Study Abroad Programs
Broaden Your Horizons

Study abroad – traveling to another country for formal academic study – isn't just for language majors anymore! Most universities have some kind of study abroad program, allowing students to earn academic credit while participating in an overseas educational program.

Why Study Abroad?
The benefits you acquire from a study abroad experience are countless. Here is a sampling of what it can do for you:

• Gain first-hand knowledge of another culture.

• Enhance your resume by building the skills employers look for, including independence, self-confidence, cross-cultural communication, and ability to deal effectively with differences.

• Immerse yourself in a foreign language.

• Make lifelong friends.

Study abroad can provide you with enormous benefits that you won't believe possible until you do it! And in today's ever-shrinking world, overseas experience, once thought of as educational enrichment, has increasingly become a necessity in many professions and careers.

Types of Study Abroad Programs
Thirty years ago, the only students who studied abroad were foreign language or humanities majors. Today, study abroad is much more diverse, offering something for everyone. Virtually all academic disciplines, from the humanities to the sciences to professional preparation, are represented in the international study programs currently available.

Now, students can study abroad for various lengths of time. Programs 30 years ago were predominantly a full academic year (hence the name "Junior Year Abroad"), while today's programs range from 2 weeks between semesters during the winter break to 3-12 weeks in the summer to a full semester or academic year. Students choose the program length and academic disciplines that best suit their personal and academic goals. And just as there are programs in many academic disciplines for various lengths of time, students can also choose from a wide variety of program types.

Are you an adventuresome or independent student? Then you might choose to participate in an exchange program, where you directly enroll in a foreign university that has an exchange agreement with your home university. Exchange program students have a wide variety of course options available to them since they take the regular courses at the host university, just like other students from that university.

Do you need a structure that is a little more familiar? Many universities offer study abroad programs which are based at a foreign university, but maintain elements of structure from the home campus. For example, you might travel to the program site with other students on a group flight. Worried about your language skills? You might take classes for visiting students that are taught in the country's native language, but are geared toward non-native speakers. And programs of this type usually have the benefit of a home campus faculty member or a specially-designated foreign staff member to serve as "resident director," to provide services like academic advising, troubleshooting, and cultural adjustment.

Would you rather go overseas with a group of your classmates and professors? There are structured, short-term programs led by a home campus faculty member in which you participate with classmates. These programs are often thematically focused and offer regular home-campus courses, making credit earned easily fit into your degree plan. Logistical arrangements, such as housing and field trips, are made for you in advance, so these programs are a comfortable and easy way to gain international experience.

How Do You Pay for Study Abroad?
Many students and parents are surprised to learn how affordable study abroad can be. Universities frequently allow the most common forms of financial aid — grants, scholarships, loans — to be used for study abroad programs. If you're interested in using your regular financial aid for a study abroad program, consult with your campus financial aid office.

When you look for a study abroad program, first determine your needs and interests. Compare the features and costs of various programs to find the best match. The total cost of a program depends on a variety of factors, including: credits taken, program length, local cost of living, international and local transportation, and program type.

Along with regular financial aid, you can take advantage of special scholarship programs to help defray the cost of study abroad. Many colleges and universities offer study abroad scholarships, as do local and national organizations.

Start Planning Now!
It's never too early to begin thinking about study abroad. Early planning makes credit transfer easier and ensures that you'll be able to put all the financial resources at your disposal to work. Talk to your academic advisor as soon as possible about your interest in studying abroad. Visit a college or university's study abroad office. Talk to your parents. Thousands of U.S. college students study abroad each year. You can, too!

Editorial provided by Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI.