Editor’s note: This article is part of our Meaningful Travel Forecast series and official travel report for 2019. Have you been thinking of ways to spice up your college experience? Are you being enticed by all the study abroad posters floating around campus, but worried that with your major, or academic schedule that you couldn’t study abroad? Well, instead of just gazing longingly at them, why not make them a reality?! You would be surprised at how many opportunities exist for semester abroad programs for college students, and how easy it can be to get college credit from these programs.
Read the GoAbroad Official Report on the 10 Best Majors for Study Abroad in 2019
You may be wondering how your major may align with studying abroad but the good news is, in today’s day and age, study abroad is possible with any and all majors. Additionally, you may be able to take classes abroad that aren’t even offered at your home institution, or may give you a different perspective on your major (or even your future life path!).
See what GoAbroad’s community of meaningful travelers, program administrators, and international education experts has predicted as the most popular courses to take abroad, and what classes YOU should sign up for in the upcoming year! Without further ado, here are the 10 best majors for study abroad in 2019.
The best courses for study abroad in 2019
1. Psychology
Ahh, the study of the mind. What makes this one of the best subjects for study abroad is how versatile it is. There are a variety of classes available to satisfy your psychological cravings, while also allowing students to explore how different cultures view this mind-boggling science. You can study psychoanalysis in Austria, the home of Sigmund Freud, or participate in hands on learning through lab work in Copenhagen. Regardless of where you choose to study psychology, you’re sure to have plenty of options of what to study abroad, so get psyched about studying psychology!
- GoAbroad’s Program Pick: IES Abroad
- Traveler’s Program Pick: Maastricht University
Courses that allow students to apply traditional classroom material [like internships, directed research, and field work] continue to gain popularity in 2019...When these can be combined within the context of a study abroad experience, it’s a win-win!—Vicky Wolfe Bender, IFSA-Butler
2. Business
What makes business one of the best majors for study abroad is how universal it is. If you’re pursuing a future in business, the likelihood that you will deal with the global market, or with international businesses is large. Studying business abroad will give you the opportunity to learn more about international business practices, while also immersing yourself in another culture. You’ll be able to see how marketing and models work in different environments, and truly see what makes for a successful international business model. You’ll definitely not lose interest when taking business classes abroad (and you’ll gain valuable knowledge as well)!
- GoAbroad’s Program Pick: International Studies Abroad (ISA)
- Traveler’s Program Pick: Athena Study Abroad
3. Marketing, Advertising, PR
Marketing classes rank high in the best courses for study abroad because of its popularity, and its utility. Are you interested in learning how to utilize social media to reach an international audience? Are you curious about delving into the intricacies of communicating sales pitches in other languages? If this sounds like you, marketing may be the answer for what to take abroad for you. Marketing, Advertising, and PR offer some of the most creative classes to take abroad, and will allow you to indulge in your original and innovative side!
- GoAbroad’s Program Pick: Adelante Abroad
- Traveler’s Program Pick: Forum-Nexus Study Abroad
4. Spanish
¿Quieres estudiar español o quieres aprender un nueva idioma? When thinking about what to study abroad, foreign languages are often high on the list for semester abroad programs for college students. Due to the rapid growth of its prevalence, and popularity, Spanish has become one of the best subjects for study abroad as it incorporates language learning, and being able to do so in a new, immersive environment. Whether you’re interested in learning to salsa dance in Spain, exploring Central or Latin America, or visiting the rustic streets of Cuba, studying Spanish abroad offers many opportunities to become well versed not only in a new language, but also in a new culture.
- GoAbroad’s Program Pick: Sol Education Abroad
- Traveler’s Program Pick: Maximo Nivel
“You can't get a better language course than when you're studying abroad!”—Noah Peden, Meaningful Traveler, Linguist, & RPCV
5. Global Health
Another one of the best courses for study abroad is global health, as you get to examine health situations, and issues in a global context. Taking these kind of classes abroad will give you a new perspective on the studies, research, and efforts going on worldwide to improve global health, and stop epidemics. Regardless of where you choose to study abroad with this major, you’ll gain valuable insights, and come away with a more global perspective on healthcare issues, something that can’t always be achieved in a classroom alone.
