FAQs & Terms to Know

What is IPD?

IPD is a professional training program for non-native English speakers with an emphasis on business reading and writing skills, and on verbal communication development. The program also incorporates discussion with native speakers, corporate visits, business seminars, and cultural enrichment opportunities. The purpose of IPD is to prepare professionals to be effective and successful in the world of global business.

What are the requirements to enter IPD?

To enter IPD, you must have professional experience, a university degree (not necessarily a business degree), and high-intermediate to advanced English proficiency.

What kind of people participate in IPD?

Professional men and women come from all over the world specializing in fields such as sales, marketing, banking, finance, medicine, higher education, journalism, accounting, and many others.

IPD has welcomed participants from many countries. In the past several years we have had participants from Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Burkina Faso, Togo, Kenya, Lithuania, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama.

About half of IPD participants are corporate-sponsored, and others pay for the program themselves. The average age is about 31.

When did the IPD program start?

IPD began in 1989 to provide English training for professionals. It remains one of the few programs of its kind. In addition, it is easily one of the most affordable, due to the low cost of living in Omaha.

How long does the IPD program last?

You may participate in any or all of the five eight-week sessions that IPD offers each year. Sessions 1, 2, 3, and 4, which meet from August to May, build upon each other, and many people choose to stay all four sessions, or for either 1 and 2 or 3 and 4. The summer course, Session 5, is an intensive combination of most of the things studied throughout Sessions 1 through 4. It is not uncommon to take either Session 4 or Session 1 in combination with the eight-week summer course.

How do I apply to the program?

In order to apply, download the application form or ask us to email it to you. Please complete the the application and send it along with a $50 application fee, financial documentation, and your resume. When we have all these things, we can go about processing and sending you the necessary immigration documents. Express mail is available at and additional cost if requested. Generally speaking, you should apply at least six to eight weeks before your preferred session start date. See the checklist at How to Apply.

What are the advantages of Omaha?

Omaha is the cultural center and the largest city in the state of Nebraska. One nickname that has been applied in recent years is the "Silicon Prairie," which suggests its similarity to California's "Silicon Valley" in its attractiveness to business ventures. It is home to many of the largest information technology, agribusiness, communications, telemarketing, and insurance companies in the country. The people here are helpful and friendly, and if you like food, Omaha has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the United States, including a large number of ethnic restaurants. The city also has a large number of ethnic grocery stores, where ingredients for any type of cuisine can be found. Lastly, Omaha has four distinct seasons, with spring and fall being the most pleasant times of year. For more information, check out visitomaha.org.

Who are the instructors?

IPD is staffed by dedicated professionals in international education. Most of our staff and instructors have advanced degrees in either English as a Second Language or a related field, and they have significant experience living and working overseas. In addition, most have significant experience in the world of business as professionals themselves or as teachers or trainers.

What are some of the other advantages to IPD?

• The opportunity to develop friendships and networks with professionals from around the world.
• Weekly corporate visits or business seminars given by local business executives and professors from UNO's College of Business Administration.
• Weekly intercultural activities and discussion classes with U.S. volunteers, both students and professionals.
• Opportunities to customize your program of study by auditing both undergraduate and graduate classes in the College of Business Administration.
• Small classes of about eight students that allow for one-on-one attention from instructors.
• Individual attention and assistance from IPD staff regarding matters of immigration, housing, and curriculum.
• Optional opportunities to study English real-world business setting.

F-1 Student Visa: A visa type for students who plan to study in the United States, but not permanently immigrate. Specific documentation is required as part of the visa interview process. You are required to demonstrate your ability to pay any tuition, fees, and living expenses.

Form DS-2019: An immigration document issued to J-1 visa holders and applicants. Applicants use this document as part of their visa application process. Current students use this for travel and other J-1 visa benefits. In order to receive this document, a J-1 transfer student or initial applicant must demonstrate their ability to pay any tuition, fees, and living expenses not covered by the exchange agreement or included in the government sponsorship.

Form I-20: An immigration document issued to F-1 student visa holders and applicants. Applicants use this document as part of their visa application process. Current students use this for travel and other F-1 visa benefits. In order to receive this document, F-1 transfer students or initial applicant must demonstrate their ability to pay any tuition, fees and, living expenses.

IELTS: International English Language Testing System, an English proficiency exam developed by Cambridge University in Great Britain. It is accepted as an alternative to the TOEFL at some U.S. colleges and universities.

ILUNO: UNO’s Intensive English program, one of the oldest and most-respected in the Central United States. The program offers six levels of instruction with core classes in conversation, grammar, listening, pronunciation, reading, vocabulary, and culture. Beginning students learn day-to-day communication skills. Intermediate and advanced students customize their program by selecting from a wide variety of classes in TOEFL preparation, communicative competency, North American culture, and academic preparation. ILUNO students spend 21 hours per week in class with additional time in the multimedia laboratory where they work with computers.

PTE: Pearson Test of English. PTE Academic is a new international computer-based English language test, delivering real-life measures of language ability to universities, higher education institutions, government departments, and other organizations requiring academic-level English. The new test will accurately measure the listening, reading, speaking, and writing ability of candidates who are non-native speakers of English and who want to study at institutions where English is the principal language of instruction.

Sponsor: A person or company who agrees to pay expenses on behalf of a student.

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language, an English proficiency exam developed by Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey. It is preferred by most U.S. colleges and universities.