The General Information Catalog officially states:

Students may register for international study and research (ISR) if they are conducting research or studying independently abroad. Enrollment requires the approval of the student’s faculty sponsor, graduate adviser [not graduate coordinator] (for graduate students) or department undergraduate adviser (for undergraduates), and the Study Abroad Office. The approval may cover up to four consecutive long-session semesters and contiguous summer sessions. Students enrolled in international study and research pay a fee of $400 plus Overseas Insurance fees and are considered full-time students by the University. Students who register for ISR are not guaranteed credit for the work completed abroad.  Students must consult with the departmental undergraduate adviser or the graduate adviser and with the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) to determine whether credit will be granted.

The Graduate School Catalog officially states:

Students may enroll in international study and research (ISR) when they conduct research or study independently abroad. A student enrolled in international study and research is considered a full-time student. Registration in ISR cannot be used to circumvent the continuous registration requirement for doctoral candidacy; however, when it is determined that a doctoral candidate meets the requirements for ISR registration, it may serve as an acceptable substitute for registration in dissertation hours. Students are encouraged to consult their graduate coordinator for more information regarding their continuous registration requirement.

Access to Student Services:

Students registered in ISR will have an active UT ID card and are eligible to use:

1. UT Austin Libraries
2. ITS computer support services
3. University Health Services
4. University Housing

Students registered in ISR are not eligible for:

1. Federal, state or institutional loans or grants processed by the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS)
2. Athletic facilities usage

Application Deadlines:

Our application policy has changed. The Study Abroad Office will no longer accept new applications or extensions after the deadlines listed below. Students must complete all requirements for application prior to the application deadlines. No exceptions.

Semester In ISR                    Application Deadlines
Fall                                         August 1
Spring                                    December 1
Summer                                 May 1

Registration Process:

• Students will be registered in either ISR 090 (graduates) or ISR 080 (undergraduates) no sooner than the last registration period.
• Once approved for ISR, students should not be registered for any course(s).
• Students may enroll in ISR for a maximum of four consecutive long semesters.
• There is not an official minimum time period abroad.

Fee Information:

• Once approved, the actual cost of registration per semester is $400.
  • This fee will be posted to students' My Tuition Bill.
• There is a one-time $50 non-refundable application fee.
  • This fee supports the advising and technology needed to assist students studying or conducting research abroad.
• As of Fall 2011, all UT Austin students studying abroad must have Overseas Insurance.
  
  • All students, regardless of college/school, classification or program type, are charged this fee.
  • There is one exception: international students returning to their home country are automatically exempt.
  • Students cannot opt out of the UT Overseas Insurance, even if their program or overseas sponsor provides them with this type of coverage.

International Students:

International students MUST speak with an Immigration Advisor in International Student and Scholar Services in the International Office prior to departure from the United States. There are possible immigration implications for those students that fail to meet with an Immigration Advisor.
Additionally, beginning Fall 2009, all international students that are accepted into ISR will be automatically charged for UT Domestic Student Health Insurance. This requirement is due to the fact that the university cannot be certain that ISR students will remain abroad for the full term.

To request ISR status:

1. Email travelabroad@austin.utexas.edu with the following information:

• Subject line: ISR Request
• First Name
• Last Name
• EID
• First Semester abroad
• The country where the research will take place
• Indicate if you are awaiting IOC approval for travel to a UT-Restricted Region

Once received, the student will be authorized to access the ISR online application via the online portal or "My SAO".

2. There are four parts to the application in which all will be required before the application can be considered.

1. Log on to the online portal or "My SAO", and complete the "Online Registration Form"
2. Download the Cover Sheet , and obtain the required signatures. The Study Abroad Office realizes that ISR applicants and/or supervising professors may have already left the country and obtaining ink signatures will not be possible. In this situation, applicants may email the cover sheet and one page proposal to their faculty member and graduate adviser. Email approvals from them are accepted. Please forward the documents and approvals to the ISR Coordinator at travelabroad@austin.utexas.edu.
3. Complete a one-page abstract/proposal. The proposal needs to address when, where, for how long, and for what purpose the student will be abroad.
   Students can turn in the application at the Study Abroad Office front desk, mail the application to the Study Abroad Office physical address, [attention ISR Coordinator], or email the application to travelabroad@austin.utexas.edu.
4. If traveling to a UT-Restricted Region, you must have IOC approval before obtaining final approval for ISR.

3. Once final approval has been granted, an email notification will be sent to the students confirming the student's ISR application status. The student will then be directed to complete a series of pre-departure requirements online including forms, insurance, and registration.
Note: Applications for travel to American protectorates (example: Puerto Rico) will not be approved.

Extension Request:

Students proposing to continue research in the same country as their previous research are eligible to apply for an extension. To apply for an ISR extension, students must fill out the Extension Request Form and receive approval from their Graduate Advisor and Faculty Sponsor. Approvals must be submitted prior to the application deadlines listed above in the "Application Deadlines" section. Approvals are accepted via email. Students do not need to pay a $50 application fee to extend their ISR status. Students must also be in compliance with our insurance requirement for the continuing semesters. If you are traveling to a country on the UT Austin Restricted Regions List, you must seek approval again from our International Oversight Committee before your continuance will be considered for approval. Registration for ISR will not occur until all approvals have been submitted and the registration period is open. It is the student's responsibility to make sure all approvals have been received. Please submit Extension Requests to travelabroad@austin.utexas.edu.

Last Updated 10/02/2012