INDONESIA - ISEP BINUS University

To be eligible to participate in this program, students must meet the following requirements:

• Good academic and judicial standing during time of application AND time of participation in program
• Undergraduates must have completed at least two semesters of study at Lake Forest College AND have second-semester sophomore status or higher before participation. 
• At least 18 years of age by the program’s departure date. 
• Be able to stay at the host program for the duration of the semester, including through the exam and travel periods
• Minimum GPA of 2.75.  

Students applying to ISEP must apply for an Exchange option (in any country) as a first choice but may apply to a Direct option as a back-up. Direct options may have an additional cost (see a financial section for more information).

Get ready to explore Indonesia and see the wonders of Jakarta! As the capital and largest city of the Republic of Indonesia and the twelfth-largest city in the world, Jakarta is the bustling economic, cultural and political center. Jakarta has its own special Betawi culture, although the city has been influenced by various other cultures that have reached its shores over the centuries. Indonesia is home to breathtaking biodiversity and Jakarta is a gastronomic paradise for gourmets, with international and local cuisines galore.

As a leading university in Indonesia with over 30 years of educational experience and impact, BINUS University is proud to be at the forefront of the rapidly transforming higher education landscape of this resilient economy and democracy. Courses in Business, Communication/Film, Computer Science/Information Systems, Hospitality/Tourism, Fashion Design/Management, and Graphic Design are taught entirely in English.

BINUS is known for its top Computer Studies and Information Technology programs in Indonesia. BINUS has hosted the ACM-ICPC (Association for Computing Machinery - International Collegiate Programming Contest), allowing students to compete against students at other top international institutions. The university also hosted the first ever Google Developer’s Festival in Indonesia. Occasionally, students also have opportunities to take specialized IT certification courses by local industry partners, such as training for Cognos (Business Intelligence and Performance Management Software), owned by IBM. 

Exchange students are allowed to take min 12 and max 24 credits per semester. One semester runs for 13 Lecture weeks, 2 weeks of Mid-term Exam period and 2 weeks of the Final Exam period. To attain a good grade, students are expected to gain 50 minutes per week classroom attendance for each credit (1 SCU), and at least one or two hours of self-learning (explore, discuss and present the material etc). Students must take at least 15 SCU to earn 4 Lake Forest credits.

ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT AND TEACHING STYLE

Please understand that the academic system is quite different. Classes are usually lecture-based, instead of discussion or group work. Classes are often much larger than those found at Lake Forest College. Grades are based heavily, at times almost entirely, on one end-of-term exam, though some courses will also offer a midterm.  Professors are often more formal than those in the United States.

The teaching style in Indonesian universities is teacher-centric. Courses will mostly be lecture-style. The student’s progress is assessed through assignments, midterms, and final exams.

PROGRAMS

BINUS University offers programs in Indonesian (with some particular courses in English).  BINUS International offers programs entirely in English. The following fields are available at BINUS International: Accounting, Finance, Economics, International Business, Business Management, Marketing, Hospitality, Tourism, Law, Computer Science, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Management, Film and Communication, Mass Communication, Mathematics.

SPECIAL ACADEMIC CONDITIONS

At BINUS University, some courses can be arranged to be taught in English with prior arrangement. However, courses with heavy loads of legal materials, such as tax policies, may not be taught in English. ISEP students can take courses either at BINUS International or BINUS University, but not at both.

HINTS FOR RESEARCHING COURSES

1. Click Programs.
2. Select and explore the field you are interested in to view a list of courses typically offered.

Please review the ISEP country handbook for more information on the education system, grades, class hours, and classroom etiquette.

Please download the international student handbook as your reference during your study at BINUS UNIVERSITY.

Several academic departments offer opportunities for internships with local industry partners. These internships may provide an allowance but students will not receive a salary. Usually, these are not credit-bearing, except for Hospitality students who are placed in course-related internships.

Students can participate as volunteers in the Teach for Indonesia (TFI) program. Volunteers will participate in various education-related activities, such as computer and language training for school teachers, education for children at an orphanage, or psychology therapy for victims of a disaster.

Also, from time to time, the university’s links with NGOs give students the opportunity to serve in their community service activities, such as translators for neighborhood medical projects.

ISEP students live in BINUS Square. BINUS Square looks like and is operated like a hotel, but it is only available to students and guests of BINUS. There are separate towers for male and female students. There is a large lobby area and several lounges where students can mingle, study, and hang out. There is also a pool, a gym, a cafeteria, a coffee shop, and a recreation room. Read the BINUS Square Fact Sheet for more information! 

ISEP Direct students receive single rooms and ISEP Exchange students receive shared rooms. Exchange students can stay in single rooms for an extra cost. Married student housing is not available. BINUS Square is located 45-60 minutes from the BINUS International campus, depending on traffic. Free shuttle service is available between the two. 

Take a virtual tour of BINUS Square! 

ISEP students receive a monthly cash stipend which can be used to prepare meals and/or purchase meals in the cafeteria and restaurants on campus. BINUS Square also has multiple dining areas that serve Indonesian, Chinese, and Western cuisine. Given Jakarta’s large Muslim student population, BINUS can usually accommodate students with dietary restrictions. 

For all approved programs for guaranteed financial aid transferability, students pay their Lake Forest College tuition plus a program fee. The program fee for a semester with the ISEP Exchange program includes orientation, on-site director, college fees, housing and a stipend to cover the equivalent of 19/meals per week.

Here is an estimated budget for the Fall 2018/Spring 2019 programs:

Tuition rates and program fees are subject to change each year, but this information was up-to-date as of February 2018. We will notify applicants, and update this page if the program fee or other estimates change.

You can discuss with Financial Aid your specific aid package and your expected family contribution.

Keep in mind that you may spend more or less in certain areas like personal expenses, travel, meals, or airfare, depending on exchange rates and your own spending habits. Classroom or lab fees are not included in this estimate and will depend on your course registration choices.  

Don’t forget to apply for scholarships! A great listing can be found here.