Individual Experience

How do students find out about the IE option?

Students find out about IEs in a number of ways. Most commonly, students talk with the department internship coordinator, who tells them that because it’s international, they need to meet with ISP. Alternately, students read about the option online or talk to someone in the Kennedy Center, meet with ISP, and then find out they need to also meet with the department.

When should students apply for their IE?

Ideally, students should apply for their IE three months before they plan to leave. This allows time for the application to be processed and students to go through the necessary steps, including the security briefing and cultural preparation seminar. Students may apply later, but it will be up to the discretion of the ISP coordinator whether their application will be accepted. Students must still complete all the requirements even if they apply late.

Steps to Create an IE

1. • Student must with Christopher Quinlan (204F HRCB) or his assistant, Rachel Hendrickson (101 HRCB) in the Kennedy Center
     • If the host country is on BYU’s Travel Restrictions List (http://travelsmart.byu.edu/content/brigham-young-university-international-travel-policy- travel-restrictions-list), the student will need to fill out the Security Petition for an Internship or Other Academic Experience and e-mail it to christopher_quinlan@byu.edu.
       • Student will need to fill out online form at byu.edu/apply.
       • Select semester/term/Internship/Individual Experience (or Weidman/noncredit)
   • There is a nonrefundable $35 application fee in addition to the required
   • Student meets with their department internship coordinator to confirm whether the experience is academically qualified to receive department credit. Student will need to complete the Individual Experience Proposal form and retrieve department internship coordinator signature.
   • Student will need to complete the Student Registration Form and retrieve signature(s) from faculty who will be overseeing the courses for the Individual Experience and assigning the student a grade for them. By signing the form, faculty take academic responsibility for the student while the student is abroad.
   • ISP registrar will register the student in their requested course(s). Please do not register yourself in these or any other courses for the time you are out of the US.
   • Student is responsible for researching the host country’s visa requirements and working with their internship provider to obtain a visa if necessary. ISP does not assist with visas or reimburse students for visas. 
   • The student must get the Memorandum of Understanding signed by their experience provider. Then the student will bring or e-mail the form to Rachel Hendrickson in 101 HRCB. If the internship provider is based in the United States (which they might be even though the student’s internship is international), the student will use the standard agreement, found here: https://intern.byu.edu/sites/intern.byu.edu/files/files/InternshipMasterAgreement.pdf. If the experience provider is based in a country other than the United States, the student will use the international agreement, found here: https://intern.byu.edu/sites/intern.byu.edu/files/files/InternationalInternshipAffiliation_0.pdf (*required for noncredit interns if their internship is with a nonacademic institution abroad)
   • Student brings all completed forms to Rachel Hendrickson (101 HRCB).
   • Christopher or his assistant accepts the online form; the Honor Code Office approves it (may take a few days).
   • Once the Honor Code office grants approval, the student fills out 4 forms online (acceptance, immunization, conditions of participation, and risk & release). The forms are found by going to the online application/Continue/View (under Available Actions)/ISP Checklist. They will not appear until after your application has been accepted and approved
   • Student attends a security briefing and Title IX presentation. We usually organize a few days each semester for these. Angelique Powell will notify you of the available dates.
   • The university requires that students enter their travel information (transportation, accommodations, activities) into BYU’s security system, the International Travel Management System (ITMS): itms.byu.edu. This plan should be kept updated while the student is in the field. This will be discussed in your security briefing, where you will be shown how to enter the information.
   • Student will bring in or e-mail a copy of their passport to Rachel Hendrickson (101 HRCB)
   • Student completes the online noncredit cultural preparation seminar (Learning Suite/Communities/IE Pre-Departure Course (we have to add you before you can see it)
   • BYU covers the travel insurance for the duration of the Individual Experience only. However, students must contact Angelique Powell at angelique_powell@byu.edu and rachel_hendrickson@byu.edu with dates of their Individual Experience program.
   • While on the experience, the student gives Christopher Quinlan at least 72-hour notice of any planned trips out of the internship area when traveling in or to a country on BYU’s Travel Restrictions List (http://travelsmart.byu.edu/content/brigham-young-university-international-travel-policy-travel- restrictions-list). All such travel requires an additional petition and must be pre-approved for the safety of  students.

    

Locations for an IE

Individual Experience locations may be almost anywhere in the world.

IEs are registered through the ISP office if they take students outside the fifty states. If it is an experience in a U.S. Territory (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, etc.), students should work with ISP.

Students may not travel to countries or regions restricted by the BYU Travel Policy (see travelsmart.byu.edu or an ISP coordinator) unless they have petitioned and received approval from ISP. For safety, ISP has the right to accept or deny any proposal based on location, applicant language preparation, or applicant in-country experience.

Time Commitment for an IE

The length of an IE is flexible. Students should keep in mind that the “semester” or “term” for their experience may not fit BYU’s academic calendar, but by meeting with the ISP office, they may arrange a solution.

Receiving BYU Credit for an IE

Students may do their IE to receive BYU credit if the credit is required for their major, minor, or graduation requirements. Credits taken overseas should relate to the type of experience, the geographical location, or the student’s academic discipline.

Students usually take internship credit, directed readings credit, advanced language conversation credit, or research credit. Other credits may be available; students should contact their academic department for specific information. Students may take as many credits as is required by their academic departments.

Students do not register themselves for their IE class; all credit to be taken overseas is registered by ISP creating a special international section of the appropriate departmental internship class or other credit. This will be done after the application requirements have been completed.

Faculty who wish to find out more about mentoring students on international experiences may visit with an ISP coordinator.

Housing for an IE

Housing is the responsibility of the individual student and should follow BYU housing guidelines. Students may want to look for housing through the experience provider, family friends who may have lived abroad, or online resources. They may not live with local LDS families.

In the event that students have the cross-cultural opportunity to live with a host family, students should respect the impact they have on the lifestyle of the host family, especially when it comes to compensating for rent, utilities, meals, and transportation.

Traveling During an IE

In-country, students are encouraged to take field trips to sites of historical and cultural significance, as long as the trips do not interrupt responsibilities to the experience provider or participation in Sabbath-day observances. These trips must also conform to the BYU Travel Policy. For travel in or to countries on BYU’s Travel Restrictions List (http://travelsmart.byu.edu/content/brigham-young-university-international-travel-policy-travel-restrictions-list), all travel plans outside of the experience location need to be approved by Chris Quinlan a minimum of three days in advance for security and cultural sensitivities, as noted above.

Cost of an IE

Students pay the $35 application fee.

The cost of IEs vary, but students will want to ask themselves the following questions to prepare financially:

—How many credits will I take and what will be the cost for my BYU tuition?
—How much will my airfare cost?
—Do I have a passport yet? How much does this cost?
—Do I need a visa to go to this country? How much will a visa cost?
—Are my accommodations and living expenses included by the experience provider company?
—How much will safe accommodations cost in this country?
—Will I need to take mass transit in-country? How much does this cost?
—Immunizations? How much will this cost?

Funding Sources

BYU scholarships and federal financial aid will apply to tuition and program costs for students who are registered for a minimum of 3/4 time (9 credit hours per semester or 4.5 credit hours per term).

Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants.
Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also help. See kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships.

Contact

Interested students will need to meet with Christopher Quinlan or Rachel Hendrickson. To set up an appointment with the, please contact Rachel at rachel_hendrickson@byu.edu.