The University Partner Exchange Program (UPEP) of Kalamazoo College has as its primary goal to provide an academic and cultural exchange for visiting international students selected in cooperation with the College’s worldwide university partners. This one-year exchange program is designed to encourage and facilitate an intensive immersion into all aspects of residential campus life at a small U.S. college of the liberal arts and sciences. The Center for International Programs (CIP) coordinates the UPEP and serves as the primary campus resource for its participants.

Fellowship Requirements

• Must be in their 2nd or 3rd year of a 4-year program or students in their 2nd year of a 3-year program
• Must have a “B” or a 3.0 average GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Live in on-campus student housing (due to nature of the living arrangements, students should be unmarried and should not be over the age of 24 during their time in Kalamazoo)
• Commit to a full academic year
• Attend International Student Orientation
• Attend Teaching Assistant Training (if it is part of their fellowship)
• Submit English Language proficiency test scores

Program Dates

Students must arrive on September 2, 2021 for International Student Orientation.

Exams end on June 7, 2022 and students must move out of the dorms by noon on June 8, 2022 so they should make travel plans accordingly.

Deadlines and Procedures

Nomination Deadline: Monday, March 5, 2021

Application Deadline: Friday, April 16, 2021

Notification Date: Mid to late May

Students are nominated by the partner institution by the deadline above. Then they will be sent an email to submit their online application. Nominees will need to submit the following materials electronically:

• Photocopy of passport
• Transcript
• Signed agreements
• Essays

Housing Accommodations

Exchange students are guaranteed on-campus housing. These facilities require that two or more students live together in the same room. Students may not live off campus or in the College’s Living and Learning Housing Units.

International students are able to remain in College facilities during break weeks through the academic year only, but will be responsible for their own meals as the campus cafeteria will be closed.

Curriculum Information

All courses are conducted in English except for language courses.

All courses are available to exchange students provided they meet the prerequisites except for first-year seminars, sophomore seminars, and senior seminars. Certain courses in some departments fill up very quickly.

Fees for music, art, and PE classes are not covered by the fellowship.

Exchange students must be enrolled in a minimum of 2.4 units and a maximum of 3.4 units per quarter.

Applying for a Visa

Students participating in this program are sponsored by Kalamazoo College in the J-1 student visa category. Once the student is accepted to the program, the CIP will send the Form DS-2019 so the student can apply for an exchange visitor J-1 student visa at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in the country of residence.

Students will need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of $220 (subject to change) to the Department of Homeland Security.

Visit https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901 for more information.

Students must also pay the nonimmigrant visa application processing fee of $160 and have a receipt when they go to the visa interview appointment.

For more details, check the visa information on the U.S. embassy or consulate website where you will apply for your visa. You can search for yours at http://www.usembassy.gov

Partner University Fellowship Information