MEXICO - ISEP Universidad La Salle

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 junior 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.  
• Language Requirement: A minimum of 4 semesters of Spanish or the equivalent must be completed prior to the program. Students must prove that they are proficient in Spanish at the B2 level (intermediate-advanced). Students may prove this if they have taken the DELE exam and have an official score. Students who do not have a DELE exam will take a language assessment exam upon arrival. Students who do not meet the B2 requirement (or who do not test into the B2 level upon arrival) may apply for Universidad La Salle but will be required to enroll in Spanish classes at an additional fee (approximately $270 USD per class). 
• The student must submit ISEP language proficiency report in the application, even if native speaker.

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).

Universidad La Salle is centrally located in the heart of the trendy neighborhood Colonia Condesa, which can be easily reached by subway, bus to taxi. It is within walking distance of many restaurants, cafes, bookstores, museums and movie theaters, and only a thirty-minute ride from the Historic Center of Mexico City.

Universidad La Salle offers international students with an array of support services, a wide variety of academic programs, and excellent infrastructure. Our campus is green, safe, inviting and easily accessible.

Founded in 1962, Universidad La Salle is an institution of higher education committed to the integral development of its students. It is part of the worldwide network of Christian Brothers schools established in the 17th century by the French educator St. John Baptist De La Salle.

Our Administration, Architecture, and Engineering programs have been ranked at the top of the country; our Education programs offer courses that may be of interest in the Bilingual Education field; courses in art history are offered through the Architecture School. Other areas of interest to ISEP students, because of its well-known academic level, include Engineering and Chemistry. La Salle is one of 24 FIMPES members with an Academic Excellence Registry given by the Mexican Secretariat of Public Education. 

Regular attendance, completion of oral and written projects, participation in class discussions, and partial & final tests are regular practices at La Salle, and they are part of the final grade.

Students generally enroll in four to seven courses per semester and spend 20 to 30 hours a week in class. Semesters are 16 weeks in length. 

PROGRAMS

Universidad La Salle offers 28 undergraduate programs in six faculties: 
1. Faculty of Business (Actuary, Business Administration, International Trade, Accounting, Business Information Technology, and Marketing) 
2. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (Religion Studies, Education Sciences, Elementary Education, Pre-School Education, Psychology, and Philosophy 
3. Faculty of Law (Law and International Relations) 
4. Faculty of Chemistry (Environmental Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, and Biochemistry & Pharmacology) 
5. Faculty of Engineering (Biomedical, Cybernetics & Computer Studies, Civil, Electronics & Communications, Industrial, Mechanical, and Mechatronics) 
6. Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Communication (Architecture, Graphic Design, and Communication Science)

Language Courses: Intensive and semi-intensive Spanish language courses are offered in addition to regular classes at additional cost. Grades and credits will be noted on an official certificate if requested by the student. Please note that these classes will not appear on the regular university transcript. Students should verify with their home university if credits from certificates will be accepted for transfer. 

Courses in the School of Medicine are not open to ISEP students.

For information on available courses and schedules, click here. 

If course descriptions are needed, please contact the Program Officer for Mexico.

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.

All courses/modules may have prerequisites.  Some departments may have limitations on numbers of courses that can be taken within or outside it.  Be aware of these limitations.

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

ORIENTATION

The orientation program takes place one week before classes start and are mandatory for all exchange students. La Salle students welcome and support exchange students during orientation week. Academic advice, emergency procedures, safety tips, Mexican history, and culture are all covered. Visits to tourist sites and cultural activities are also included.

ARRIVAL DETAILS:

Universidad La Salle will provide arrival directions with the acceptance packet.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Universidad La Salle services and facilities include computer labs, library, conference rooms, language center, bank, cafeterias (including a Starbucks on-campus), and fully equipped athletic facilities with a swimming pool and basketball courts.La Salle also offers students emergency medical services and a bilingual doctor 24/7. Students may participate in sports, cultural and/or social courses and activities. The Center for International Education welcomes and supports our exchange students.

Students are accommodated with Mexican families, selected and supervised by the university. Homes are within walking distance of campus. Meals are provided by host families. 

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.