The 22 Best Courses to Study Abroad—Broken Down by Locations

Here are what subjects, courses, and classes you should take when you study abroad. ☆ Studying abroad sounds like a dream to pretty much anyone who hears about it...until you remember that you actually have to study while abroad. It’s all fun and games until you’re stuck inside memorizing flashcards instead of learning how to tango like all of your friends. 

Even though you probably don’t want to think about the “study” part of “study abroad”, we’re here to remind you that learning shouldn’t be boring! Isn’t that why you’re studying abroad in the first place?

Top destinations + the best subjects to study abroad at each

Regardless of your major, the best part of studying abroad is that your education truly expands beyond the four walls of a standard classroom. That’s the whole point of studying abroad: to get out there and experience something that you otherwise couldn’t do back home. So why go abroad and only enroll in gen eds you could’ve taken at home? Boring. Having a hard time figuring out what to study abroad, then? We’ve outlined some of the best courses to take abroad in top destinations to help you get those creative juices flowing!

Spain

By far one of the most popular study abroad locations, Spain offers so much to international students. From highly-ranked universities and historical sites to the pristine beaches and sangria-filled streets of its bustling cities, Spain doesn’t just have a little of everything - it has a lot of everything. In such an exciting region, don’t get stuck having to take the same Christopher Columbus class that everyone does!

1. Spanish

What better place to study Spanish than the country that invented it? Studying the language of the region you’re living in seems pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people study abroad and only take classes in their native language. There are actually a lot of different Spanish dialects and accents just within Spain, so depending on the area you’re studying in, you might have the option to study more than just one dialect. Pick up some Spanish while in Spain so you can say more than sangria, por favor!

2. Another foreign language

Spain is snuggled in between France and Portugal, making it easy to pick up another romance language. If you’re looking to get really unique, consider taking a class on the Basque language and culture. This region in the western Pyrenees straddles the French and Spanish border and is actually home to over 3 million people. The Basque language is considered a “language isolate” to any other living language and is the only surviving pre-Indo-European language in western Europe. Study some living history here!

3. Flamenco

You’re in Spain...how could you not take a dance class? Even if you have two left feet and absolutely no inner rhythm, you still should take a flamenco class. Not only will you learn about one of the most sensual dances ever, but you’ll learn even more about Spanish culture, history, and music. We guarantee, too, that casually mentioning on your next date that you are well-versed in flamenco will help you land that coveted second date!

China

Because China has been such a global powerhouse for so long, it’s not a surprise that it’s also one of the top study abroad destinations. With the world’s largest population and second largest land area, there is some serious ground to cover here. Don’t get weighed down thinking you will only be studying history and economics! Here’s what subjects to study abroad in China.

4. Chinese

Even though there are “only” seven classifications of the Chinese language, there are actually hundreds of different Chinese dialects with many being mutually unintelligible, so study whichever one(s) is the highest spoken in your host region. Maybe even study a few different ones to give yourself more of a leg up. Any type of Chinese course is definitely among the best classes to take abroad! 

5. Business

Let’s face it: China is low key taking over the whole world. Even if you’re not majoring in business, we can pretty much guarantee that at some point in your life, you will have to do business with a Chinese company. Taking a business class in China is the perfect way to get a competitive advantage, and will not only help you with doing business in Asia but also the rest of the world. Always remember that everything is a business, so we promise even the art majors shaking their heads at this will benefit!

6. Architecture

China isn’t usually the first place people think of when they consider taking an architecture class. This is a shame! From the Great Wall to the Forbidden City to thousands of historic temples and palaces, China offers so many unique examples of both historic and modern architecture that are begging to be explored. Not to mention, too, that most cities in China have been growing at an exponential rate over the past few decades, which means that the fields of architecture, engineering, and urban planning are huge in China. Learn from the pros here!

Italy

When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right? Italy is home to some of the most powerful ancient empires, awe-inspiring natural and historical beauty, and of course, some of the best food and art in the world. This means that nothing about your time here should be boring! Switch up your typical course schedule with one of these much more fun and interesting options.

