How To Choose The Perfect Study Abroad Program

Everything you should consider when choosing a study abroad program

One of the hardest parts of studying abroad can be choosing where and through which program you actually want to go. The good news is that while the options are endless, they can more or less be classified into 3 categories: your home university, and independent study abroad organization, or direct enrollment into a foreign university. One is no better than the other, but it still doesn’t make the decision any easier. Luckily I’ve gone through all 3, and based on my experiences here are factors you should consider when choosing a study abroad program.

Like I mentioned above, your choices are essentially limitless when it comes to how and with who you study abroad. Some students go abroad in high school, many as undergraduates, and still some enroll in graduate programs abroad. Some students study abroad through their university, some with an independent organization, and a few even directly enroll.

With a spectrum like that, I’ve created 5 categories of questions which you can use to compare and hopefully narrow down your program choices. Then I went ahead and used those same categories to evaluate each of the programs that I studied abroad through.

The Categories

Abroad University Selection And Course Approval

1. How many class hours are required for a full workload?
2. How easy is it get course credit, and what is the process?
3. How are grades calculated, do they show up on your transcript, and are they factored into your overall GPA?
4. Are there requirements for studying in certain countries (e.g. where English isn’t the native language)?

Cost Factor

1. How much is tuition?
2. Can you receive financial aid or earn scholarships?
3. Will your university help pay for your plane ticket or provide a travel allowance?
4. Are textbooks and other in class materials provided?
5. Does cost include room and board, or will you have to find your own housing?

Pre-Departure Prep

1. If you’re going through your home university’s study abroad program, do they coordinate with your abroad university?
2. Are there pre-departure informational meetings?
3. Are you provided with any pre-departure materials, e.g. a country or program guidebook?
4. Does the program apply for your visa on your behalf or at least help with the process?
5. Do you have to make your own flight and arrival arrangements?

Cultural Immersion

1. Does your program organize cultural/historical trips?
2. Is the campus integrated into the local community or located in the distant outskirts?
3. If room and board is included in the cost, do you room with a local student?
4. Is there a language pledge (for example the “no speaking English pledge” at CET) if you’re in a language program?
5. Are you required to enroll in any extra culture related classes or complete a cultural immersion project?

Student Life

1. How big is the campus?
2. Do you have access to resources like a library, computer lab, or printing center?
3. Are there clubs, extra-curricular activities, or volunteer groups you can join?
4. How far are you from the major night-life areas?
5. Is there a place you can exercise for example an on-campus gym, track and field, or basketball/tennis courts?

Studying Abroad Through Your Home University

This is probably the most common option, and it’s how I first went abroad to the University of St. Andrews during my junior year at Holy Cross.

- Abroad University Selection And Course Approval

• The process for receiving course credit was simple since I was studying at a pre-approved university
• I was limited to studying at universities in native-English speaking countries because I hadn’t taken enough foreign language classes at Holy Cross

- Cost Factor

• Paid normal Holy cross tuition (which was twice the cost of the tuition at St. Andrews), however all of my holy cross financial aid and scholarships transferred
• Room and board were included, although we had to cook for ourselves on the weekends
• $1,000 dollar credit for my flight but no guidance as far as booking it

- Pre-Deparutre Prep

• Numerous informational/pre-departure meetings, both for studying abroad in general and more specifically to Scotland
• Holy Cross dealt with the administration and finance offices at St. Andrews directly
• Holy Cross provided the necessary Visa documentation, but no actual help during visa application process

- Cultural Immersion

• We were given an academic advisor from the University of St. Andrews
• Required by Holy Cross to complete an Inter-Cultural Immersion Project with the help of the advisor
• Although our advisor was also given a budget which was to be used on some sort of cultural trip, that unfortunately never happened

- Student Life

• Had to live in University housing with the option of a roommate
• Provided compensation for things like gym or clubs up to a certain amount

Independent Academic Program Or Institution

This is also a common option, although I took an uncommon route by going through CET after I had graduated. The biggest positive was the quality of the program which made it worth every penny, although it’s a little restricting when compared to living on your own, or having a full campus/being in a university.

- Abroad university selection and course approval

• At the time, course approval wasn’t an issue for me, however, due to the intensive nature of the program and the amount of time spent on work both inside and outside of the classroom, most students have no trouble getting credit.

- Cost factor

• Cost per semester, although a bit expensive, was still cheaper than Holy Cross tuition
• CET offered financial aid, although it was pretty minimal
• Booked my flight on my own, however, they recommended a travel agent (who I’m sure got a commission) and if we booked through that travel agent, we were guaranteed transportation to and from the airport
  -On a good note, both the airport transport and travel agent were very helpful/reliable
• Dorm room and Chinese roommate were included, along with lunch on weekdays (food in china is extremely cheap), and all text books

- Pre-departure prep

• I had to fill out the application, but CET applied for my visa on behalf of me which was extremely helpful
• Pre-departure online group meetings
• Provided helpful resources like a Lonely Planet China Guide, CET luggage tags, etc.

- Cultural Immersion

• CET did an amazing job with the cultural immersion trips (hiking, the Summer Palace, The Great Wall, Beijing opera, a weekend in Xi’an)

Directly Enrolling In A Foreign University

I enrolled directly into Beijing University for my second semester studying abroad here in China. Although I wouldn’t discourage directly enrolling, programs for international students at schools like Beijing University are lacking in almost all aspects outside of academics. There are organizations, for example CIEE, which are based at major universities and are designed to help fill that void and create a more well-rounded and beneficial experience.

- Abroad university selection and course approval

• Application process a bit difficult (easy for me since I was in Beijing, but really inconvenient for people who had to communicate with Beijing University from the US and mail documents back and forth)

- Cost factor

• Tuition was extremely cheap at about $2,000 for the semester
• Text books and class materials were not included in cost

- Pre-departure prep

• They provide visa documentation, but don’t apply on your behalf
  - On a somewhat negative note, they also offered little help when I got into a bit of trouble with my Chinese visa

- Cultural Immersion

• Provided minimal cultural immersion trips and only in the first week

- Student life

• Actually a student at a university which means being involved in the student social life/social scene, having access to a gym, sports clubs, dining halls, etc.
• I lived on my own, but they do offer pretty high-quality international student dorms

And those are my experiences studying abroad through my home university, in an independent study abroad organization, and directly enrolling into an international program at a foreign university. They all have their positives and negatives, and no matter what I thought at the time, looking back I now understand the value of what I learned at each.

This post was brought to you by The University of Malta, which offers a number of International Masters Programmes in conjunction with North American Universities. These programmes seek to achieve a wider exchange of cultural viewpoints, networks and experiences while providing students with global work opportunities.

If you have any other questions or comments please feel free to leave them below and I’ll get back to you!

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