How to Study Abroad in College

You’ve seen TikToks and posts on Instagram of your peers studying abroad and traveling the globe. You want to get out into the world and explore foreign cities. Once you’ve realized you want to study abroad, the next step is to figure out exactly what study abroad is—and exactly how do you study abroad in college?

This could be you! We’ll explain how.

Study abroad programs for college students are made to push your limits while experiencing new cultures firsthand. When students study abroad, they are not locked up in a classroom listening to a lecture for hours and hours. Instead, study abroad in college takes students out in the real world where they learn life skills and view their academics and studies in a more dynamic way.

If you want to study abroad in college, make sure to check out the study abroad departments at your top choice schools before making your final decision on which one to attend. Depending on the university, there may or may not be many study abroad programs for college students available for either undergraduates or graduate students. Then peruse the internet and check out study abroad providers and testimonials from alumni to see what it’s really like to study abroad.

What is study abroad in college?

Study abroad in college is the opportunity to complete some of your college studies while living in a foreign country abroad. Students who study abroad in college go to lectures, complete internships, and/or conduct research projects while abroad. Most students study abroad through their home university’s programs or via a study abroad provider.

Housing options for study abroad students vary from dorms, apartments, hotels, and even homestays with local families. Often, housing is included on study abroad programs so students do not have to search for housing in a foreign city. The amount of time students study abroad depends on their academic schedules.

Short-term study abroad programs entail quick studies abroad for a couple of weeks to maybe one or two months. The most popular length of time to study abroad is one academic semester. To the students still craving more adventure, there are year-long academic programs as well.

How does study abroad work in college?

Your first stop should be your university’s study abroad office or website.

So how do you study abroad in college? One of the easiest ways to learn how studying abroad in college works is by speaking with your study abroad office or academic advisor. In short, however, study abroad works in a couple of ways in college. One option is to study abroad in college with your university on their own programs or participate in exchange programs with universities abroad. Another option is to study abroad with providers like CIEE, AIFS, CEA, and more.

Providers or third-party programs may give students more access to a larger variety of programs than home universities can offer students. However, transferring your credits from another university may be a bit more difficult. The positive side to both of these options is that the style of learning will be what you’re used to at home.

Direct enrollment and exchange study abroad programs are for the student who is determined to completely immerse themselves in another culture and country, sometimes for multiple semesters. The learning style may be different than the U.S. and some may require you to speak another language.

READ: How to Choose Where to Study Abroad

How to study abroad in college

What kind of study abroad experience are you looking for?

Are you ready to take the next step to studying abroad in college? Here’s some of our best advice and tips for how to achieve your dream ASAP.

1. Attend study abroad information sessions at your university.

This is the first step to expose yourself to the world of study abroad. Universities frequently have information sessions to teach the basics about study abroad in college. They go over all the classic questions people have about study abroad programs for college students.

Oftentimes, information sessions are held either in-person or virtually. Check with your study abroad office to see what’s coming up soon, or reach out to study abroad providers to see if they hold virtual information sessions.

2. Go to study abroad fairs.

Take advantage of the resources your university provides and attend study abroad fairs. Study abroad fairs are usually held at least once a semester or once a year. Study abroad fairs give students the opportunity to directly speak with provider representatives and exchange universities. Also, the university’s study abroad team will most likely be around to help and answer any questions you have in order to guide you through the study abroad process.

If you cannot make it to any of study abroad fairs in your area, check in with your university’s study abroad office to see if the events will be held virtually.

3. Reach out to your university’s study abroad office.

If you haven’t already. Go onto your university’s website and collect as much information you can about different program options, countries to study abroad in college, types of programs, and so on. Don’t stop at the website! Sometimes study abroad offices have active social media accounts that offer advice and valuable tips for planning your study abroad adventure.

4. Make an appointment with a study abroad advisors.

Your study abroad advisor will have a ton of useful insight.

Once you have the basic information about studying abroad, your next step is to visit with advisors. Study abroad advisors will help you narrow down programs and understand the processes of applying. They will also help you find the best programs for you and your interests, academics, and/or career goals.

