Got a flexible degree plan? Or perhaps you’re busy during the academic year and want to garner additional credit over the summer. How about studying abroad in summer? You’ll get to create fun and lasting memories while achieving your academic goals!
It’s possible to study abroad during the summer and transfer earned credits to your current study or degree program. It’s a perfect way to get additional credit to supplement your academic goals all while while feeding your hunger for foreign experiences.
Summer fun mixed with academic growth. It’s the perfect blend!
Additionally, studying abroad in the summer does wonders for your personal and professional growth. The international experience will build your resilience as you get to live independently in a foreign land. You’ll also get to learn with other international and local students, hence vast international exposure.
Sounds tempting, right? Don’t pass on the opportunity. Build your academic, personal, and professional life by studying abroad in the summer. But you’ll need to do it right to benefit from the study program and international experiences. So, let’s look at a few tips for studying abroad during summer.
Why study abroad during summer?
There are many reasons to study abroad during summer. For one, it can be a great way to get ahead in your studies and earn college credit while enjoying new experiences. It’s also the ideal time to explore electives or other interests that you may not be able to fit into your regular academic schedule. And not to mention, summer is typically a more relaxed time of year with good weather, making it ideal for balancing coursework with exploration.
No matter what your reason for wanting to study abroad during summer, there are plenty of programs and options to choose from. And once you’ve set course for your summer study abroad program, you’ll want to make the most of it! We’ve compiled some tips to help you do just that.
12 tips for summer study abroad
1. Do research!
Researching your study abroad program and destination will manage your expectations.
One of the best tips for summer study abroad is to do research. Research is the secret to getting the most out of your summer program abroad. You need to start it early by reading articles, watching YouTube videos, and reading news concerning your host city or country. This will make it easier to plan for your summer abroad, and also help lessen the effects of culture shock.
Additionally, some of the best summer study abroad advice is to learn everything you need to know about your program, the resources you need, and the budget you’ll require for your stay abroad. Read program reviews, talk to summer study abroad alumni, and explore budget planners. All of these things will help you manage your expectations, which in turn fosters a worthwhile summer abroad!
READ: Is Studying Abroad in the Summer Worth It?
2. Organize your bag
After your research, create a packing checklist for your study abroad in summer. (Hey, we made one for you!) Consider the weather changes in your host city as you pack your bag, and pack a variety of clothes. Your clothing may need to cater to both warm and cold climates, especially in mild destinations, like Italy and New Zealand.
Also, take into account your host culture as you pack your clothes. What’s casual will change from country to country. Pack light and take things you won’t be able to find in your host city (like favorite cosmetics or must-have snacks). Don’t forget your prescriptions, documentation, photocopies of said documentation, phone chargers, and power adapters.
3. Get the appropriate documentation
Your passport is practically a doorway to new and exciting experiences abroad.
You’ll need a valid passport, student visa or permit, an international student card, and documentation showing proof of vaccination to travel and study abroad in summer. If that sounds overwhelming, don’t worry—your study abroad advisor and/or program coordinator will assist you.
As you pack your bag, securely store your documents. You’ll need them when traveling for your summer program. If you don’t have an updated or valid passport, you might as well forget about studying abroad in summer. Many countries will give you your student visa once you land, but again, your advisor or program coordinator will inform you of the logistics for your particular destination.
Some pro-level summer study abroad advice? Don’t forget about health or travel insurance. Many summer programs require international students to have some medical backup while studying abroad, and your healthcare provider at home probably doesn’t extend coverage outside of the US.
READ: 15 Essential FAQs About Getting a Passport
4. Pay attention to pre-departure orientation
One of the most important tips for studying abroad during summer is to not miss the pre-departure and on-site orientation process—especially if this is going to be your first time traveling abroad. Orientation is the perfect time to learn and ask questions about your host school and host country. It will prepare you for any culture shock you may experience once you land.
5. Plan your finances
The experiences you’ll get as you study abroad in summer will come at a (financial) cost. Therefore, start saving and set a budget before you leave, or try fundraising for your study abroad experience in order to offset some costs.
