11 Colleges with Awesome Study Abroad Programs
Written by: Sushma Sharma and Pavita Singh
In a previous blog, we discussed 9 reasons to study abroad in college. Some of these reasons included expanding your worldview, meeting new people, building your self-confidence, and improving your academic and professional prospects. While almost all colleges offer some type of study abroad program, there are some that stand out in terms of the depth and the breadth of their offerings. If a meaningful and unforgettable study abroad experience is something you’re really looking to get out of your time in college, you might look into the following schools.
1. Goucher College, Baltimore, MD:
In 2006, Goucher became the first liberal arts college to require all students to study abroad before graduation. The college has more than 60 study abroad programs in 32 countries. Many students study abroad more than once, and Goucher offers a list of international fellowships and volunteer opportunities to support students in doing so. Some of the popular study abroad programs at Goucher are Development Studies in Uganda, Accademia Dell’Arte in Italy, and the French Field Study and Internship in Belgium.
2. Centre College, Danville, KY: About 85% of students at Centre study abroad at least once. Faculty members from the college live at each study abroad site and serve as supervisors for particular programs. There are Centre programs in 9 countries (Spain, China, England, Japan, Ireland, Mexico, Scotland, Germany, and France) and partner programs worldwide. The college offers to handle the passport application process and cover the application fee for those students who doesn’t already have a passport.
3. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY:
Syracuse has its own study abroad programs in Florence, London, Madrid, Strasbourg, Istanbul, Hong Kong, and Santiago as well as over 60 partner programs around the world. In the 8 Syracuse-operated sites, students design their own academic program based on their language abilities and academic goals. These sites also include home-stays, internships, field studies, and community engagement opportunities.
4. University of Denver, Denver, CO: In 2016, 67.9% of DU students studied abroad. Students have the opportunity to become Cherrington Global Scholars. The Cherrington scholarship offsets study abroad costs for qualified students. Those students who don’t qualify can look into DU partner programs or unaffiliated international programs. There are over 150 DU programs around the world. The United Kingdom, Spain, and Australia are the top destinations for DU students, with the University of Glasgow (Scotland), University of Otago (New Zealand), and Nebrija University (Spain) being the institutions with the greatest numbers of DU students.
5. St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN:
About 68% of St. Olaf students study abroad. It has 6 of its own study abroad programs and over 130 approved and partner programs around the world. Over the course of a term, students might do global comparisons but studying in multiple countries. Some popular courses of study include environmental science in Australia, biology in India, and Chinese society and culture in China. The college also offers study travels, which are faculty-led trips centered on an educational theme, such as opera in Italy or sacred sites in Turkey.
6. Carleton College, Northfield, MN: Carleton has 18 of its own study abroad sites and hundreds of other affiliate programs. About 72% of students take part in study abroad. Popular programs include Economics in Cambridge, Studio Art in the South Pacific, and New Media in Japan.
7. University of San Diego, San Diego, CA:
More than 70% of USD students study abroad. The university offers 135 programs in 44 countries and 76 cities. In 2014, USD opened its first permanent international center in Madrid, which offers courses similar to those offered on campus and on-site support from USD staff and faculty. The center helps students coordinate homestays and any other aspect of their study abroad experience. Students studying abroad also have the opportunity to conduct research and intern.
8. Union College, Schenectady, NY: Just over half (56%) of Union College students study abroad. There are 50 approved study abroad programs, most of which are led by Union faculty. This helps cultivate student-teacher relationships outside of the classroom. In addition to studying for the full semester, students can also study abroad for a “mini-term,” which is three weeks. Union just added Cuba to their list of study abroad destinations—an opportunity you don’t want to miss.
9. Elon University, Elon, NC:
In 2016, 80% of Elon students studied abroad. The university operates its own centers in Florence, London, Shanghai, and Costa Rica, which happen to be the most popular destinations. There are also around 200 partner programs. In addition to its study abroad programs, Elon also has Study USA programs in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Alaska, and Washintgon, DC.
10. Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA: Just over half (52%) of Dickinson students study abroad. There are 15 Dickinson programs around the world. Students can also participate in partner programs and non-Dickinson programs. Dickinson’s Education Abroad program places a strong emphasis on foreign language immersion. As part of its Global Mosaics program, students can take semester-long classes on campus and then travel abroad for fieldwork or immersion work.
11. Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI:
About 81% of students at Kalamazoo study abroad. The college has 42 programs in 23 countries, and most students study abroad for at least 6 months. Students who study abroad have the option of getting academic credit for taking part in an Integrative Cultural Research Project, where they pick an activity that benefits the local community and reflect on and write about the experience.
To gain more information about the above colleges or about the study abroad experience, join Konversai and connect with current students, alumni, and locals of the region you’re planning to travel to whose experiences you can trust. Konversai is the world’s first video conversation platform for anything you want to learn (no matter how obvious or obscure) and anything you wish to share with others (for money or for free). Konversai enables conversations between anyone, anywhere, about anything. The only limit is your imagination! Whatever it is you might need to help you make a decision or prepare for the experience, you can find someone on Konversai who can help. Check it out—you won’t regret it!
Sources:
- Best Choice Schools. (2014). 45 Top Colleges to Study Abroad.
- Blond, Becca. The 25 Best Study Abroad Programs. College Rank.
- Loudenback, Tanza. (2015). The 20 most popular colleges for studying abroad. Business Insider.
- McLachlan, Megan. (2012). 8 Colleges with the Best Study Abroad Programs. Go Overseas.
- Pipia, Alexa & Loudenback, Tanza. (2016). The 20 best colleges for studying abroad. Business Insider.
