Study for a Semester in Fiji!
Institution
The University of the South Pacific is the premier institution of higher learning in the Pacific region, uniquely situated in a region of extraordinary physical, social and economic diversity. Established in 1968, USP was a former New Zealand Air Force base for allied forces in the Pacific during the war. The twelve member countries that conjointly own USP are Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Niue, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Tokelau.
Location
Fiji consists of 332 islands. About 110 of these islands are inhabited. The two largest islands are Viti Levu (4,109 sq mi; 10,642 sq km) and Vanua Levu (2,242 sq mi; 5,807 sq km). Fiji is located just at the rim of the International Date Line; therefore it is one of the first countries to see the dawn of each new day. USP’s main campus [Laucala pron Lau tha la] and headquarters is in the capital city of Suva. There are plenty of other things that you can do and see while studying at USP from shopping to island hopping. Fiji and the Pacific have a lot to offer in terms of the natural environment – landscape, marine life, flora and fauna .
Students are able to apply for the ISEP Exchange or ISEP Direct program. The major different between these two programs is how fees are structure. On the ISEP Exchange program students pay Appalachian tuition and fees plus the ISEP Full Exchange Fee. On the ISEP Direct program students will be billed the ISEP Direct program fee. Non-resident students should check to see if the ISEP Direct cost will be less than Appalachian out of state tuition rates.
Academic Calendar
- Fall Semester: Early July to Mid November
- Spring Semester: Late January to Mid June
Housing
Students on the USP program will stay at university arranged housing.
Financial
Program Costs
Paid to Appalachian State
1The OIED Program Development Fee will be placed on students’ accounts upon acceptance by the Education Abroad Office. The fee payment confirms your spot and is non-refundable.
Estimated Additional Costs
| |
Semester |
| ISEP Application Fee |
$100 |
| ISEP Placement Fee |
$375 |
| Airfare |
$1500 - $2200 |
| Meals |
$300 - $600 |
| 1Personal Expenses |
$800 - $1200 |
| Books and Materials |
$100 - $200 |
| Local Transportation |
$50 - $100 |
| Visa (for US Citizens) |
$0 |
| Passport |
$150 |
| US Based Health Insurance |
Varies |
| 2Personal Travel and Spending |
$500 - $1000 |
1Personal expenses includes but is not limited to: toiletries, cell phone, emergency funds, laundry, basic travel and entertainment, etc.
2Personal Travel and Spending amounts will vary by student and will be affected by how often a student goes out, travels, and the items they purchase.
Please note that non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted.
Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. Please use the Student Financial Planning Worksheet to help estimate your anticipated expenses and your anticipated financial resources. When planning for estimated additional costs students are encouraged to research currency conversion rates.
Financial Aid
The majority of financial aid and scholarships can apply to semester and year-long study abroad programs. For more information please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid web page.
Scholarships
OIED Scholarships
Each semester OIED offers a variety of different scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarship awards range from $250 to $2000.
Benjamin A Gilman Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship Program application is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Fund for Education Abroad
Applicants from groups underrepresented in study abroad and those destined for non-traditional locations are given preference, in an effort to make the demographics of U.S. undergraduates studying abroad reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. population.
For information about additional scholarships please visit our External Scholarships web page.
Academics
USP offers courses across a range of disciplines. For more information about the course offerings please visit the ISEP USP webpage.
All students are expected to maintain at least the equivalent of a full time course load according to Appalachian State and the host university while abroad (whichever is greater). Students participating on the ISEP program will be required to enroll in 12-18 credits per semester. For more information about study abroad enrollment policies, credit approval, and credit and grade conversions please visit the Academics section of our website.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and some programs may fill up before the listed deadline. Each year applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer will open up on August 1st. Once open the deadline will be listed below and an Apply Now button will be available at the top and bottom of this page. Most applications will have a 2 part application process so students are encouraged to complete their OIED application well before the listed deadline.
Students applying to an ISEP program should complete the
ISEP application while also completing the Appalachian application.
For more information about deadlines and how to apply please visit our
Guide Me web page.