Get a credit or debit card you can use while abroad, or weigh it against using cash, while considering transaction and ATM fees. Another summer study abroad tip is to apply for financial aid, grants, and scholarships to supplement your budget. Apply for national, state, or university-level grants that finance study abroad in summer programs.
6. Update and take necessary vaccinations
Depending on your destination, there may be more than one vaccine required.
Fortify your health. It’s a necessary precaution and a travel requirement in most countries to be updated on required vaccinations. Otherwise, you may face travel restrictions. Also, there is a high chance your immune system may encounter new germs and bacteria as you study abroad in summer, so it may be more likely that you’ll get sick.
Thankfully, vaccinations give your immunity a fair fighting ground. You won’t have to miss your classes or miss out on adventurous activities throughout the summer due to preventable sickness.
READ: Is the Covid Vaccine Required for International Travel?
7. Get a phone plan
When you study abroad in the summer, you’ll want a way to talk to friends and family at home! In order to do this without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on phone bills, you’ll need an international phone plan from your provider at home, or a local SIM card.
A valuable summer study abroad tip to avoid roaming charges is to get SIM-only deals with affordable data that allows you to use your phone as you would while at home. SIM-only deals give you minutes, text, and data you can use wherever at an affordable cost.
8. Take advantage of online resources
You have online travel resources within reach. Use these resources to make your summer study abroad successful! Online resources can include apps, websites, blogs, and news sources. Some of our favorite online resources for study abroad students include apps that work offline, like Pocket and Maps.ME, and trip-planning apps like Atlas Obscura and Hopper. If you want even more recommendations, check out our full list of helpful study abroad apps.
9. Explore
There’s so much to see and do while abroad! Take advantage of every moment.
Yes, you went abroad to spend your summer studying. However, don’t miss out on the international experience and adventurous activities. You only have two to three months to study abroad in summer! Take the opportunity and visit the best sites around your host city.
Take part in adventurous activities within and outside the city—maybe even visit a nearby country! Summer programs abroad are shorter than semester programs, so you’ll need to be intentional and try to squeeze in a few must-see destinations. Make a list of your top spots, and don’t shy off from any adventurous activities. Live a little and enjoy your time abroad!
READ: 10 Important Questions to Ask Your Study Abroad Advisor
10. Get involved
Apart from classes and exploring, get involved with local activities and culture. Maybe that means getting cervezas after class when you study abroad in Madrid, or watching a football game in the pub during weekends in London. Get out and try new cuisines. Try learning the local language. Learn about the culture and immerse yourself in their way of living.
You’ll get a different perspective about life at home and abroad when you set intentions to learn about and immerse in your host country. Maybe even get involved in extracurricular activities at your school! You’ll get time to interact with other students and learn more about local norms.
11. Learn something new
You have an opportunity to acquire new skills you wouldn’t otherwise have if you didn’t travel to study abroad in summer. You can learn the local language, a new skill, how to create local art, or cook local cuisine. You can take up a different discipline and learn about concepts you’re not used to. Take the opportunity and expand your knowledge!
12. Document what you want to remember
Take the time to keep a study abroad journal. You’ll thank yourself later!
Bring a camera or a journal as you come for your summer program. They will help you document all your experiences as you study abroad in summer. You’ll get to save unique experiences you can share with your friends once you come home!
Don’t take the “live in the moment” mantra too seriously and forget to document all your adventures, but don’t live behind your camera either. Save the memories that matter by taking lots of photos, recording some videos, keeping a scrapbook, or writing in a journal at the end of each day.
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Busy during the school year? Study abroad in summer!
Studying abroad in summer is not all about school and books. It’s about growth in all sectors of your life. You’ll get to plunge yourself into a different culture, learn another language, and taste new flavors.
Apart from classes, you’ll have lots of free time to explore your new location. You will also have time to participate in fun activities and expand your professional network. Plus, you’ll get to take up a new hobby or skill if you want to. So, why not take the opportunity to study abroad in the summer?
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