ISEP

What ISEP does

ISEP (International Student Exchange Programs) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that operates one of the longest-running multilateral study abroad networks in higher education. It serves university students seeking international academic, internship, and volunteer experiences across 50+ countries, and serves its member and affiliate universities by facilitating outbound and inbound student mobility. The organization has supported over 80,000 students in its 45-year history and maintains an alumni network of 60,000+ members.

ISEP's core products are organized around two models: ISEP Exchange, a tuition-exchange program available to students at its 300+ member universities in which participants pay their home institution's tuition, housing, and meal costs in exchange for placement at a partner institution abroad; and ISEP Direct, a fee-paying program open to students regardless of home institution, with set program fees typically including tuition, housing, and health insurance. These are supplemented by The Intern Group partnership for guaranteed internship placements, virtual study abroad options, summer and January short-term programs, faculty training through the ISEP COIL Academy, and an alumni association offering career resources. The technology layer is described as a service organization with a website platform supporting program search, application processing, and student services — there is no proprietary AI/ML or productized technology stack.

ISEP's revenue model is diversified across institutional membership fees (annual recurring revenue from 300+ member universities), student-facing application and placement fees ($100 application + $495 placement per Exchange student), Direct program fees, and ancillary health insurance revenue ($30/week through CISI). Customer segments split between B2B (member and affiliate universities) and B2C (individual students), with the university channel serving as the primary distribution mechanism via on-campus ISEP coordinators.

Name

ISEP

Legal name

International Student Exchange Programs

Website

https://isepstudyabroad.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISEP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 that runs a multilateral study abroad network connecting university students at 300+ member institutions to programs in 50+ countries through ISEP Exchange and ISEP Direct.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad and International Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Study Abroad Provider Networks, Consortia & Membership Organizations (EDAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Study Abroad Program Management & Administration (for Institutions) (EDAIAAAJ), In-Country Logistics Coordination & Itinerary Management (EDAIANAE), Application Processing & Admissions Support (Document Prep, SOP/Essay, Credential Review) (EDAIACAB)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• International student exchange
• University partnership network
• Global education services
• Study abroad placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ISEP Members pay an annual membership fee which supports the work the ISEP team does to advise, place, and support students throughout their ISEP experience. This is a recurring annual revenue stream from university partners.
2. Application and Placement Fees: ISEP Exchange charges a $100 USD non-refundable application fee and a $495 USD placement fee. These are one-time fees per student placement.
3. Program Fees (ISEP Direct): ISEP Direct programs charge set program fees that typically include tuition, housing, and health insurance. Students pay these directly for fee-paying programs at over 50 institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ISEP is a nonprofit study abroad organization that facilitates international student exchange and study abroad programs through a network of more than 300 member and affiliate universities across 50+ countries. Its two core programs are ISEP Exchange (students at member universities pay home tuition to study at a partner institution abroad) and ISEP Direct (fee-paying placements available to all students). The organization supplements these with internships, summer and January short-term programs, virtual study abroad, faculty training, alumni services, and scholarship support.

Product overview

ISEP Study Abroad operates as a student-centric academic organization offering two core program types: ISEP Direct (fee-paying programs available to all students) and ISEP Exchange (tuition-exchange programs for member institution students). These core offerings are supplemented by The Intern Group partnership for internship placements, virtual programs, and short-term summer and January options. The organization provides faculty training through the ISEP COIL Academy and maintains an alumni network via the ISEP Alumni Association. Financial support is offered through five named scholarship programs. The portfolio spans study, intern, and volunteer abroad programs across more than 300 institutions in over 50 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISEP Direct: Fee-paying study abroad programs offered directly by ISEP with guaranteed placement
• ISEP Exchange
• The Intern Group (TIG)