Study abroad advisors are passionate about the field and usually enjoy sharing information with students about international education. These professionals have experience with organizing programs and helping students achieve their goals. They can help you find study abroad providers, discover new and exciting programs, provide scholarship information, and help you figure out financial aid requirements.

5. Meet with your academic advisor and create an academic plan.

Don’t forget to visit your academic advisors to create a plan and to ensure you accumulate enough credits to graduate. Sure, it might be fun to take pottery classes and art history classes while you study abroad in college, but if you’re a business major and do not need to take these classes for your degree program, you might be wasting time and money while abroad. And that’s totally okay if you’re okay with it—it’s just important to be aware of how study abroad may affect your academic schedule.

Also, it’s crucial that you make sure your courses will transfer back to your home university when you get back, for the same reason. Make sure you work with your study abroad coordinators and advisors to create a plan and figure out what courses will and will not transfer. This is extremely important because taking classes whose credits won’t transfer back home can delay graduation, costing you more time and money to complete your college education.

6. Decide on how long you’re willing to study abroad in college.

Is spending an entire academic year in Spain in the cards for you?

There are a variety of program types available to students. The classic study abroad experience is usually held over one full semester. Usually, this means either the fall or spring semester. Sometimes students want to spend even longer abroad (or need to, in order to fulfill degree requirements), so they extend their experience and study abroad for an entire academic year. This (usually) means students study abroad in college for their fall and spring semesters.

If an entire semester or year-long program seems daunting, or will not work with your academic plan, then short term programs might be for you. These are usually held in the shorter summer sessions or winter sessions. This is a popular option for students who do not want to be abroad for too long, or who have a difficult time fitting study abroad into their academic schedule.

7. Research study abroad programs and providers.

If your school doesn’t offer study abroad, or doesn’t offer a program in the destination you’re interested in, there’s good news: There are tons of great resources to help students find programs on their own with trustworthy providers! For example, on GoAbroad.com you can narrow your study abroad search by location, term you want to study abroad, or even by the subject you want to study while abroad.

Also be sure to search program reviews and alumni interviews. You get to hear from other students who have already studied abroad and are eager to share their experiences. Read up on reviews to see what other people are saying about the programs you’re interested in—this will help you decide if a certain program might be right for you.

8. Don’t forget about money.

Keeping a strict budget may be key during your study abroad experience.

Like it or not, studying abroad can get expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Reach out to providers, your study abroad advisors, and your financial aid office to learn about different financial aid options that are available to study abroad students. Financial aid usually carries over into semester and academic year programs. Unfortunately, financial aid usually does not work for short-term programs, but make sure to check with your university, as there may be exceptions!

Also, look for scholarships (both online and at your home university) and consider FundMyTravel! Many students forget to even apply for scholarships for their study abroad opportunities. Don’t be one of those students. Start asking around if scholarships are available as soon as you know you want to study abroad in college. You’ll save a ton in the long run!

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Next steps to studying abroad in college

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Are you ready to make your next move? Here’s what you can do to get closer to making study abroad in college a reality for you:

• Get matched with study abroad programs. Our free online advisor will give you program suggestions based on your study abroad interests.
• Sign up for MyGoAbroad. It’s free! Save programs that you find on GoAbroad, and compare them side-by-side to make your decision easier. (You’ll also find some cool travel deals too!)
• Read study abroad articles. With hundreds of study abroad articles on GoAbroad.com, you can research your experience to find out what to expect, and if it’s right for you.
• Browse programs! It’s time to see what’s out there. You can find dozens upon dozens of programs across various majors and fields of study. Take a look!

There’s a huge world outside your campus!

Attending college does not mean you are stuck on campus until you finish your degree. Going to college is the time to experiment, branch out, and challenge yourself. Study abroad is an opportunity like no other that helps you grow into adulthood and participate in unique experiences that shape you. Don’t miss out on this life changing opportunity!

Explore ALL Study Abroad Programs on GoAbroad.com