A: Most mandatory fees are included in the ISEP-Direct program fee. Tuition, room, and board (as outlined for your specific ISEP-Direct program) are examples of mandatory fees – none of these costs should be paid to the host institution directly unless they are not included in your program fee’s description. For example, if you select the tuition, room, and board option, your room and meal costs will be covered in your ISEP program fee. However, if you select the tuition only option, you are responsible for covering housing and meal costs. In some cases, these may be paid to the host institution directly.

There may be some mandatory fees that are not included in the ISEP-Direct program fee. This includes purchasing necessary health insurance, specific to your country of study, and a possible laboratory fee if you enroll in certain science courses. In addition, you may be required to pay for a refundable housing deposit or non-mandatory activity fees. Be sure to read the program description and Institutional Information Sheet (IIS) carefully to see what is required. These documents are included in your Participant Placement Acceptance Form (PPAF) packet.

A: The cost for your ISEP Direct Program Fee is listed on your PPAF. It is equivalent to the Program Fee listed on our website, inclusive of the $500 deposit required for the program (there are exceptions for certain cases, such as extensions, so be sure to check with your coordinator if you have any questions about the fee amount). If you submitted the $500 deposit with your PPAF, please subtract this amount from the total cost due as listed on your PPAF. Please see your coordinator if you are unsure about the amount you owe.

A: You can pay your program fee at any time. We do require you to submit a $500 deposit when returning your Participant Placement Acceptance Form (PPAF). The remainder of your program fee is due before the start of your program.

Invoices for programs are typically generated one month before your program start date. These invoices are mailed to your home coordinator, who then distributes them to ISEP-Direct students.

For single semester and summer programs, your complete balance (minus the $500 deposit if it has already been paid) is due prior to your departure. If you are participating in a year-long program, 2/3 of the total program fee will be charged during the 1st semester, and the remaining 1/3 during the 2nd semester. If your financial aid will not be released before the due date for your program fee, please request a Financial Aid Deferral Form from your coordinator. The link to this form is also included in your PPAF packet. Once you complete and return this form, your program fee due date will be adjusted based on the release date of your aid.

If you would like to pay your program fee prior to receiving an invoice, please contact your home coordinator to determine how your payment should be made. This may be necessary for students attending some of the summer programs that begin in May or June.

A: All program fees will be submitted to ISEP, never to the host institution. All ISEP member institutions have the right to choose how to handle ISEP Direct billing. Some institutions will collect the program fee from the student and then submit a check to ISEP on the student’s behalf, whereas other institutions prefer that their students pay ISEP directly. Be sure to consult with your home coordinator to confirm if your payment should be made to your home university or directly to ISEP.

It is important to speak with your coordinator about the best way to arrange your ISEP-Direct program fee payment. Your home ISEP coordinator may also be able to assist you with applying financial aid to your program fee.

A: Talk to your coordinator first before submitting payment! Your ISEP coordinator can provide you with a copy of your program invoice and a credit card payment form for submitting payment.

If your institution prefers for you to submit payment directly to ISEP, make all checks payable to ISEP, never to your host university. If you have received an invoice from the host institution for fees that are covered in your ISEP Direct program fee as outlined in the IIS, please notify your home ISEP coordinator immediately so that the issue can be resolved.

Checks and credit card forms should be submitted to this address/fax number:
ISEP
1616 P Street, NW Suite 150
Washington DC, 20036
Fax: 202-667-7803

* Always include a copy of your invoice with check payments.