7. Italian

There’s a reason why German-speaking Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote the majority of his operas in Italian. It’s beautiful. Not only will knowing some Italian help your day-to-day life while abroad, but it will probably help your romantic life, too. Wink wink.

8. Cooking

Come on. Where else in the world would you study food? From pizza to pasta to gelato, we owe a lot to Italy’s kitchens. If you study abroad in Italy and don’t take some type of cooking class, you’re either a masochist or an alien...or both.

9. Art History

See above. With ridiculously talented painters, sculptors, and architects (and sometimes all in one), it would be a sin to come to Italy and not study something about Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, or Donatello...and no, we don’t mean the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The best part of taking an art history class here is that your time won’t just be spent in a classroom. Some of the most famous pieces of art belong to cathedrals, palaces, and government buildings (and sometimes the famous piece of art is the building itself), so get ready to have the most badass “classrooms”. Let’s face it, you’re not cool until you’ve studied in the Sistine Chapel.

France

It’s not a secret that France’s la vie en rose attitude is unlike anything else in the world. France is basically synonymous with romance, so fall in love with your studies, too, by picking some fun topics! Here are what subjects to study abroad in the land of light, France.

10. French

We all know that French is the language of love, so why not pick up a few more phrases besides voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? Even though there are over 40 countries and territories with French as an official language, you can’t beat coming right to the source. Plus, the joke about the French not liking people who don’t speak French isn’t totally inaccurate, so knowing some basic French will definitely help you during your time abroad.

11. History

The French have been busy people. From exploring far-off places around the world to inventing awesome things like the hot air balloon, canned food, the stapler, and photography, there’s a lot to learn from this little country. Not all of their history is pleasant, to say the least, so whether its the French Revolution or the history of photography, you’ll definitely learn something useful. After you study the technology that went into building the first camera, you’ll never feel guilty about taking a selfie again!

Brazil

If you’ve ever watched a soccer match or a Carnival parade, you’ll know that Brazilians are passionate people. You’re totally wrong if you think that energy doesn’t carry over into their academics. As the home of cool inventions like the portable stereo, automatic transmissions, the electronic voting system, the wristwatch, and even the airplane (don’t tell the Wright brothers), it’s easy to see how much emphasis is placed on education and innovation here!

12. Portuguese

You might naturally assume that Portugal is the best place to study Portuguese, but when you consider that there are an estimated 10 million Portuguese speakers here compared to an estimated 207 million Portuguese speakers in Brazil, you may rethink that assumption. South America isn’t just for studying Spanish!

13. Agriculture

Did you know that Brazil ranks as the highest or one of the highest producers of sugarcane, coffee, nuts, beans, beef, corn, tobacco, and fruit in the world? Needless to say, their agricultural industry is pretty much as big as the country is. Brazil is the perfect place to learn more about living off the land and what it really means to be a farmer. There’s a lot more to it than they show in Babe or The Ranch!

Australia

An adventure down under is anything but ordinary, so your class choice should be the same. Australia is way more than just “the outback” and is actually home to some of the top universities in the world. Take advantage of these superior academic offerings in between snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef and catching performances at the Sydney Opera House! The best courses to take abroad down under include… 

14. Australian Studies

This might seem super basic, but how much do you really know about Australia’s history, culture, geography, and languages? Even though it’s a huge country/continent, Australia isn’t usually a focal point of most world history classes. Learning about the conflicts between Aboriginal groups and settlers, for example, can give huge insight into Australia’s current landscape. The perfect way to learn more about your new home!  

15. Wildlife Conservation/Studies

If you have an excuse to study (play with) kangaroos or koala bears, you TAKE IT. No further explanation needed.

United Kingdom

Calling all royal and wizarding wannabes! Did you know that you can study in actual palaces and castles where real royals have lived/studied and Harry Potter was filmed? If this doesn’t inspire you to break outside the norm and enroll in unique classes while studying abroad in the UK, we don’t know what will!

