Options for Studying Abroad
Students who yearn to study overseas have a number of options in how they can make their desires come to life. Since students have differing goals, schedules, financial resources and educational background, these various options make it feasible for almost anyone to live their study abroad dream. Options vary in how much support the student will receive, how long they will study overseas and the type of school they will attend. Below are descriptions of each type of study abroad option along with information to help students make an informed decision.
Student Exchange Programs
Many colleges and universities have reciprocal agreements with higher education institutions in other countries. These agreements facilitate students attending school overseas, typically for one or two semesters or a summer. Students usually pay the same tuition and fees as at their home institution although other expenses may differ. US financial aid can also be used while studying in a student exchange program. Credits earned at the foreign institution are typically applied towards the student's degree and grades are usually included in the student's Grade Point Average.
These programs are the easiest choice for students already attending a university or college that has student exchange programs in place. Students will be studying overseas with other students from their school and will receive more support from their home institution including orientation sessions and liaisons to help with any problems that occur. The downside is that students are limited to countries and schools where there school has exchange programs. Large schools tend to have hundreds of options that work for most students whereas smaller schools may have a much more limited number of choices.
Direct Admission
Students who want to complete an entire program and earn their degree at an overseas school will apply directly to individual schools. They will be responsible for all aspects of their experience with the only support coming from the international student office at the overseas school. Students will pay international tuition rates and, in the case of US students, will typically not be eligible for US federal financial aid although they may be eligible for financial aid from the foreign country or the school.
Foreign schools have wide-ranging admissions policies, tuition rates, language requirements and housing situations so students need to complete thorough research before applying to a school. Some countries and schools go out of their way to encourage foreign students to study there while other countries and institutions make it very difficult to be admitted and attend school. An important consideration is the varying quality of education around the world and how the degree will be valued in the person's home country.
Independent Short-Term Study Abroad
When there is no exchange program agreement with the school where a student wants to study, the student can often apply directly to a university to study for a semester or two. Unlike a direct admission student, these students will not be eligible to earn their degree at the school and will be limited in how long they can study there. They are also responsible for making sure credit earned will be transferrable to their home school.
Third-party Providers
There are numerous organizations that provide short-term study abroad opportunities for those who want to study overseas but aren't able to do so through a student exchange program. Third-party providers have agreements with existing schools to enroll foreign students in specific programs for a month, semester, summer or year. The services offered vary by provider but may include guided activities such as travel excursions and cultural events, housing options, medical insurance, onsite support staff, orientation and personal advisors.
Programs offered by third-party providers are often related to the region where the school is located. For instance, a program on German architecture can be found in Berlin while a Central European studies program is located in Warsaw, Poland. Some providers also offer volunteer opportunities or internships. One note of caution is that students need to verify with their home institution that credits earned can be applied towards their degree. For US students, in some cases where the student's home school permits, US financial aid can be used for these programs.
International Campus
In recent years there has been a rapidly expanding number of international branch campuses opened by Western schools. Although the majority of students who attend these schools are from the host country or a third country, these campuses provide students with another option in studying abroad. They can benefit from studying alongside students from other countries while at the same time ensuring that the quality of their education is not negatively impacted. This option is ideal for students who want to study in a country that does not have its own high-quality higher education institutions.
Facts and Figures
The Open Doors Report, published by the Institute of International Education, reported the following statistics regarding US student study-abroad in the academic year of 2008-2009:
- Over 260,000 US students study abroad for academic credit each year
- Over half of students study abroad for eight weeks or less
- Over 55 percent study in Europe
- 19 of the 25 most popular countries do not use English as a primary language
- Argentina, South Africa and Chile are among the countries with fast-growing US student populations
Resources
Institute of International Education: Open Doors Press Release
International Student Exchange Program
Council on International Educational Exchange
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.