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This page is being
discontinued. Please visit our new website,
www.educationabroad.vt.edu, then perform an advanced search
for Bilateral Exchange programs, using the "Find a Program"
option at the top of the screen. Or search by country, region,
or other variables.
The Bilateral Exchange Program
Download
Bilateral Application Forms
here.
What is it?
Bilateral
exchanges are reciprocal and involve two universities: Virginia
Tech and a partner university. This means that students from
both institutions pay their usual tuition and fees to their home
institutions before they go abroad, and then they "switch"
places. The students pay their room and board directly to their
host institution.
This type of
program, like the ISEP program, is considered to be a
full cultural and academic immersion. Since you are taking
someone's place, you may be the only Virginia Tech student at
your host institution. You will be doing just as the locals
do: taking their courses and living just as they do, much like
the international students who come here to Virginia Tech. The
cultural experience usually begins before you even leave Tech as
you learn about a different system of higher education in your
host country.
Who can go?
A minimum
2.5 GPA is required. Students must have completed
one academic year of study at VT. Students must maintain the
equivalent of a full-time course load during the exchange and
may not stay longer than one academic year.
Do I need to
know a foreign language?
It depends. Check out the list of bilateral universities
below. It is broken down by country, but will specify what
language the courses are in. In most cases, if you study in a
non-English speaking country, you will get your coursework in
the native language. However, in some non-English speaking countries you will have the opportunity to study in English. If
you will be taking courses in a foreign language, you will need
to have completed a 3000 level language course or have the
equivalent proficiency before you go. Some programs which
require study in a foreign language during the academic year
offer intensive language programs prior to the start of the
semester.
When can I
go?
One-semester,
two-semester, and limited summer programs are offered, but not
all options are available at each university.
Where will I
live?
Do you know the
famous expression, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do?" This
holds true for your housing. Accommodations may be in
dormitories, student apartments, or with host families,
depending on what is typical at each university.
How much does it
cost?
There is a
$300.00 application fee, which will immediately be billed to
your student account once we have received your preliminary
application. We will not process your application until
your study abroad
application
fee has been paid. The fee is non-refundable unless placement
cannot be offered. If placement is not offered, $250.00 will be
refunded.
Room and board costs are paid to the host institution,
unless otherwise indicated. Tuition and fees are
paid to Virginia Tech as usual. It is your responsibility
to make your own travel arrangements. Travel costs, personal
spending money, personal travel, and textbook costs are your
responsibility.
At your host
institution abroad, you will be attending classes and living the
life of a typical local student. You will receive equivalent
benefits to those that local students receive, and not
identical benefits to those you leave behind at Virginia
Tech, though you are paying VT tuition and fees as usual.
Moreover, because higher education is funded differently
throughout the world, your exchange benefits will almost
certainly not be of an exact monetary equivalent to the benefits
you pay for at Virginia Tech. Please keep in mind that the
students coming to Virginia Tech through exchange programs are
paying tuition and fees at their own institutions as well, under
this same arrangement.
To get more
information or to apply:
One of your best
resources will be the universities' websites, listed on the
following pages. Information and application materials are
available
online or at the Education Abroad Office in 1820 Litton Reaves. The Bilateral Program pages, available in the Education Abroad
Office, will also give a brief synopsis of each of the sites. Priority placement will be given to
all Fall 2007 applications which are submitted to our
office by January 26, 2007. Applications will still be considered for universities that were
not full after the January placement round.
For Spring 2007,
some placements are still available, but students should speak
with an advisor immediately to discuss possible placements.
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