Products and services

• ISEP Direct Fee-paying study abroad program offering placement at a destination of choice, with set program fees typically including tuition, housing, and health insurance. Open to students from any institution at 50+ partner universities across more than 25 countries.
• ISEP Exchange Student exchange program available to students at ISEP member institutions, where participants pay their home university tuition, housing, and meal costs. Provides access to 300+ universities across 50+ countries with the largest international exchange community.
• ISEP Study & Intern Abroad Programs combining traditional study abroad with internship opportunities, allowing students to enhance resumes, earn academic credit, and gain professional experience while immersed abroad at ISEP host institutions.
• The Intern Group (TIG) Programs International internship programs offered through partnership with The Intern Group, providing full-time and part-time placements in major global cities including London, Dublin, Hong Kong, Madrid, New York, and Tokyo, as well as virtual internship options. Includes guaranteed placement, housing, and on-site support.
• Summer Programs Flexible short-term summer study abroad programs offering high-quality academics for degree credit at partner institutions worldwide, with specialized programs under $5,000 that include housing and tuition.
• January Programs Short-term January study abroad programs offering condensed international academic experiences at partner institutions during the winter term.
• Virtual Programs Virtual study abroad options enabling students to earn academic credits, broaden cultural competency, improve language skills, and connect with international students remotely.
• ISEP COIL Academy Faculty training program offered twice yearly providing structured mentoring and best practices in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and virtual exchange, including a COIL training certificate upon completion.
• ISEP Scholarships Five named scholarship programs: ISEP Community Scholarship (access and affordability), ISEP Social Mobility Scholarship (upfront costs), ISEP Samantha Gross Memorial Accessibility Scholarship (students with disabilities), ISEP Africa for All Scholarship (HBCUs and heritage-seeking students), and ISEP Founders Fellowship (language learning in host culture).
• ISEP Alumni Association Exclusive alumni network providing job coaching, graduate school application advice, exclusive webinars, mentorship connections, and career resources for over 60,000 ISEP alumni worldwide.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• COIL ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOIL Connect is a non-profit supporting higher education institutions worldwide in creating and sustaining Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and virtual exchange. ISEP is proud to partner strategically with COIL Connect, and ISEP members receive a 10% discount on COIL Connect services. The partnership includes the ISEP COIL Academy program for faculty training.
• The Intern Group (TIG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough ISEP's partnership with The Intern Group, a recognized leader in international internship programs, students can experience living and interning in global cities or intern virtually. Benefits include exclusive savings for ISEP member students, guaranteed internship placement, housing and on-site support included.
• AXA AssistancecoreOthersAXA Assistance provides ISEP's 24-hour, 365-day emergency response system for students abroad. Students can contact AXA for medical evacuation, repatriation, and medical referrals.
• CISI (Cultural Insurance Services International)coreOthersCISI provides comprehensive accident/sickness coverage and global assistance (including evacuation & repatriation) for ISEP Exchange students. The plan costs $30 USD/week and is required for all countries except those eligible for Limited and Global Assistance plans.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ISA (International Studies Abroad): ISA is a study abroad provider offering programs in dozens of countries across academic and internship tracks. It overlaps with ISEP Direct's fee-paying model and shares the multi-country program portfolio approach.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is a leading nonprofit study abroad organization operating its own programs and exchange network across dozens of countries. It directly competes with ISEP for student placements and university institutional partnerships, with similar multi-country program offerings.
• API (Academic Programs International): API provides study abroad and internship programs at universities across Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. It directly competes with ISEP for fee-paying students and shares a multi-country, multi-discipline program model.
• IES Abroad: IES Abroad is a nonprofit provider of study abroad programs with semester, summer, and internship offerings across multiple countries. It competes head-to-head with ISEP Direct on fee-paying programs and shares a similar mission-driven positioning.
• CEA Study Abroad: CEA Study Abroad offers study abroad and internship programs across multiple countries with a similar multi-site model to ISEP Direct. It competes for fee-paying students seeking immersive academic and internship experiences abroad.
• AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study): AIFS provides study abroad, cultural exchange, and educational travel programs globally. It competes directly with ISEP for both student placements and university partnership relationships.

Emerging players

• CIS Abroad: CIS Abroad is a niche study abroad provider offering programs in select regions with emphasis on cultural immersion and service learning. It competes with ISEP Direct in specific destinations and use cases rather than the full multi-country portfolio.
• The Intern Group: The Intern Group is a specialist provider of international internship placements in major global cities. ISEP partners with TIG to offer internships, but TIG also operates its own program channel that partially overlaps with ISEP's study-and-intern offerings.

Broad incumbents

• IIE (Institute of International Education): IIE is a large, established nonprofit focused broadly on international educational exchange, including the Fulbright Program. While not a direct program competitor, IIE overlaps with ISEP in the university partnership and exchange infrastructure space.
• WorldStrides: WorldStrides is a large educational travel and experiences provider offering study abroad alongside K-12 programs. It operates more broadly than ISEP but competes for institutional study abroad contracts and student placements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISEPStudyAbroad
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ISEPmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISEPStudyAbroad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isep-international-student-exchange-programs
• Instagraminstagram.com/isepstudyabroad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ISEP