16. History

The sun never sets on the British empire, right? Just like with France, if you’re studying abroad in the UK, it’s super silly not to take some type of history class. Brits have been covering serious ground since basically the dawn of time, and whether you’re obsessed with medieval architecture or the lives and deaths of King Henry VIII’s six wives, there’s something historical and fascinating for you to study here!

17. Literature

Is there a more qualified place to teach literature than the home of Shakespeare? No, no there isn’t. The UK created such iconic writers as Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, J. R. R. Tolkien, Roald Dahl, C. S. Lewis, George Orwell, Emily and Charlotte Brontë, and of course, J. K. Rowling. How can you beat this? The best part of taking a literature class while studying abroad in the UK is that your “homework” could entail seeing plays at Shakespeare’s Globe or touring the magical castles and spooky graveyards - yes, graveyards - that inspired Harry Potter. Accio British lit class!

Germany

There’s more to studying abroad in Germany than getting blau at Oktoberfest. Even though it’s important to participate in cultural activities, Germans do a teeny bit more than drink amazing beer all day long. Why not switch it up and take an interesting class in between beer steins and jäger shots?

18. German

German is a totally underrated language when it comes to learning a second language. Most Western schools focus primarily on Spanish, French, and Mandarin if you’re lucky, and it’s pretty rare that students have the opportunity to study something different. These schools clearly don’t understand the importance of German in the business, technology, art, healthcare, or engineering worlds (or really any profession #tbh), so why not join the rest of the world and pick up a little Deutsch? 

19. WWI and/or WWII History

This is an important one. The Holocaust might seem like it happened forever ago, but this isn’t the case to Germans. When you’re studying abroad in a place like Germany that has its fair share of negative history, it’s crucial to understand this history so you can appreciate how much its society has developed...and help history from repeating itself. You might think you know everything you need to because you read Anne Frank’s diary and watched Schindler’s List, but you won’t really understand it until you have a professor who was part of the Hitler Youth or survived a concentration camp.

20. Music

You might not realize it, but some of the most important and iconic pieces of music come from Germany. Who doesn’t play Mendelssohn’s Wedding March or Pachelbel’s Canon in D during their wedding? Who can’t bust out the melody of Beethoven’s Für Elise on the piano? Who doesn’t belt at the top of their lungs anytime they hear the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah? And most importantly, who doesn’t jump up and dance anytime 99 Luftballons comes on the radio? Savages, that’s who! 

Costa Rica

Is that pura vida lifestyle calling your name? Yeah, us too. You might be tempted to skip the whole “study” part of studying abroad in Costa Rica with all of the stunning beaches to relax on, so why not just incorporate some of this into your studies? Here’s our take on the best courses to take abroad while studying in Central America.

21. Spanish

While we already covered all the amazing reasons to learn Spanish in Spain, there are some compelling reasons to study it in other areas, too. The Costa Rican dialect of Spanish is known for being on the easier side, and it never hurts to learn other dialects and accents of one of the most highly-spoken languages in the world. Particularly if you’re from the U.S. and hoping to use your Spanish one day, it’s generally regarded as the better move to learn a Latin American version of Spanish.

22. Wildlife and/or Marine Conservation

Costa Rica’s name literally translates to “rich coast”, so it’s no surprise that the country is one of the most naturally beautiful regions, full of amazing beaches, exotic wildlife, and vibrant rainforests. Did you know that 25% of the country is actually made up by rainforests? Between the rainforests, hundreds of miles of coastline, and the mountainous areas, this leaves a lot of space to get involved in animal or natural conservation. Who would pass up an opportunity to get graded on feeding baby monkeys? Can you say best class to take abroad?! 

[Browse Unique Classes in ALL Study Abroad Locations]

Now you know WHAT to study abroad

It’s obvious that studying abroad is totally awesome not just because of where you study but WHAT you study. It makes no sense to pick up your life and head to some exotic location, only to take the same types of classes you’d take at home. Why bother? Make the most of your time and sign up for some of these best courses to take abroad!

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