The National Student Exchange (NSE) allows undergraduate students to study away for a semester, summer, or academic year at another NSE member campus in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. UMD students remain connected to UMD while gaining access to courses, programs, regions, and campus experiences not available locally.
This page is intended to help professional and faculty academic advisors support students who are exploring or preparing for National Student Exchange.
Role of Academic Advisors
Academic advisors, including professional advisors and faculty advisors, play an important role in helping students determine whether NSE fits their academic plans. Students often need guidance on timing, degree progress, major requirements, liberal education requirements, prerequisites, and how exchange coursework may apply toward graduation.
Before a student has been accepted to NSE, they should not complete the full transfer-credit approval process yet. Instead, students should focus on early academic planning.
Information and Resources
Before a Student Is Accepted
Students exploring NSE should be encouraged to:
- Review their APAS report to understand remaining degree requirements.
- Identify possible host institutions that align with their academic, personal, or career goals.
- Create a preliminary list of courses at the host institution that may fit remaining UMD requirements.
- Meet with their UMD academic advisor to discuss whether NSE is a good fit for their degree plan and graduation timeline.
- Remain flexible, since enrollment in specific courses at the host campus is not guaranteed. NSE notes that students should have a flexible academic plan while on exchange.
At this stage, the goal is not final course approval. The goal is to determine whether NSE is academically realistic and worth pursuing.
After a Student Is Accepted
Once a student has been accepted for exchange, they should complete the more formal academic planning and transfer-credit steps.
Accepted students should:
- Work with the NSE Coordinator and their academic advisor to complete NSE Academic Plan.
- Identify more courses than they expect to take, since course availability may change.
- Confirm how courses may apply to major, minor, liberal education, elective, or other degree requirements.
- Follow UMD’s transfer-credit process and submit required materials for review.
- Stay in communication with their advisor if their host-campus schedule changes.
Important Advising Considerations
When working with a student interested in NSE, advisors may want to discuss:
- Whether the student has enough flexibility in their degree plan.
- Whether the exchange term is better suited for electives, liberal education, major exploration, or specialized coursework.
- Whether required courses must be taken at UMD.
- Whether the student is on track for prerequisites or sequenced courses.
- Whether participation could delay graduation.
- Whether the student has backup course options.
- Whether the student understands that course availability at the host campus is not guaranteed.
Course Planning Guidance
Students should be reminded that NSE course planning is a two-stage process.
Exploration stage:
The student reviews APAS, identifies possible courses, and talks with their advisor about general fit.
Accepted student stage:
The student completes formal transfer-credit planning and approval steps after NSE placement/acceptance.
This distinction is important because students may invest significant time gathering syllabi, submitting course reviews, or completing approval forms before knowing whether they will be placed at a host institution.
When to Refer a Student to the NSE Coordinator
Please refer students to the NSE Coordinator when they:
- Are interested in studying away through NSE.
- Want to compare possible host institutions.
- Have questions about NSE eligibility, placement, timelines, or application steps.
- Have been accepted and need next steps for exchange preparation.
- Need help understanding how NSE fits with UMD processes.
Academic advisors remain the best contact for degree planning and requirement questions. The NSE Coordinator supports the exchange process, placement guidance, and connection to NSE-specific requirements.