Study in the U.S.A. - Southeast (in English) - ISEP Exchange
Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 35,000 students and manages a research portfolio of more than $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia. Through a combination of its three missions of learning, discovery, and engagement, Virginia Tech continually strives to accomplish the charge of its motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).
HOUSING
On-Campus Residence Halls: Should a student choose to live in a Residence Hall, they should expect to have up to 3 roommates. Each student is provided with a bed, wardrobe, desk, and chair, as well as a shared mini-fridge and microwave in their room. Shared "hall" bathrooms are common and should be expected. Residence Halls at VT are equipped with central heat, however air conditioning is not common in the rooms so should not be expected.
Students will have an opportunity to purchase bed linens and essential items as part of orientation week events before classes begin. While most residence halls have basic shared cooking facilities, students should plan to eat in one of the many on-campus dining centers using their dining meal plan.
Off Campus Housing: While the Global Education Office will provide a guide to assist students in locating off-campus housing, the final responsibility is with the student to secure housing before they arrive. VT cannot advise on legal matters pertaining to leases, lease applications, and the like.
Students who wish to live off-campus will be issued a semester stipend for their room and board costs. The stipend amount for Spring 2026 is estimated at $7000.
MEALS
The MEGA FLEX Plan will be provided to ISEP students. The is a total benefitted amount that is deducted each time a student swipes through a dining center. Students are provided $1,275 Flex Dollars per semester through this plan that can be used to purchase food and meals on campus. Flex Dollars function like a debit account: every time you eat at a dining center (or food truck), the cost is deducted from your Flex Dollars, after applying a 50% discount on a‑la‑carte items, or 67% discount at D2, the all-you-can-eat dining hall (dining.vt.edu). Students can use their dining plans at any of the 56 venues and two food trucks on campus and costs range in price according to location.
You can check your Flex Dollars balance via Hokie SPA or at registers in dining locations. Students can make deposits to supplement their plan if needed.
Course Description
ISEP students have access to a broad range of courses at Virginia Tech. Please start your search for courses by going to the course catalog. All courses available to ISEP students are taught in English and are at the undergraduate level. Virginia Tech is known for its agriculture, engineering, and business programs, and offers some unique offerings in aerospace engineering, animal and poultry sciences, dairy science, and data analytics.
Virginia Tech is an R1 Research Institution and in the top 6 percent of universities in the United States for research expenditures, including undergraduate research. The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is an on-campus resource for students interested in participating during their time at VT. Internships and service-learning opportunities are also widely available across campus, and internships are available either for or not for academic credit. To learn more about undergraduate research, internships, and service-learning opportunities, please reach out to your Student Services Officer.
Campus Note
Make sure that all of the courses you want to take are available at the Blacksburg campus. ISEP students are only permitted to take courses on the Blacksburg campus.
Credits Earned
Students who complete the program in good standing can expect to earn 12-15 US Credits. Students typically enroll in 4-5 courses per term. A term runs for about 15 weeks. To determine how these credits convert at your home institution, please contact your home university coordinator.
If you use financial assistance, please speak with your home coordinator to understand your academic obligations and the requirements for using financial assistance.
Sample Classes Available:
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Aerospace Engineering |
Finance and Data Analytics |
Physical Sciences |
Natural Resources /Conservation |
Agriculture |
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Electronics for AOE |
Cybersecurity Management |
Observational Astrophysics |
Professional Skills in Natural Resources |
Animal Physiology and Anatomy |
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Aerodynamics & Compressibility |
Credit Risk Analysis |
Quantum Software I |
Leadership for Global Sustainability |
Genomics |
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Aerospace Structures |
Cyberlaw and Policy |
Organometallic Chemistry |
Undergraduate Research |
Poultry Enterprise Management |
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Astromechanics |
Python/SQL for Data Analytics and Finance |
Human Genetics |
Global Issues in Environmental Sustainability |
Landscape Design |
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Intro Finite Elements |
Financial Planning for Professionals |
Environmental Toxicology |
Urban Water Systems |
Agroforestry |
For detailed instructions on how to search for all available courses, please click on the "other academic conditions" dropdown link below.
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
Academics
How to search for courses:
Courses and course descriptions at Virginia Tech are found in the university catalog.
The Catalog of Courses is: Catalog Home | Virginia Tech (vt.edu)
Virginia Tech uses a course numbering system that indicates generally the level of knowledge that is expected in each course. Each course number has four digits (for example, 1004). The first digit typically indicates the class level and level of depth of knowledge expected in the course.
1000 and 2000 usually mean first-year (introductory) level and cover the breadth of a topic.
3000 and 4000 are advanced undergraduate levels and indicates the depth of a topic. Most 3000/4000 level courses will require prerequisite knowledge indicated in the course description in the catalog.
5000 means Masters level and 6000 indicates Ph.D. level. These courses are only available to students who are admitted for graduate study or occasionally, for senior undergraduates with adviser or instructor permission.
Before students are admitted to VT, they can access the timetable of classes at:
Virginia Tech Timetable of Classes (vt.edu)
Sometimes, students will need to view past semesters in the Historical Timetables at Virginia Tech HISTORICAL Timetable of Classes (vt.edu) to anticipate what might be offered in future terms.
Based on your application preferences, your academic adviser will typically begin the registration process on your behalf prior to your arrival. You will be meeting with your adviser during orientation week in the week prior to the term beginning to edit and finalize your class schedule.
Please keep in mind that 12 credits of in-person (not online) credits, or 9 credits for graduate students, are required in order to be full-time for the J1 visa program. Once the term begins, students may not at any time drop below this full-time limit. Many students at VT enroll in 15 or 18 credits and then choose to drop a course. The drop limit is 5 weeks into the term so this can be a good way for students to settle into courses and still be able to change as needed.
Academic Limitations:
VT has an age maximum of 24 years old for ISEP exchange students. VT is best suited for more traditional-age students due to the housing options available to exchange students on campus.
Courses in mechanical engineering, computer science, and business are not available for ISEP students.
Additional course and lab fees are charged depending on the course(s) in which you are enrolled. These fees are used to support extraordinary course-specific costs (e.g., field trips, extraordinary laboratory materials or equipment, and course materials retained by the student). These fees are subject to the university's existing refund policies and procedures. Students should review their accounts upon adding or dropping courses.
Students taking courses within the Pamplin College of Business are charged a fee per credit hour per term.
Pamplin College of Business:
Undergraduate part-time (1-6 credits hours per semester) $637.50
Undergraduate full-time (7 or more credits hours per semester) $1,275.00
*If you are interested in taking business courses with the knowledge of these additional fees, please contact your Student Services Officer at ISEP.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
For ISEP students attending Virginia Tech, enrollment in the CISI Comprehensive Medical & Global Assistance Plan is waived as students will be required to enroll in an alternative medical insurance plan that meets Virginia Tech's insurance requirements. Additional information on how to enroll and suggested plans will be provided by your ISEP Student Services Officer after placement. ISEP students must still enroll in ISEP’s CISI Global Assistance Plan.
ISEP students will need to open a U.S. bank account in order to receive VT funding. Students will receive checks that will need to be deposited into the U.S. banking accounting.
Students are responsible for staying until the end of the semester and may not leave before the final date of their semester exams. Neither ISEP nor VT can guarantee an early departure; leaving early may result in a failing exam grade and/or forfeit of credit.
PASSPORT: All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible.
VISA: All non-U.S. citizens will be required to obtain a visa. For more information on the process and estimated cost, please review the ISEP Country Handbook here.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
Select a semester to calculate the price. Semesters are named according to host university's calendar.Semester Tuition
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