.

UHH NSE students with FAFSA-established financial need who are Hawaii residents may apply for the Edwin T. and Leilani Kam scholarship through the UHH NSE office.

When can you go on exchange?

Sophomores, juniors or seniors may go on exchange. Freshmen who apply must complete the 24 minimum credit hours before the desired exchange term. Additional requirements apply for seniors, including submission of a "Graduation In Absentia" request to their UHH deparmental "college."

You may participate in the program for up to one academic year. A student can exchange to one school for one semester and to a second institution for another term. Students on exchange for one term may "extend" their exchange to a second term with permission of both campuses.

Exchange placements are made only one academic year in advance.

How do grades and credits work?

Full credit is given for work satisfactorily completed on exchange. At UHH, satisfactory is a "C" (NOT C-minus.) Prior to exchange, you must meet with your academic advisor for an evaluation of courses to be taken at the host school which will transfer back. This ensures that you have complete information concerning your academic work on exchange and its applicability to your own degree program.

In addition, prior to exchange you must meet with a UHH Admissions Office counselor for a determination of equivalency between UHH classes and the exchange school classes---for all 100 and 200 level classes. Grades earned while on exchange will be calculated and reflected in your overall GPA--not your UHH institutional GPA.

Regarding some study abroad programs through NSE, the NSE-sponsoring campus may not evaluate the foreign credits and, therefore, may not issue a transcript from their school. Students should discuss handling of "foreign transcripts" with the UHH Admissions Office in advance of exchange.

What is my status while on exchange?

NSE students are not transfer students. They are still students at their home institutions while enrolled at the host school. They are subject to the rules and regulations of both institutions.

Who do I Contact?

Ms. Pat Williams-Clayburn,
E-mail: pcwillia@hawaii.edu
Campus Center, Room 313

Telephone: (808) 974-7389, Fax: (808) 933-0047 OR 974-7691

Pat Williams-Clayburn will be out of the office from Wednesday, 6/11/08 through Wednesday, 6/18/08. She will be monitoring phone and e-mail messages in case of emergencies.