How to Write a Personal Statement for Study Abroad

A spring semester in China. A summer in South Africa. A year abroad in Italy. All these journeys start with one first step:

Learning how to write a personal statement for study abroad. That’s right, before you snag your flights or put together your packing list, you’ll have to apply to study abroad.

A study abroad personal statement is a common component of any abroad program or scholarship application. These brief essays touch on an applicant’s reasons for studying abroad and the experiences and qualities that make them a good fit.

Done right, a study abroad personal statement can set your application apart in the best possible way. You may not need to write one for every application, but it’s never a bad idea to organize your thoughts around how studying abroad will benefit your academic goals and plans for the future as you prepare to go abroad.

Do I need to write a study abroad personal statement?

Knowing how to write a study abroad personal statement is an incredible asset to have!

Before we dive into how to write a study abroad personal statement, you’re probably wondering: “Is this something I really need to do?” Chances are, if you’re applying to study abroad, you’re going to need to whip up a statement as part of your application. That’s especially true if you’re applying for study abroad scholarships.

Your study abroad personal statement lets you show off why you’re the perfect person for a particular program—and why that program will be better off with you in it. You’ll talk up your skills, you’ll show the admissions committee how studying abroad will benefit you academically and in your future career, and you’ll take the first steps on your path to classes in Australia, or Ghana, or Ireland, or whichever study abroad destination has you polishing your writing skills.

How long should my study abroad personal statement be?

A typical study abroad personal statement will come out to about one to two double-spaced pages or around 250 to 500 words. The key here? Read your application instructions thoroughly.

Every program you’re applying to will give you instructions about how to write a study abroad personal statement, including their recommended word count or page limits, questions you should answer in your text, and more. Make sure you stick to each application’s requirements and keep your answers clear and concise.

Along with demonstrating your strengths and goals, a study abroad personal statement can show the admissions committee that you follow directions and pay attention to details, traits that will help you succeed while you’re studying abroad.

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7 tips for writing your personal statement for study abroad

You’ve decided where you’re going to study abroad. You know how long you want to spend abroad, and you’ve done your research and found a great study abroad program. Now, it’s time to apply. Here’s how to write a personal statement for study abroad that wows:

1. Give yourself time to write

Writing takes time—make sure to give it the effort it deserves.

Any compelling piece of writing requires a plan and some time, so make note of application deadlines and a lot a timeline that makes sense for you. Neglecting this part of the program application will only lead to rushing the process and leaving more room for error.

Depending on your writing style, you might first want to organize your thoughts in an outline or write a rough draft to let your ideas flow before you polish the statement. As with papers for class and other writing pieces, there’s no one right way, but giving yourself enough time will let your best ideas come to the surface.

2. Structure your statement and follow instructions

Remember, you want to check for specific instructions and requirements given for how to write a study abroad personal statement in the program or scholarship application you’re completing.

If the application asks you to answer any questions or prompts in your statement, make sure you address those. Likewise, if the application has a word count or page limits for the statement, be sure you’re hitting those marks.

Once you know the instructions and length requirements it’s time to structure. Start with a short, one-paragraph introduction to grab your readers’ attention, then write a few paragraphs detailing your highlights—anything from achievements to personal passions (as long as it’s relevant info). Wrap things up with a strong concluding paragraph.

3. Know why you want to study abroad

Let your “why” help you write your personal statement!

Everyone has different reasons for studying abroad, from learning a language to taking classes for your major you can’t find at home to getting up close and personal with a place you’ve always dreamed of visiting. Figuring out why you want to study abroad will help you organize your thoughts and ideas as you write. Pro-tip: It’s also the perfect start to your statement!

Whether you want to immerse yourself in Spanish abroad, take classes for your history major where the events you’re studying happened, see the dynamics of an international market play out as a business student, or get inspiration for your creative writing through the landscapes, foods, and conversations in a new place, your why will power your study abroad personal statement. Be yourself and give the folks reading your application a glimpse into you.

4. Talk up how studying abroad will boost your future

Once you have the reasons you want to study abroad in your chosen program in mind, you can write about how studying abroad will help you figure out your future. That goes for your academic goals and your hoped-for career.

Say you’re interested in getting a new perspective on your sustainable development major. Your study abroad personal statement can discuss why studying abroad in Sweden or Costa Rica is the right move because of the classes you can take abroad and the lived experience you’ll gain in a place that prioritizes sustainability.

By showing how the passions and places you want to explore position you to succeed in the classroom and beyond, you’re making a great case for getting accepted.

5. Focus on strengths and relevant experiences

Sharing achievements and experiences make for a standout statement.

Along with your passions, your study abroad personal statement should cover your strengths and achievements. Show how your past experiences have informed your interest in studying abroad and who you are. Let the people reading your application know what you’ll bring to the program through concrete examples.

You might include classes you’ve taken that prepare you for your time abroad, things you’ve done outside of the classroom (looking at you, volunteer and internship experiences), languages you’ve studied—anything that paints the picture of the full you.

6. Connect your goals to the program

You have so many ways to study abroad, so it’s important to show you know why a specific program is the right one for you. You’ve talked about your passions and how studying abroad will help you incorporate those passions into your plans for the future. Now, pull it all together.

As someone studying Japanese, you know there’s nothing quite like the immersion you’ll get taking classes and talking to the locals in Japan with unique places such as depachika and shrines as your backdrop. Or maybe you’re interested in pursuing a career in archeology and want to study close to ancient wonders in Greece or Peru. Whatever your goals are, articulating how they align with your program of choice will set you apart as a candidate.

7. Get someone to read your statement—and don’t forget to proofread

Make sure you’ve proofread your personal statement before submitting it!

You’ve drafted an impressive statement outlining why you want to go abroad and how your goals line up with the program you’ve chosen. But don’t hit send on your application just yet.

Have a trusted person read it through to double-check that no mistakes are present. Take some time to proofread your writing, too. While a mistake here or there won’t take you out of contention for a spot in the program, you want to present your best work.

Check all of the details again to make sure everything makes sense for each application. Those mistakes are easier to make than you might think!

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Your study abroad personal statement will make your application shine!

Look at you, ready to submit the statement that’ll get you to your dream destination. A great personal statement goes beyond simply crossing your t’s and dotting your i’s. It’s an important step to studying abroad and your ticket to demonstrating what you already know: that you’re the perfect candidate to study abroad.

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