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Incoming Exchange & Study Abroad

About MTSU

Study in the heart of Tennessee!


MTSU is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, just 30 minutes south of Nashville—Music City USA! It is widely known as the most livable city in the fastest-growing region in Tennessee. The vibrant city of Murfreesboro and MTSU have a rich history and unique traditions with over 130,000 residents and nearly 22,000 students (representing 44 states and 77 countries) who are proud to call Murfreesboro home.
 

Incoming Exchange and International Study Abroad Program Overview 

The incoming exchange and study abroad program at MTSU is administered by the Office of Education Abroad. 

There are two ways to participate in this program. 
  1. Nomination by one of MTSU's exchange partner institutions. This includes students from:
    1. England: University of Salford and Northumbia 
    2. Finland: JAMK University of Applied Sciences 
    3. Germany: Hochschule Worms, JGU Mainz/Germersheim, and Popakademie in Germany
    4. Japan: Kansai Gaidai, Seinan Gakuin, Reitaku, Saitama, and Nagoya Gakuin 
    5. Scotland: Glasgow Caledonian 
    6. Taiwan: Chung Yuan Christian University
    7. Turkey: Yasar University
  2. Application from international students who intend on a short-term program at MTSU.
    1. This includes students from any international university who wish to study at MTSU for one or two semesters, who will not earn a degree at MTSU, and who will pay full tuition for their time at MTSU. 
    2. Incoming International Study Abroad Students should contact our office for an application and more information. 
 Office of Education Abroad 
1-615-898-5179
educationabroad@mtsu.edu

Exchange Requirements 

Proof of English Proficiency  Official English proficiency score from one of the following. Your scores must be sent to our office directly by the testing company. Test scores sent from students are not accepted.  Not Required if English is the native language of the country of citizenship                    
                                      Undergraduate      Graduate
TOEFL iTB                            61                         71
TOEFL ITP                            500                     N/A                      
TOEFL Essential                  6.5                      N/A
IELTS                                     5.5                       6.0     
Duolingo English                 85                        95

Minimum GPA of 2.5 on the scale of 4. 
Students will complete an application and submit current university transcripts, housing application, immunization requirements, financial forms, and meet an insurance requirement.  An on-site orientation (mandatory) will be held prior to the semester to offer students a chance to learn about U.S. culture, about the local area and Tennessee, and provide guidance for student services and expectations while studying at MTSU.  
All exchange students will apply for a J-1 visa to study at MTSU. 

Dates & Deadlines 

Fall and Full Year nomination deadline = March 1. Completion of application materials = April 15 
Spring nomination deadline = October 1. Completion of application materials = October 31

Nominations 

Nominations should come from the incoming student's international or exchange office/Coordinator.  Nominations should include student name, email address, gender, term of study (and length), GPA, and academic focus. Exchange partners will receive an MTSU exchange fact sheet via email from the MTSU Office of Education Abroad at least twice per year. Partners who would like this emailed any other time are welcome to contact us at educationabroad@mtsu.edu.  
 

Applications 

Once nominations are accepted by MTSU, students will receive an instruction to apply for admission. Please do not apply until you receive acceptance of your nomination.
Applications include: 
  • MTSU general application for admission (Application Type: INTL Exchange)
  • Submit the forms contained in the following pdf packet
  • A copy of the students most recent transcript/list of classes taken
  • English language score
  • A color copy of the student's passport.  

Academics

MTSU welcomes exchange students at the undergraduate and graduate level in a variety of academic disciplines. While there are few restrictions on the courses students may enroll in while at MTSU, students should be aware that some courses have prerequisite requirements, or may be full at time of enrollment. Therefore, students should be flexible with their course selection.

Enrollment is limited in Education, Recording Industry, Aerospace, Fashion and Textile & Merchandise.   Unless pre-approved, Nursing and graduate-level English courses are closed to exchange students.  

Graduate students have successfully enrolled in graduate level Computer Science, Information Systems, Health & Human Performance, Political Science, Psychology, Business, Leisure & Sports Management, and Foreign Language courses.  We can inquire about other subject areas for graduate students. 
  • Undergraduate students will enroll in a minimum of 12 U.S. credit hours per semester (academic courses).  This is equivalent to about 4 courses.
  • Graduate students will enroll in 9 credit hours per semester.  
  • Students are welcome to take courses from a variety of academic areas during the semester
  • Students will select their own courses, courses will not be assigned 
  • Courses may have prerequisites 
  • Not all courses will be offered each semester (but many will be!)
 Please see the list of academic programs we offer: MTSU Academic Programs 

Academic Calendar 

Students may participate in a semester, academic year, or calendar year exchange. Our academic calendar can be found here: MTSU Academic Calendar.
  • The fall semester typically runs from mid-late August to mid-December, to include exchange orientation and final exams.
  • The spring semester typically runs from late January to early May, to include exchange orientation and final exams. 
Exchange students typically arrive a week prior to classes to participate in orientations and to get settled. 


Student Services 

Campus Recreation 

Student Health Services

 

Library 

  James E. Walker Library 
 Makerspace 

Student Organizations 

 

Accommodations 

Exchange students are encouraged to apply for on-campus housing.  Each residence hall is unique, but all rooms are furnished and residents have access to several amenities, including computer labs, free Wi-Fi, study rooms, lounges, laundry facilities, and more.  Most rooms are shared, although some single rooms may be available.  Additionally, each residence hall is staffed 24 hours per day.  The primary residence halls for exchange students are the Global Learning Community (House 7) and Womack Lane Apartments (typically full-exchange programs only). 

Housing is assigned or selected after the exchange student with the application materials for the exchange program. 

Dining

MTSU features several dining facilities and convenience stores across campus.  Students may purchase one of several meal plan options to use at the various dining facilities or can pay for meals individually.  View the dining options, including the Farmer's Market with fresh, seasonal food, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Subway, dining halls, and more on the dining website: MTSU Dining. 


Campus Life 

Do you want to know what is happening at MTSU? The Campus Life link provides information about activities and events, organizations, student government, fraternities and sororities, MTSU athletics, MTSU media, student unions, and more. Academic support services are listed on this page.  Student support services, such as counseling, disability and access services, international student services, and more are also included. 


International Buddy Program 

Exchange students are encouraged to participate in the International Buddy Program! 

The goal of the International Buddy Program is to welcome incoming exchange students by matching them with MTSU students who share similar interests. MTSU students will act as resources for incoming students and can answer questions about campus, daily life, and even what to pack!  

International Buddy Program participants are assigned to exchange students before the start of the semester once the exchange application has been accepted. 


Estimated Living Costs (per semester): 

  • Housing (tuition-only exchange programs), $2,600 - $4,000 per semester 
  • Meals (tuition-only exchange programs), $1,500 - $2,100 per semester 
  • Books and Supplies, $500 - $1,000 per semester 
  • Health Insurance, $350 - $700 per semester 
  • Personal Expenses, $1,000 - $2,000 per semester (varies with student spending habits)

International Study Abroad Students (not exchange): 

International study abroad students (not through exchange partnerships) will also pay out-of-state tuition, full time, per semester.  MTSU out-of-state rates can be found on the MTSU Tuition web page linked below.