Fall: March 15th
Winter: October 15th
Spring: October 15th

To study in Oregon under this reciprocal exchange program, you must be a student at one of the following institutions and you must be nominated by your home university for participation. Please contact the International Exchange department or office at your university to start an application with IE₃ Global.

Ecuador

• Universidad San Francisco de Quito

France

• Université Claude Bernard - Lyon 1
• Université Lumière - Lyon 2
• Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3
• Université Catholique de Lyon
• Université de Poitiers
• Sciences Po Lyon

Germany

• University of Freiburg
• Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg
• University of Heidelberg
• University of Hohenheim
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
• University of Konstanz
• Pädagogische Hochschule Ludwigsburg
• University of Mannheim
• University of Stuttgart
• Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart
• University of Tübingen
• University of Ulm

Japan

• Akita International University
• Aoyama Gakuin University
• Waseda University

Must complete the IE₃ Global online application

Proof of English Proficiency dated within 2 years of beginning of program*

Accepted forms of proof:

• TOEFL
  • iBT: 71 (min. of 15 in Reading & Writing) for undergrads; 80 (min. of 18 in Reading & Writing) for grads
  • “My Best Score” report is NOT accepted at PSU at this time
  • Only internet based test is accepted; institution based test is NOT accepted
• IELTS: 6.0 (min. 6.0 in Reading & Writing) for undergrads; 6.5 (min. 6.5 in Reading & Writing) for grads
• PTE overall score of 53 for undergrads; 60 for grads
• SAT 560 or above in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section (SAT is not required for admission; for use to prove English proficiency only)
• DET (Duolingo English Test) with an overall score of 110 for undergrads, 120 for grads

Official transcripts, degrees, and certificates from all colleges/universities (in English)

• A minimum GPA of 2.25 is required for undergrads, 3.0 for graduates.
• For graduate students: An equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor's degree. Special consideration is given to students from Germany who have completed the Vordiplom or Zwischenprüfung (following 7 years at a Gymnasium) and for students from France who have completed the license.
• For MBA applicants: A complete MBA application, including General Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) scores may be required.

STEP 1:  You must be nominated by your home university.

STEP 2:  Receive an email with instructions on how to create your applicant account using the unique passcode supplied and begin your application.

STEP 3:  Prepare your application materials and submit them to your home university exchange coordinator by or before the deadline.

Application processing timeline:

Upon submission of your application and ALL supporting materials, you should expect the evaluation and processing time to take  at least 30 to 60 days.

2025-2026

Under the terms of the exchange agreement, students receive tuition waivers for 12 credits of undergraduate level courses or 9 credits of graduate level courses. Summer term is not included in the tuition waiver. The remaining expenses are estimated to be:

Estimated costs for:

• 1 term = $8,361
• 2 terms = $16,722
• 3 terms = $25,083

* Estimated fees include health insurance which J-1 Exchange students MAY be allowed to waive in some situations.

** Room and Board rates are based on Residence Hall rates. Cost can vary significantly if a student chooses to live off-campus.

Your Declaration of Finances should demonstrate that this amount of money is available for your expenses during the entire duration of your exchange program. Be sure that your bank statements or other documents indicate an amount equal to or greater than this total. All costs are approximate and subject to change. The exchange program does not cover summer term tuition. No international travel costs are included.

In Oregon, university classes are called courses and are usually listed in a Schedule of Classes or an Academic Catalog or Course Catalog. Students need to take a combination of courses that totals  12 academic credits for undergraduate and 9 for graduates each term they are in Oregon in order to be considered a full-time student  (in most cases students will take 4 courses worth 3 credits each). On the Course Preference form, we ask that you list as many classes as possible so that if some are not available when the time comes to register, you will still have others to fall back on. Flexibility is key.

In most cases, you will need to find the section of the catalog (if it is a PDF) that lists information about the subject you wish to study. Within that subject's section, you should be able to find a list of courses offered. Please pay attention to prerequisite listings if you would like to take a class that has prerequisites, you will need to be able to prove that you have the educational background in that subject area to override or waive the prerequisites.

Please use the PSU class schedule website to look up classes by term. Just select a term and then select a subject to see what is offered. If your academic year is not listed, use the most recent academic year to pull classes from. In many cases classes repeat themselves every year.

Click here  for the online General Catalog, also known as the PSU Bulletin, to see detailed descriptions of all classes.

You will need a passport from your government and a visa from the United States Embassy/Consulate to enter the United States.

Exchange Visitor Visa (J-1)
Students receiving funding from the United States government, a foreign government, or an Oregon institution may come to the United States on a J-1 visa.  To obtain a visa, you should present your Certificate of Eligibility DS-2019 to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country (see list below), along with your documents of financial support, your passport, and other required materials. The spouse and children of a J-1 student may request dependent (or J-2) visas if they are listed on the DS-2019 form.

The visa interview may include questions about your plans to study in the United States,  and about your documentation for admission (acceptance letter, financial certification, language proficiency, and academic records). The visa officer may also ask about your plans to return home after your studies, since that is an expectation of a nonimmigrant student visa.

Do not enter the United States on a Visitor's Visa (B-2)!
This visa is intended for those coming as tourists to the United States. It should not be used by students or exchange visitors who have been admitted to an Oregon institution.  If the B-2 visa is used by students who have not discussed their study plans with the United States Consul, it is unlikely that the immigration status will be changed to a student or exchange visitor once the student has entered the United States.

Be sure to bring your DS-2019 with you to the United States. If you wish to travel outside of the U.S. you will need to obtain a travel signature from the International Student Advisor at your Oregon institution.

Visit the U.S. Embassy search page to locate a U.S. Embassy near you and to see specific instructions on how to obtain the J-1 visa in your country.

While you are a student at PSU, you have different housing options. Many international exchange students choose to stay in the residence halls. This is a wonderful experience that allows international students to meet and get to know their American student peers while they become fully immersed in college life. Living on campus is also the more convenient option as on-campus residents live within walking distance of most, if not all, university buildings.

Students can find more information about on-campus residence halls, available dining services, costs, application deadlines, and much more online through the PSU Housing Information website.

All international students and their accompanying dependents are required to have health insurance while enrolled at a U.S. institution.

Medical costs can be very expensive in the U.S. and it is in your best interest that you have health insurance. As part of your immigration status as a J-1 Exchange Visitor or an F-1 Student, the U.S. government has set minimum requirements for health insurance coverage. For information about health insurance at PSU please visit the PSU Health Insurance website for International Students for information about their requirements and services.

Your arrival in the United States takes very careful planning. There are several important factors to consider that range from what to bring, to transportation from the airport to campus, and so on. Each Oregon institution conducts a mandatory orientation for international students at the beginning of each term to help integrate them into the American student lifestyle. The exact days and the length of each orientation vary from year to year, thus international students should not expect to receive orientation date and location information until they have been formally acceptance to PSU. To see information about orientation at PSU, visit their International Student Orientation website.

Traveling in Oregon: www.traveloregon.com

Information on the State of Oregon: http://www.oregon.gov