Why go abroad with ISEP?
- Mobility scheme for attending courses (= study visits) outside of Europe
- Universities are available on all continents
- 20-30 places for students of Uni Graz per academic year
- Open to applications from all fields of study
- Mutual cost transfer: see "Costs & Procedure"
- Classes completed abroad can be recognized
- Additional 1-2 semesters with tuition fee waiver for EU/EEA nationals
- No tuition fees at the host institution at ISEP*
*does not apply to ISEP Direct
You can find all partner institutions available in the network at the website.
Institutions from all continents are represented in the ISEP network. Places are primarily given to applicants for universities outside of Europe - if you are interested in a place at a university in Europe, please apply for Erasmus+ / Erasmus + International or CEEPUS).
Not sure which university/institution to apply for yet?
Why not use our experience report portal and find out about the experiences of other students.
Students who are interested in getting a study place through the ISEP network must first apply to the programme officer at the Office of International Relations. There are currently around 20-30 places available per academic year.
Do you have questions about the application process?
In our information sessions we support you among other things:
- finding a suitable partner institution,
- in creating the online application in Mobility-Online,
- with useful tips and experience.
The next information event will take place during our International Week from 14- 17.10.2024- more information can be found here.
In addition to our information events, you can also reach us in our office in Presence or via phone!
Programme officer
Petra Rabitsch
Universtitätsplatz 3, 8010 Graz Phone:+43 316 380 - 1243 E-Mail:outgoing.exchange(at)uni-graz.at
Mon - Fri: 9.30 am - 12 noon
Wed: 1 - 3 pm
as well as on appointment
(during holidays:
Mon - Thur: 10 am - 12 noon)
Duration of stay
Duration of stay: one semester or academic year
The stay is not intended to carry out academic work, such as master's or diploma theses abroad, but to study at a partner institution abroad.
Maximum length of stay:
Per study level (Bachelor, Master) there are iStudy, ISEP, MAUI, REARI-RJ or AEN stays up to a total of max. 2 semesters (or 4 semesters for diploma degrees) possible. Max. 2 semesters can be completed at the same institution abroad.
Academic performance abroad
It is recommended that you complete the equivalent of 30 ECTS points per semester (= study performance of one semester) during your stay abroad, which can be recognized for your studies at the University of Graz. As a minimum requirement, you must complete 3 ECTS points per month of stay for your studies at the University of Graz.
For the application you have to create a preliminary study plan, i.e. you have to put together the courses you would like to complete at the partner institution(s). The study plan is only a preliminary plan. If you have been assigned to a partner institution (from step 3 onwards), you have to draw up a pre-recognition notification (Vorausbescheid), in which you announce the officially planned study performance abroad.
Application documents
You apply online with the Mobility-Online database. You can access it via your personal business card in UNIGRAZonline > International Relations . You can find detailed information on the application procedure in the instructions (download).
Applying with Mobility-Online:
You have to fill out / upload the following application documents in Mobility-Online (Download: Checklist documents)
- Application form with photo and signature
- Download the form in Mobility-Online and print it out
- Provide the form with a photo of yourself and personally sign this form
- Scan the signed form and upload it to Mobility-Online
- Motivation letter in English with academic justification
- Preliminary study plan (template)
- Curriculum vitae in English + personal signature
- Proof of required language skills (please note the minimum requirements of the respective partner institution!)
- Transcript of records (from UNIGRAZonline)
- English letter of recommendation from a lecturer/professor at the University of Graz. The letters of recommendation must be signed and stamped by the institute and can be sent directly to the programme officers by the person making the recommendation (The letter of recommendation will be uploaded into Mobility Online by our office staff).
- Confirmation of payment of the deposit (see also "Deposit")
Deposit
You have to pay a deposit in the amount of € 100,- stating the mobility program(ISEP) and the purpose of use "KAUTION - ASO702500017" to the following account:
- Account holder: University of Graz
- Bank: Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark
- IBAN: AT363800000000049460
- SWIFT / BIC: RZSTAT2G
- Bank code: 38000
- Account number: 00000049460
Upload the deposit confirmation in Mobility-Online with all other application documents. Detailed information on deposits can be found here.
Application requirements
- You must be enrolled for a regular study programme at the University of Graz ("ordentliches Studium")
- The maximum length of stay per degree level may not be exceeded
- You have to fulfill the language skills as required by the partner institution
- At the time of starting the mobility (not at the time of application) you must have completed at least the first year of a degree relevant to the stay (only relevant for bachelor level students)
Participation in the information event is recommended.
Language skills
Application to the International Relations Office: When applying to the Office of International relations (step 1), you must be able to prove that you have sufficient language skills. For example, you can submit your secondary school diploma.
Language certificates for host institutions: Some universities require a (standardized) language test in order to meet the language requirements at the host institution. You must upload the proof required by the host institution to the ISEP portal by March 01 at the latest, or September 15 (depending on the semester of stay).
Application deadline
- November 15, 2024
We only accept complete applications.
We will announce remaining places and deadlines on this page.
Costs and processing
The ISEP network is based on mutual assumption of costs: You do not pay any tuition fees at the host institution and are provided with accommodation and meals. In return, you will cover the costs for a study place and accommodation in Graz for students of the ISEP network (incoming students) coming to Graz.
