Through the International Summer Immersion Program (ISIP), students from select partner universities outside of the United States, spend 5 to 6 weeks experiencing research activities and campus life at a major research university.
Click here to download the program brochure.
The 2019 program will run from July 9 - August 11.
The Office of International Programs in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) initiated the International Summer Immersion Program (ISIP) in partnership with China’s Zhejiang University in 2010. The ISIP program has been growing ever since. Beginning in 2015, the program expanded to include students from additional universities around the world.
The purpose of this short-term program is to facilitate independent, undergraduate research activities for visiting students and to expose them to the high-quality scientific research at the University of Illinois. In addition, the program provides ACES faculty with an opportunity to extend their international collaborations, both research and teaching, to premier universities around the world.
Students in ISIP have participated in various projects relating to livestock management, food science, plant genetics, horticulture, and the environment. They have taken part in industry-oriented field trips, cross-cultural engagements, and trips to places of cultural and historical importance.
More than 120 students have graduated from this unique program. Its quality and value have been repeatedly recognized by faculty and students at our key partner universities. At Zhejiang University, our program received the “Best Summer Group Program” award in 2012 and 2013.
ISIP is a short-term summer program which introduces the College of ACES to promising undergraduate students from selected partner institutions. Students gain an understanding of the scholarly research process through the direct mentorship of an ACES faculty member. Participants are also introduced to the U.S. higher education system and to what it means to be a graduate student at the University of Illinois. In addition, students learn about the history and the culture of Illinois and the United States, and participate in many cross-cultural activities on campus and beyond.
Through direct mentorship by an ACES faculty member, students complete a research project. Participants must dedicate a minimum of 30 hours per week to their research activities. The ISIP program culminates with a group poster session where the students showcase their research findings.
The program offers many opportunities for immersion into U.S. culture and exploration of the rich history of the state of Illinois and the region. Students also mingle with their domestic peers through special on-campus mixers and community social events.
At completion of the program, students have:
The ISIP is highly competitive. The application process is initiated through the students' home university, which must be a partner institution of the program.
The Office of International Programs makes every effort to keep ISIP accessible to students who are ready to take on new academic challenges and are eager to build their research skills.
Students interested in ISIP should read the instructions and fill out the program application form and submit it to the unit at their home-institution which facilitates the ISIP selection process.
In addition to the application form, the student must submit a one-page personal statement clearly outlining the reasons why he/she wants to join the program. The personal statement should also reference the research area of interest to the student and the reasons for this interest. Lastly, the students should submit their most recent transcripts/ grade records and TOEFL scores, where applicable.
February: Application process starts End of March: Application deadline and applicant selection at home institution Mid-April: Second round of applicant selection (at Illinois) End of April: Cohort announcement May and June: Students apply for an entry visa and make travel arrangements Early July: Program starts Mid-August: Program ends
All questions about the ISIP program, including how institutions can participate, should be addressed to the Associate Director, Suzana Palaska at spalaska@illinois.edu