- GoAbroad’s Program Pick: USAC
- Traveler’s Program Pick: VU Amsterdam
6. Environmental Studies
As humanity focuses more and more on sustainability, and being environmental, environmental studies has quickly become one of the best courses for study abroad. Working to save the planet is a global issue, and studying abroad while majoring in environmental studies will introduce you to new ways to preserve the planet, while allowing you to see how different issues affect different parts of the world. When looking at what classes to take abroad with this subject, you have the option to focus on large scale issues in Europe or North America, or to explore how to implement sustainability in addition to infrastructure in Central America or Africa.
- GoAbroad’s Program Pick: USAC
- Traveler’s Program Pick: CELA Belize
7. History
Have you ever wondered what the seven wonders of the world would look like up close? Or how Stonehenge was actually built? Studying history while abroad gives you the opportunity to learn all about cultures old and new, along with historic landmarks and museums that offer you a firsthand glance at how the world we know today came to be. Since history is such a universal subject, you can choose where you want to study abroad based on what interests you, and this flexibility makes history one of the best subjects for study abroad.
- GoAbroad’s Program Pick: CISabroad
- Traveler’s Program Pick: College Year in Athens (CYA)
The ideal [study abroad] student is intellectually curious, self-motivated, open-minded, ready to do serious academic work and interested in engaging with people.—Julia Wheeler, DIS Study Abroad
8. Arts & Fine Arts
One of the best ways to learn about the culture of different nations is through its art. Every nation has fine arts, and they offer a multitude of ways to see the nation in a different light, and to discover how countries were shaped. Not only that, but art comes in many forms: painting, architecture, theatre, and dance to name a few. No matter what classes you take abroad, art is sure to offer creative outlets for any style of art you prefer. So grab your artistic side, and let’s (Van) Gogh!
- Traveler’s Program Pick: Performing Arts Abroad
9. Cosmetology
Have you ever fancied yourself working at Paris Fashion Week, or working on a luxurious cruise line? Cosmetology is an expanding field, providing many options of what to study abroad, including but not limited to internships, and training opportunities. By exposing yourself to cosmetology techniques from around the world, your repertoire (and skills) will expand, and allow you to stay up to date on the latest fashion trends.
- Traveler’s Program Pick: IES Internships in Rome, Italy
10. Nursing
If you are majoring in nursing, studying abroad will give you the opportunity to experience international health care, and to see how different systems operate. Not only this, but the connections forged while abroad will give students a better hands-on learning experience than they could have in a classroom while learning about other cultures, and how to approach sensitive medical subjects with different individuals. Learn about the NHS in the UK, the biggest private operator of hospitals in Europe in Germany, or take advantage of the vast number of nursing schools in Thailand, all while expanding your nursing skills.
- Traveler’s Program Pick: Atlantis Project
It’s no secret that nursing is one the most demanding and in-demand careers across the globe in 2019....Going abroad is actually the perfect way to develop skills imperative to the profession that will ultimately allow you to excel in the nursing world.—Kendall Dick, Meaningful Traveler
Next steps to book study abroad programs for college students
Here are handful of resources to get you started on your very own journey to becoming an international student. 2019 could be YOUR year to travel—and we can help make it happen! Get free program recommendations that match your travel goals, or use MyGoAbroad to bookmark and compare program options with confidence.
Still hungry for more? Bookmark these bad boys:
Study Abroad Inspiration
- How to Study Abroad: The Busy Student's Guide
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- Study Abroad 101: What to Know As a First Time Student Abroad
Program Selection Advice
- 10 Best Study Abroad Programs in 2019
- How to Choose Between Study Abroad Programs
- 20 Short & Sweet Ways to Study Abroad This Summer
Paying for Study Abroad
- Can I Study Abroad for Free?
- How to Cover the Cost of Study Abroad
- 15 Low Cost Study Abroad Programs
- Dozens of Study Abroad Scholarships
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There you have it: our predictions for the 10 best majors for study abroad in 2019! Whether your major is one of the best for study abroad, or solely the best for you, the possibilities for semester abroad programs for college students are endless. Regardless of what you choose to study, the best classes for YOUR study abroad adventure are out there, just waiting to be found. Stop dreaming about what it could be like to learn abroad, and get out there—you never know what you might discover!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the sheer amount of classes to take abroad, check out our long list of programs suited for any major. Ultimately, choosing a subject to study while abroad that interests you, and caters to your academic needs are the most important factors, and when chosen perfectly, can give you a semester (or summer… or year!) worth remembering.
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