Subject Area: Interior Design

ISEP – Study on Exchange in the USA

De Montfort University is a member institution of the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP) – a not for profit organisation that brings together a consortium of universities around the world, to make studying abroad more accessible to students.

Interested in studying abroad in the USA through ISEP?

Join one of our briefing sessions to find out how the programme works. Upcoming sessions:
Wednesday 5 November, 12pm-12:45pm, The Yard 1.05
Thursday 20 November, 12:15pm-12:45pm, The Yard 1.02

Is ISEP right for me?

ISEP provides an alternative route to studying in the USA, alongside DMU’s direct partner universities. While all students are welcome to apply, ISEP may be particularly appealing if:

  • You are especially keen to study in the United States and would like access to a wide range of universities through a single application.
  • You would value the additional support provided by ISEP, including arranged accommodation, meal plans, and visa sponsorship.
  • You are interested in studying at a wide range of US institutions, offering a broad range of locations and courses.

This makes ISEP a good option for students who want reassurance around accommodation and visa processes, and who are motivated to explore study opportunities across the United States.

Where can I study in the US via ISEP?

Being a member of ISEP allows DMU students to study at over 100 universities in the US.
A diverse range of destinations and types of institutions is available, and the full list of exchange destinations can be accessed via the button below.

Search for institutions

Finding programmes/modules

To explore what you can study at each institution:

  • Use the ISEP Program Finder (link via the button above) to search by Field of Study.
  • Check the institution’s module directory or course catalogue, focusing on options marked for visiting or exchange students.
  • Contact the ISEP Student Services Officer listed on each university’s page for more detailed advice about modules and course availability.
  • If unsure, seek guidance from your DMU faculty and the DMU Global team to make sure your choices fit with your degree requirements.

What does the application process look like?

Applying for an ISEP placement is a two stage process:

  1. Apply to DMU Global
    • Applications for the 2026–27 academic year open on Monday 27 October 2025 and close on Monday 12 January 2026.
    • Applications are submitted via DMU Global as advised here.
  2. Apply to ISEP
    • If your DMU Global application is successful, you will then submit an application directly to ISEP by Sunday 1 March 2026.
    • At this stage, you can select up to 10 preferred universities, and ISEP will attempt to place you at one of your top four choices.

DMU Global and ISEP will run information sessions to guide you through the process and provide tailored support at each stage.


Fees and support

ISEP operates on a model where you pay DMU housing and meal costs. In return, you are provided with pre-arranged accommodation and a meal plan at your host university, making it broadly comparable to continuing your studies at DMU.

There are a number of fixed fees that will be payable to DMU/ISEP as part of your year abroad. For the 2025-26 academic year, these fees included:

  • ISEP Exchange Application Fee: $100 (approx. £76)
  • ISEP Exchange Placement Fee: $450 (approx. £345)
  • Accommodation: £6,095
  • Meal plan: £2,808

Please note: Fees are subject to change and will be updated for the 2026–27 academic year.


All participants will be eligible to receive financial support from the Turing Scheme, to help make the year abroad more affordable. You can find further details of fees and funding that is available here.


If you have any questions regarding ISEP, please get in touch with us.

Mount Royal University – Calgary, Canada

Mount Royal University (MRU) was founded in 1910 following a charter by the Alberta provincial government, and today has around 25,000 students enrolled on full and part-time courses at the university. Situated in Calgary, the largest city in Alberta (1.2 million population) students at MRU benefit from it being the sunniest major city in Canada, whilst also being perfect for snow sports with on average, 128cm of snow per year.


Programmes of study

MRU offers a range of programmes of study that include Accounting, English, Health Science, History, Human Resources, Journalism, Marketing and so on. Full details of the majors on offer can be found on the MRU website. Students studying Nursing and Midwifery are not eligible to apply, as MRU are unable to accept exchange students on their programmes.


Exchange students will be required to follow a full programme of study for the academic year based at MRU.