Approximate costs
| Placement fee | $ 425.00 | ||
| Application fee | $ 100.00 | Will be charged if you have been selected for a place in the ISEP network by the University of Graz and therefore register in the ISEP online portal. | |
| ÖH fee (students union fee) at the University of Graz for ISEP incoming students* | currently € 24,70 |
These costs must be paid to an account in Austria before departure. | |
| Accommodation costs in a student residence for incoming ISEP students | € 2 360, - (semester) € 4 720, - | ||
| Visa | depending on country | Please inquire as soon as possible at the relevant embassy! | |
| Insurance | about $ 27 per week | ISEP compulsory insurance - please contact ISEP for more information | |
| Language test | depending on the test | if necessary | |
| Deposit | € 100, - | You will get it back after your stay if you hand in all the necessary documents after the stay. | |
*Note: You have to pay your own students union fee (ÖH Beitrag) in addition to stay enrolled!
Once you have submitted all the necessary documents and the application period has expired, the programme officer at the Office of International Relations will start allocating the available places in the ISEP network to applicants.
You will be informed by the end of December whether you have been selected for a place.
Attention: At this stage, you will not yet be selected for the partner institution. You will only get allocated to a partner institution after applying at the ISEP portal.
If you have been allocated study place for the ISEP network, you must now complete the following steps:
Language test
If your host institution requires a standardized language test, you should have the test results by February 15 / September 15, as they are necessary for a complete ISEP application in the online portal.
Many English-speaking universities accept the TOEFL or IELTS test as proof. Please note the requirements of the partner institutions - there are also other standardized language tests!
Further information:
Applying to the ISEP online portal
You must sumbit your complete application by March 01, 2025 (for stays in the winter semester or academic year) and September 15, 2025 (for stays in the summer semester). It is possible to select up to 10 universities in the ISEP online portal, the final placement is made by the ISEP network headquarters. The $100 application fee* is due as soon as the programme officer approves your complete application.
* The application fee is non-refundable!
In April 2025 (for stays in the winter semester or academic year) or in October / November 2025 (for stays in the summer semester) you will be informed by ISEP which university you have been assigned to. If this placement does not meet your expectations, you can apply to ISEP for a remaining place in a second application round. You can also withdraw your application, but the application fee will not be refunded.
Below you can find an overview of the next steps:
Accepting the study offer
You will receive an official offer from ISEP, which you can accept directly in the online portal. You will then be sent extensive information material about your host institution (classes, enrollment documents, accommodation, meals etc.) as well as documents for applying for a visa and for health insurance.
Finalizing your study plan: pre-recogntion document (Vorausbescheid)
Prior to the stay abroad, an pre-recogntion document must be requested via UNIGRAZonline. The pre-recognition notice is the legal basis for the recognition of courses. Further information can be found on the website of the respective faculty.
Download: how to apply for a pre-recognition document
Attention: please plan ahead for the preparation of the advance notice, it can take several weeks to issue it.
Further information:
Sign agreement
All mobility students must sign an agreement and submit it to the programme officer at the Office of International Relations. You will receive more information about this by email.
ISEP will provide you with information on the necessary administrative steps (e.g. applying for a visa, health insurance etc.) - here is an additional overview of some topics that could be relevant:
Tuition fees
You are exempt from tuition fees during your stay at your host institution. In addition, you do not have to pay any tuition fees at the University of Graz during your stay abroad.
Attention: You must pay your students union fee (ÖH Beitrag) to stay enrolled at Uni Graz!
Visa
Since your stay abroad as student is not a touristic stay, you have to take care of obtaining a suitable visa or a residence permit in the host country. Please find out about deadlines and the documents required for the application and contact the embassy of your host country (in Austria) in good time for further information.
If you are going to Australia: You will be given a number with which you can apply for a visa - you will receive further information by email.
If you are going to the USA: ISEP will send the required form for the visa application (DS-2019) to the programme officer at the Office of International Relations. You will be informed by email when your DS-2019 form has arrived.
Insurance in the host country
With ISEP, you will need to conclude an insurance for your stay, more information can be found on the ISEP website or by email from ISEP.
In addition, you have to take out suitable insurance for the entire period of your stay (i.e. from your departure from your home location to the start of the validity of the ISEP insurance and from its expiration to your return to your home location). It is therefore advisable to take out additional travel insurance.
Extending your stay
If you would like to extend your stay, we will be happy to support you. Please contact the programme officer and your host institution in good time to find out under which circumstances an extension is possible.
Changing your study plan
Practice has shown that students frequently have to change their study plan at the place of study because some courses overlap, are not offered or fullly booked.
If only the study plan at the host institution changes:
- Contact the person responsible for recognition issues as to whether changes can be recognized
If the courses to be recognized at the University of Graz also change:
- Application for a new pre-recognition notification (VB) in UNIGRAZonline
- If necessary, submit changes to person in charge of recognition (e.g. head of curricular committee)
Cancelling your stay
Should you cancel your stay early, you must inform the programme officer at the Office of International Relations immediately.
Internship
In certain host countries it is possible to complete an internship (academic training) during or after the ISEP mobility. With a stay of one semester you can complete an internship for max. 3 months (academic year: max. 9 months). You have to organize these internships yourself, but there are often career centers on campus that can help you. In addition, you may have to take care of extending your visa with ISEP - the ISEP insurance must also be extended.
Here you will find a checklist of things you need to do after completing your stay.
You have to
- have your academic performance recognized
- upload documents such as the transcript from your host university, the confirmation of stay, the letter of recognition and the experience report in Mobility Online
- and instruct the repayment of their previously paid deposit or the payment of the last scholarship installment
ISEP Direct is a separate programme within the ISEP network, for which you pay tuition fees at the host institution. The ISEP network and the programme officer at the Office of International Relations will contact the host institution for you. The ISEP network tries to get the most favorable conditions for you. Further information can be found on the ISEP website .
The information presented on this page (above) relates to the ISEP Exchange, not to ISEP Direct!