What Exactly Is Study Abroad? What Does It Mean?

A semester sampling art and gelato in Italy. A summer of intensive language immersion in China. Time spent deepening friendships with college classmates in a new place, or learning more about yourself as you travel solo.

What is study abroad? It’s all that, and so much more.

Study abroad: more than just classes—it’s a world of experiences.

You have so many ways to study abroad, from short-term programs that let you delve into a focused topic with a faculty member at your own college to longer programs that let you enroll for a semester or year as a student at a university in another country. You can live your dream of moving to a popular study abroad destination or get a little adventurous by choosing to study abroad somewhere more unique.

If you’re looking for that hard-to-pin-down way to define it, studying abroad is when a student pursues academic goals in another country. Of course, that’s just a technical definition—the opportunity to study abroad is so much more than taking classes somewhere else.

So…what is study abroad?

When you study abroad, you engage in cross-cultural exchange and learning, immersing yourself in a place in ways you can’t do with a simple vacation or visit. Study abroad is a transformative experience that lets you see the world from a new point of view as you connect with cultures, languages, and people.

And there’s not just one way to study abroad. You can study abroad in college or even in high school, and you can do it for a fall or spring semester, a shorter summer or winter term, or even a full academic year. While studying abroad can be a great way to improve your language skills, you don’t need to study a language to study abroad.

A study abroad program can look like different things in different contexts, with varying levels of support and flexibility. But no matter the type of program you choose, you‘ll be on a path to boost your resume, learn from new perspectives, and meaningfully explore the world.

6 Ways to Study Abroad

Whatever your style, there’s a study abroad path for you.

Understanding what a study abroad program is—and the differences between types of programs—can help you find the best way to study abroad for your academic and personal goals. You’ll find programs with just about everything included as well as opportunities that give you a lot of flexibility to customize the experience. Let’s dive into some of the top ways to study abroad (spoiler alert: there’s something for everyone!):

1. Through your university

Your college may offer opportunities abroad through their own campuses or faculty-led programs. Many of the ways to study abroad below go through your university, too. For example, your university may have reciprocal tuition exchange agreements set up with universities abroad so you can attend a school overseas while paying your tuition back home or they may work with specific third-party providers to offer students even more options for programs abroad.

Either way, a conversation with your study abroad advisor should be at the top of your list of to-dos. You want to make sure you’re signing up for a program that your university approves and can transfer back credit from the hard work you do abroad!

2. With a third-party provider

Third-party provider programs are a great way to go if you’re looking for a high level of on-site support while you’re abroad. Providers take the guesswork out of studying abroad by building programs that include courses, housing, field trips, and more. You pay the provider directly for your study abroad placement, and they take care of a host of services.

You can find study abroad programs through third-party providers that work in partnership with local universities as well as programs that offer their own classes. From language immersion programs to programs focusing on STEM subjects or creative fields to multi-country study abroad, study abroad providers work to create programs that cater to a variety of interests and student needs.

3. On a faculty-led program

Faculty-led programs: familiar faces, brand-new places.

You can study with professors you know (and maybe even a few friends from college!) if you opt for a faculty-led program. Faculty-led study abroad programs are typically short-term opportunities during the summer or winter term. They often include everything from your courses to housing, cultural events and excursions, and more.

No need to figure out course transfers for this type of study abroad program. You’ll take a class or two with an instructor from your university and know exactly what will show up on your transcript, but you’ll do it while taking in the landscapes and languages of your destination.

4. Via an exchange program

With an exchange program, studying abroad means swapping places with a student at the university abroad you want to attend. They pay their tuition at their school, you pay your tuition at your home school, and you each switch places as students at the other university.

Exchange programs are typically reciprocal tuition exchange agreements that allow you to pay your regular tuition to go abroad. Though many students think going on exchange means living in someone else’s home, these programs are more about exchanging students to make studying abroad more affordable on both sides.

5. Through direct enrollment abroad

Direct enroll for a fully authentic university experience abroad.

What does it mean to study abroad through direct enrollment? If you’re independent and adventurous, direct enrollment abroad means an opportunity to really immerse yourself in another culture and university system.

You’ll need to apply and pay tuition and fees directly to the university abroad you want to attend. You’ll have access to all the courses you want to take, and you’ll get to study alongside local and international students. You may even save yourself a lot of money by directly enrolling in a university with low (or no!) tuition costs.

The trade-off here is you’ll have a lot less support. You have to do all the research and make all the arrangements yourself—and you may have to navigate it in another language depending on where you study.

6. With a government program

Government-sponsored programs often cover all or most of your study abroad expenses, so they offer a route to studying abroad on a budget while building your resume. These competitive opportunities may set you up on a specific program abroad or may give you funding for an eligible program you choose.

The U.S. government offers a wide range of opportunities, including the prestigious Fulbright Program, scholarships for foreign language study like the Critical Language Scholarship and Boren Awards, and the Gilman Scholarship, supporting undergraduates with financial need. You’ll also find an array of programs to check out through countries around the world, such as the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, better known as DAAD).

Studying abroad in high school vs. studying abroad in college

Study abroad in high school or college? Why not both?

It’s time to see for yourself what study abroad means for your academic knowledge, future career, and personal growth. You can study abroad in high school or in college (or, why not?!, both), but the experience will be a little different depending on when you decide to go:

1. Length of time abroad

You have options whether you study abroad in high school or in college, but if your high school doesn’t support getting off the beaten path for a semester or academic year, a summer abroad may be your best bet. Summer high school study abroad programs let you delve into subjects you love in a place you want to explore for a few weeks. In college, you have a lot more flexibility to choose when (and where) you take classes and can build in a study abroad experience around your other requirements.

2. Program scope

Especially if you go for a shorter summer program in high school, you’ll discover many programs that focus on one specific topic. It’s a great way to do a deep dive into a subject you love or get an intensive language immersion experience, but you won’t have the breadth of options you’d get by spending a college semester exploring classes at a university abroad.

That said, there are ways to go abroad for a semester or year in high school—and there are plenty of very focused, shorter-term programs for college students out there too. Do some research and we’ll bet you find a program that meets your needs!

3. Inclusions and support

High school programs: safe, structured, and packed with support.

The cost of high school study abroad programs often covers everything you need for your time abroad. From meals to excursions to housing and emergency support, high school study abroad means attending a program designed to ensure younger students stay safe.

On the other hand, since college students are more mature and independent, you’ll find a wider range of program options and can choose the best fit depending on your budget and comfort level making arrangements for yourself.

4. Restrictions on what you can study

While most colleges have streamlined processes in place to help you get abroad and transfer back classes, studying abroad in high school can feel a little trickier.

You have set requirements you need to fulfill to get your high school diploma. In college, though, you’ll find programs that work with your major, plus you’ll have the chance to take elective classes that count toward your degree in just about any subject you want to explore.

But even if your high school study abroad program doesn’t give you credit back home, it’s still worth it. You can immerse yourself in a language, take interesting classes, and get a taste of what life away from home is really like. You might even get to earn college credit for your future!

What does it mean to study abroad?

Explore the world, expand your horizons.

It means adventure, personal growth, and academic excellence!

And that’s true of any type of program you choose. Figuring out how to study abroad is about finding the right path for you, your academic and career goals, and your future. No matter how you do it, you’re in for an experience that lets you learn and grow as you explore the world through a local lens.