Study abroad experience in college can be a life changing experience that brings many benefits, including making new friends and seeing new places. It gives you an opportunity to develop skills that look great on a resume, such as cross-cultural communication, independence, flexibility, and foreign language skills. It can be a great experience to live somewhere new and have a unique experience.
How do I choose a program?
The following questions, along with resources from your university study abroad office, will help you select the right program.
- What country you do you want to visit?
- Do you want to speak a foreign language?
- Do you want to take classes for your major requirements or try something entirely new?
- Do you want to be able to travel to other countries, or do you want to visit somewhere you may never be able to visit otherwise?
- Are you comfortable in big cities, or do you prefer somewhere smaller?
- How long do you want to travel for?
Your university study abroad office is a great resource to review the different study abroad options and to hear from other students who have traveled for that program in the past.
When should I start planning?
Begin reviewing programs at least a year before you plan to study abroad. Talk to classmates who have studied abroad and ask them about their experiences. Do some online research and make an appointment with an advisor at your university’s study abroad office. There is no time that is too soon to do this, so if you haven’t figured things out but have questions about the process, they’ll be able to guide you in the right direction. The university will outline the process and timeline for applying for your passport and any required travel Visa’s. Stay connected with them to ensure a smooth process.
How can I pay for study abroad?
One of the reasons that students don’t study abroad is because they find the cost prohibitive. It doesn’t have to be, though. For some students, study abroad is actually cheaper than a semester at their university thanks to scholarships and grants. Others only have to pay the equivalent cost of tuition at their school. Individual colleges handle programs in different ways, so check with your university.
Scholarships for study abroad do exist! Consider these options when looking to finance your study abroad experience:
- Federal aid
- Home institution aid: your university may offer scholarships to study abroad students
- Your specific study abroad program: some programs offer merit or need-based awards
- Outside Scholarships
When you study abroad through your university, the tuition and room and board costs associated with the program can also be covered by federal grants, scholarships and loans just like a typical semester. When free grants and federal loans are not enough to cover the total cost, private student loans may be a good option to explore.
TIP: Consider studying abroad in a smaller city as these programs are often less expensive than a program in London or Paris.
What do I do about money while abroad?
One thing you’ll deal with while studying abroad is handling a new currency, and possible multiple currencies if you decide to travel between countries. There are a few ways you can handle money while abroad. One way is to open a bank account, depositing money in your home currency and taking money out of it as needed. However, this can be a complicated process involving a great deal of paperwork, so it isn’t recommended unless you are studying abroad for a year.
Ask your bank if they have a foreign partner in your study abroad country. For example, Bank of America has a global alliance with a few foreign banks, including BNP Paribas in France, Barclay’s in the UK, BNL in Italy and Deutsche Bank in Germany. This alliance allows you to skip the non-Bank of America ATM fee, though you still have to pay a 3% foreign transaction fee each time. Check with your bank to see if they have something similar.
You may also want to look into a travel rewards credit card. Make sure that it comes with a chip and PIN — many international machines require them. It may be easier for you to charge things to a card and then repay it. Check with your bank about how exchange rates affect this.
Always contact your bank to let them know what countries you’ll be visiting and the dates you’ll be gone, so they don’t freeze your card. Also be sure you have contact information in case you need to reach your bank regarding a lost, stolen, or frozen card.