In this section, you will get some helpful tools and advice on how to select the best study abroad program for you. Prior to participating, students and their parents should take time to look at the different programs available for study abroad. One of the main reasons students give for not studying abroad is that they start the planning process too late and miss the opportunity. The earlier you start researching programs, the better chance you will have to study abroad, include the coursework in your on-campus degree program, and graduate on-time. The simplest way to find an appropriate study abroad program is to look at programs available through your home campus; home campus faculty and staff can help you through the process.
Some Tools for Finding a Program:
U.S. Home Campus Study Abroad Office/Resource Center: The best place to look for a study abroad program is your U.S. home campus study abroad office (where available). The staff can help you through the process of finding a program, applying, participating, and returning home.
Reference Books: The following are comprehensive reference books which are updated each year: Peterson’s Study Abroad, Peterson’s Summer Study Abroad, IIE Academic Year Abroad, and IIE Short-Term Study Abroad. They include detailed explanations and descriptions of many study abroad programs.
The following is a list of issues to consider and questions to ask when looking for an appropriate study abroad program. Along with speaking with program administrators in the U.S., it is suggested that you ask to speak to students who participated in the program in the past. If possible, speak directly with one of the program administrators abroad to find out both the strengths and weaknesses of the program.
Courses Available: What courses can be taken abroad? Will they be taught by U.S. home campus professors or foreign university faculty or local nationals? Do they have Ph.D.s, Master’s Degrees, Bachelor’s Degrees? Have they taught U.S. students? Is the set-up traditional classroom or experiential learning?
Transfer Credit: It is important to know how courses taken abroad will count towards your U.S. degree program (major, minor, language, general education, etc.).Ask your academic advisor about the transferability of study abroad courses into your U.S. degree program.
Housing: Is housing provided as part of the program? Is it in an international university dorm? With a family/homestay? In an apartment? What part of the city? How far from where the courses are offered? Near public transportation?
Cost: What are the costs of the program, including tuition, administrative fees, room and board, international travel, in-country travel and excursions, extra costs?
Where?: What country/region/city do you want to study in? Where in the city are the program office/courses located? Is it in a modern city, a rural location, or a developing area with limited resources?
How long?: Is the program available for a year, semester, quarter, summer, short-term?
When?: Will a program session be offered when you are planning to go, or when you are available to participate? How will the season and schedule abroad compare to that at your home campus?
Language: Do you want to study in a country where the language is not English? How much language training should you have before going? What type of language training is offered abroad? Are courses offered in both English and the other country's language?
Support Services: Does your U.S. home campus provide academic advisement and counseling to students through program orientations (some campuses require that all students take a semester-long course before studying abroad)? What types of support services and administrative offices are in place abroad?
Who’s in Charge of Safety?: Is there someone at the U.S. office and abroad who is specifically responsible for students' health and safety? What policies and procedures do they have in place?
Program Evaluations: Quality programs will take part in regular evaluations of their programs, with feedback from staff, faculty, and students. Ask if you can see these evaluations.
