CIEE Programs
Background
Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is a non-profit organization based in Portland, Maine. Since its inception in 1947, CIEE has provided high-quality academic programs to university students throughout the United States. CIEE currently operates 95 study centers in 33 countries. Although the majority of its programs are centered in the humanities and social sciences, CIEE also offers courses and specialized program in business, tropical biology, and other fields.
Each CIEE Study Center has on-site resident staff who oversee the academic and cultural components of the program, conduct thorough orientation sessions, organize excursions and provide ongoing support to program participants.
UW Sponsored Programs
The UW has pre-approved the majority of CIEE's programs for credit. All approved CIEE programs are included in the IPE's website listing of UW study options and link to this page. However, there are also many programs offered by CIEE that are not listed among the UW's sponsored options for which you can receive UW credit.
- For details about a specific CIEE program, please visit CIEE's website at: www.ciee.org.
- For details about participating in and receiving credit for a CIEE program that does not have UW pre-approval please visit: http://www.ipe.washington.edu/domestic/ufos.html
Regardless of approval status all CIEE applications must be submitted to IPE in accordance with the application instructions that appear below.
Academic Credit
All students participating in CIEE programs must be concurrently enrolled at the UW during their term(s) of study abroad. As a concurrently enrolled student, you will earn regular UW credit, as opposed to transfer credit, for your work. Prior to your departure, we encourage you to meet with your regular academic advisor to discuss how credits earned from your CIEE program will contribute to your degree progress at the UW. Students participating on programs for which Spanish credit will be awarded are required to meet with the Spanish Department advisor prior to departure.
All grades for courses completed abroad will be reported on CIEE transcripts and the student's UW transcripts regardless of the final mark or need for credit. Final assignment of the credits earned and the course titles will be made by the appropriate academic department(s) at the UW.
Application Instructions
CIEE application forms and instructions can be downloaded from the CIEE website: www.ciee.org. Students who have not met all the eligibility requirements by the application deadline but who will meet the requirements prior to the program start date are welcome to apply. Final acceptance to the program, however, will be conditional upon successful completion of all program pre-requisites.
Please submit the following CIEE application materials to the IPE in 459 Schmitz Hall by the application deadline:
- Personal Data Form
- Academic Information Form
- Official University Transcript(s)
- Home School Nomination Form
- Personal Statement - please see CIEE application instructions for personal statement guidelines
- Two CIEE Evaluation Forms for academic year or semester programs; one evaluation for summer programs. Evaluations should be completed university faculty or instructors from whom you have taken a course. At least one evaluation should be from a language instructor if your program has a language pre-requisite. Evaluations should be submitted to the IPE in sealed envelopes with the signature of the evaluators on the back seal.
- Six (6) passport-sized color photos (2" x 2"). Clearly print your name on the back of each photograph. Photos cannot be electronic or scanned images.
- CIEE programs in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, England, Ghana, Korea, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa and Russia, require additional application materials. See CIEE's application instructions for details.
Please note: CIEE's $30 application fee is waived for UW students.
Once your application has been entered into the IPE database and a file has been created on your behalf, IPE will send an email requesting that you schedule an appointment with an IPE advisor.
At the appointment's conclusion, the IPE advisor will inform you of your application status (i.e. your acceptance, conditional acceptance or non-acceptance). With the exception of the following programs, the admission decision will be made by the IPE advisor. The programs listed below require that admission decisions be made by CIEE program staff in Portland, Maine:
- Tokyo, Japan
- Khon Kaen, Thailand
- Paris Critical Studies, France
- Prague, Czech Republic
- St. Petersburg Russian Language Program, Russia
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Monteverde, Costa Rica
IPE will mail your applications to CIEE following the interview.
Fees and Payment Procedures
CIEE:CIEE program fees include pre-departure advising, tuition, orientation, ongoing on-site support, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips and basic medical insurance. Many program fees also include room, board, and visa fees.
Program fees vary by country and site and are posted on the CIEE website. Detailed information about payment obligations, procedures and schedules will be included in the Payment Contract and Terms of Participation to be provided upon your acceptance to a CIEE program. All CIEE program fees will be charged to your UW student account; program payments should be made to the UW Student Accounts Office located in 129 Schmitz Hall.
IPE: UW students accepted to CIEE programs also pay an IPE fee of $300 per semester. This fee is charged in addition to the CIEE program fees and in lieu of UW tuition.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Financial Aid Most forms of UW financial aid, including loans, grants and veteran's benefits, can be applied to the costs of CIEE programs. As the tuition, room, board and travel expenses associated with the participation on a CIEE program may exceed the amount of financial aid that is awarded for the same period of study at the UW, students should consider submitting a Financial Aid Revision Request to qualify for additional funds. To do so, students should request a program budget sheet from the IPE office and submit it along with a revision request form (available in the Financial Aid Office) to the Financial Aid Office in 105 Schmitz Hall.
CIEE Scholarships: CIEE offers a number of scholarships to defray the cost of its programs. Eligibility requirements and application forms are available in the CIEE program brochures and on the CIEE website: www.ciee.org. If you intend to apply for a CIEE scholarship, you must submit the following forms to the IPE as part of your CIEE program application:
- Financial Aid Administrator Form
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status (i.e. copy of your U.S. passport, birth certificate or green card)
IPE Scholarship: The IPE scholarship awards are merit-based. Application forms are available in the IPE Office or can be downloaded from the IPE website.
Application Deadlines
Academic Year: February 1
Fall Semester: February 1
Summer: February 1
Spring Semester: May 1
Please note: UW deadlines are earlier than those listed in CIEE's brochure and posted on its website.
Application may be accepted after the deadline on a space available basis.