DMU student stories

Kitty’s Canadian exchange in Calgary

Kitty Hollet is a third-year student at DMU currently studying Criminal Justice. She shared her reflections at the mid-way point of year studying at Mount Royal University in Alberta, Canada. Travelling to Canada To my surprise, I found the travel aspect of my year abroad the most difficult part of the process. Luckily, to study…


Travel & accommodation

  • Travel – the nearest major airport to Mount Royal University is Calgary airport. It is recommended to take a taxi to your accommodation, which should cost approximately $55-60.
  • Accommodation – you will need to apply to live in the Mount Royal University student halls of residence. For more information check out  the MRU Residence webpage.

Visas & insurance

  • Visas – To take part in this exchange you are responsible for ensuring that you meet Canadian immigration requirements.
  • Insurance – DMU insurance is not sufficient for studying on exchange in Canada, and students are required to purchase medical insurance while attending Mount Royal University.

Malmö University – Malmö, Sweden

Founded in 1998, Malmö University has had a keen focus on its social commitment to both the local community and student life. It has informed the university’s approach to education through close collaboration with the city and surrounding community; providing an excellent student exchange experience. The university is committed to being an internationally recognised institution, offering over 30 degrees in English with just over 24,000 students enrolled.


Ranked the 14th best university in Sweden and coming in the top 500 universities in Europe, the university offers exchange students a world class education in the heart of a city with a rich and diverse background. Sweden is also recognised as the 5th highest ranking country for education and research quality world-wide.


Programmes of study

DMU’s exchange agreement with Malmö University allows students enrolled on the following programmes to study abroad: 

  • Business and Law – Law (students will be required to pick some modules from other programmes)
  • Health and Life Sciences – Education Studies
  • Technology, Arts and Culture – Politics and International Relations, History, Politics and International Relations, Interior Design, Product Design, Computer Science

Modules will be available in English and further information about the study options can be found here (Exchange students may not be eligible for all courses listed. You will receive a full list upon your successful application).


You are also highly encouraged to participate in the following optional courses:

  • Introduction programme: Designed to help international students integrate with the student life at Malmö and explore what the city has to offer.
  • Swedish language course: An introduction to the Swedish language, culture and society.


Travel & accommodation

  • Travel – While Malmö has its own airport, exchange students are advised to travel to Malmö University via Copenhagen Airport (CPH), a mere 20-minute train from Malmö.
  • Accommodation – There is a range of accommodation on offer for exchange students. You can see a full list here.

Visas & insurance

  • Visas – To take part in this exchange you are responsible for ensuring that you meet Swedish immigration requirements.
  • Insurance – All students are recommended to purchase travel insurance for the duration of their time in Europe to cover personal possessions and healthcare. UK and EU nationals can apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which is time-limited to the length of the exchange period.

HFG Schwäbisch Gmünd – Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Hochschule Fuer Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd  is a university of design in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Schwä­bisch Gmünd is a relatively small city, but benefits from a really strong strong student commu­nity. The Finan­cial Times Germany attri­buted Schwä­bisch Gmünd as ​”Germany’s Secret Design Capital“ since there are nume­rous design agen­cies, adver­ti­sing and mul­ti­me­dia com­pa­nies, archi­tects and crea­tive service providers


Schwä­bisch Gmünd with its 60.000 inha­bi­tants is located close to Stutt­gart and is sur­roun­ded by forests, meadows, and farm­land. Street cafés, wine bars, markets, variety of shops, and rich and lively cul­tu­ral scene give the town its special flair.


Programmes of study

DMU’s exchange agreement with HFG Schwä­bisch Gmünd allows students enrolled on the following programmes to study abroad:

  • Technology, Arts and Culture – Graphic Design, Interior Design and Product Design

Spending a year on exchange will expose you to new design approa­ches, themes, dif­fe­rent tea­ching, and lear­ning methods by following modules related to the Commu­ni­ca­tion Design, Inter­ac­tion Design and Product Design. You are allowed to mix courses taught in English from those three programs and the new program, Internet of Things. You don’t have to be able to speak any German, and throughout the year you can enrol on a free, weekly German language course.


