NSE Handbook
Placements
Information below addresses placement considerations and procedures for Priority and Direct placements.
16.1 Placement Considerations
16.1.1 Eligibility Criteria for Exchange
Students must meet the qualifications outlined in Section 12.1.1.
16.1.2 Grade Point Average
The minimum GPA for NSE placement is 2.50. Some campuses require a higher minimum, as noted on the Conditions tab of their campus profile. Home coordinators may attempt to place a student with a cumulative GPA below 2.50, though it is not recommended. The placement form's comments section must detail the reasons for consideration, and the prospective campus may request a transcript prior to making a placement submission. Host coordinators are not obligated to accept such students. Failure to disclose a sub-2.50 GPA to the host coordinator may result in placement cancellation.
16.1.3 Student Commitment
16.2 Priority Placements Priority
Placements occur during the first full week of March for students seeking exchanges in the upcoming Summer, Fall, Spring, and/or Academic Year. Campuses should set internal deadlines in mid-to-late February to collect applications, verify eligibility, process fees, and approve submissions ahead of the event.
Because all NSE campuses participate simultaneously, students have the strongest chance of securing their first-choice placement. Applicants are encouraged to list 1–3 backup campuses on their application.
Placement decisions are made virtually via the NSE Coordinator Portal. All campuses must be available during the event to review incoming applicants and make placement decisions. Detailed instructions and training will be provided in the weeks prior.
16.2.1 Communication Prior to Priority Placements
To ensure equitable placements, coordinators must not disclose students' first-choice campuses prior to the opening round of priority placements.
16.2.2 Special Circumstance Exchanges
Pre-placement discussions with other coordinators are appropriate for the following situations: student teaching, study abroad, special programs, internships and co-ops, resident assistant exchanges, students requiring accommodations (physical or learning disabilities), and other unusual circumstances. Actual placements for these students are completed during priority placements in early March.
16.2.3 Significant Changes in Anticipated Placements
Campuses anticipating fewer acceptances than prior years should notify NSE HQ 4–6 weeks before priority placements. NSE HQ will inform the consortium so coordinators can advise applicants accordingly. Campuses with historically limited acceptances that can now accept more students should similarly communicate this change.
16.2.4 Placement at More Than One Campus
Students seeking placement at two campuses in consecutive terms require a separate placement form for each term. The second form should indicate the student has previously been placed. An application fee is owed for each application.
16.2.5 Linked Exchanges
Students who must be placed together are considered a "linked" exchange and are assigned the same priority number (see Section 16.2.6). Each placement form, via the comments box, should identify the linked student(s) by name.
16.2.6 Assignment of Priority Numbers
Priority numbers determine the order in which a host campus considers students when multiple applicants from the same campus select the same first-choice campus. If a host campus cannot accept all applicants, priority numbers should guide decision-making. Priority rankings apply only during the first round of placements.
16.2.7 Placement Guidelines
Campuses that indicate they are OPEN (https://coordinator.nse.org/campus-profile/priority-placements-form) must accept all qualified students. Any campus with available space is expected to accept all eligible candidates. Placements are accepted in the order listed on the placement form, without consideration of subsequent choices.
16.2.8 Advising Students on Campus
Selection Students should thoroughly review campus profiles, including the Academics, Conditions, Tuition/Fees, Financial Aid, and Housing tabs. Applicants are encouraged to select 3–4 campuses and consult chance of acceptance tools:
At least one campus with an OPEN chance of acceptance is strongly encouraged.
16.2.9 Probabilities Affecting Priority Placements Coordinators should advise students on their likelihood of acceptance. With effective advisement, NSE expects to place approximately 97% of applicants, with 85% at their first-choice campus.
16.3 Campuses Unable to Conduct Priority Placements
16.5 Direct Placements
Each year, more than two-thirds of NSE campuses remain open following priority placements. Direct placements may be submitted beginning the Monday after priority placements through midnight on November 30. See our campus availability and deadlines for more information.
During Direct Placements, students select one campus on their application. Their home coordinator should verify campus availability and deadline. If the campus availability shows LIMITED or WAITLIST, or if their deadline was recently passed, contact the prospective host campus prior to submitting a placement.
During Direct Placements, the placement request is sent immediately to the prospective host campus via email. The host coordinator should view the application and make a placement decision within 24-48 hours. Upon acceptance, the home coordinator and the student are notified, and the student is instructed to sign a Placement Acceptance Form (PAF).