Exchange students will be required to follow a full programme of study for the academic year.


Travel & accommodation

  • Travel – the nearest major airport is Stuttgart Airport. It is recommended you take a train to Schwäbisch Gmünd which should take approximately 1.5 hours.
  • Accommodation – the University does not offer student accommodation. The inter­na­tio­nal coor­di­na­tor will send you flat offers two to three months before the start of your exchange, and your buddy will help you find a place to live. The average monthly rent amounts to around £250-300 per month. Some options being can be found on WG-gesucht.

Visas & insurance

  • Visas – To take part in this exchange you are responsible for ensuring that you meet German immigration requirements.
  • Insurance – All students are recommended to purchase travel insurance for the duration of their time in Europe to cover personal possessions and healthcare. UK and EU nationals can apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which is time-limited to the length of the exchange period.

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences – Helsinki, Finland

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences is Finland’s largest university of applied sciences educating future professionals in fields such as Business, Culture and Technology. There are approximately 16,000 students enrolled on courses, with the institution’s mission being to create insight, expertise and well-being.


A globally minded institution, Metropolia University educates their students and prepare them for an international world and a global job sector. Each year, Metropolia welcomes about 320 exchange students from partner universities all over the world, supporting them in having an impactful experience while studying for an academic year in Helsinki!


Programmes of study

DMU’s exchange agreement with Metropolia University of Applied Sciences allows students enrolled on the following programmes to study abroad:

  • Technology, Arts and Culture – Textile Design, Fashion Textile Design, Fashion Design, Product Design, and Interior Design
  • Business & Law – all Business programmes

Modules will be available in English and further information about the study options can be found here. Exchange students will be required to follow a full programme of study for the academic year based at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

Travel & accommodation

  • Travel – the nearest major airport to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences is Helsinki Airport. It is recommended to take a taxi or public transportation to your accommodation.
  • Accommodation – Metropolia University of Applied Sciences assists exchange students in finding accommodation in Helsinki. For more information check out Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Accommodation .

Visas & insurance

  • Visas – To take part in this exchange you are responsible for ensuring that meet Finnish immigration requirements.
  • Insurance – All students are recommended to purchase travel insurance for the duration of their time in Europe to cover personal possessions and healthcare. UK and EU nationals can apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which is time-limited to the length of the exchange period.

Weber State University – Ogden, Utah, USA

Founded in 1889, Weber State University is an exceptional teaching university providing degrees in business, education, health professions, liberal arts, technology, and sciences to meet the needs of the region. The university offers more than 250 undergraduate certificate and degree programs, serving more than 26,000 students, drawn predominately from Utah but also including representatives from all 50 states and 47 foreign countries.


WSU takes pride in its student-centered environment, meeting the needs of both traditional and non-traditional students. A multi-campus institution, WSU’s main Ogden campus is located 35 miles north of Salt Lake City.


Programmes of study

Weber State University offers a range of programmes of study that include Business, Communication, Computer Systems, Education, Engineering, Technology, Health Science, Arts and so on. Full details of the majors on offer can be found on the Weber State University website. Students studying Nursing and Midwifery are not eligible to apply, as Weber State University are unable to accept exchange students on their programmes.


Exchange students will be required to follow a full programme of study for the academic year based at Weber State University.


DMU student stories

Georgia’s unforgettable year studying in the USA

Georgia Fidler a third year Interior Design student, spent a year studying at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Below she shares her experience of living, studying and travelling in the United States. How did you find out about studying abroad and what made you want to do it?  Since my first open day at the university, DMU Global,…


Travel & accommodation

Visas & insurance

  • Visas – To take part in this exchange you are responsible for ensuring that you meet US immigration requirements.
  • Insurance – DMU insurance is not sufficient for studying on exchange in the United States, and students are required to purchase health insurance while attending Weber State University.