Regardless of major, course, or language proficiency, there are study abroad programs for everyone. With top study abroad providers offering programs from Europe to East Asia, you can study from anywhere in the world.
Try anything from nursing horses back in Scotland to studying photography in Poland. You have plenty of room to do what best suits your goals, dreams, and personality.
With so many programs to choose from, we’ve compiled a list of the best study abroad programs that you can experience for yourself throughout the year.
Table of contents
Why Study Abroad?
No matter what you do while studying abroad, you’ll love your experience. While your memories and everything you learn will always be at the forefront of what you take away from your experience abroad, the cherry on top will definitely be the opportunity to earn academic credit.
In particular, if you decide to travel during the fall or spring semesters, you can rest assured knowing that you won’t fall behind in your studies by admitting your travel bug.
ALSO CHECK: USC Study Abroad: How To Study Abroad With USC
Is There Financial Support For Study Abroad Programs?
Studying abroad can be quite expensive for some students, but the best study abroad providers do their best to keep your costs down.
From offering financial support to eligible students to pointing out scholarships you could use to fund your travels, the best study abroad companies are natural trees that provide immense knowledge and financial assistance to spread.
The best study abroad programs for college students don’t just offer a variety of programs and places to go, they also host a variety of students who can enjoy the experience regardless of their economic status.
ALSO CHECK: Best Places To Study Abroad For English Speakers In 2023
Eligibility Requirement For Study Abroad Programs
Unfortunately, there is no recognized quality standard for study abroad programs. Programs run by US colleges or universities are likely to have high standards and accountability.
There are many well-known study abroad programs run by private companies; however, standards can vary, so it’s important to do your research.
Foreign universities are likely to treat you as their own student, which can be positive or negative depending on what you’re looking for. Regardless, all good programs will easily connect you with their former members.
Some programs are reserved for students with exceptional academic records, so keep those grades up! For example, you probably won’t get into Oxford with a 2.5 GPA. In addition, strong students are more likely to apply for scholarships and grants to study abroad.
ALSO CHECK: Best Places To Study Abroad In Europe 2023
What Are The Best Study Abroad Programs?
College Year in Athens
A wonderful summer, semester, or year in Greece will not be a myth. Take advantage of the country’s rich history and experience learning in and out of the classroom.
With a variety of courses available to you, you’ll leave the program as smart and forward-thinking as the historical philosophers and intellectuals you’ve just read about! Summer in Greece will definitely be remembered for a long time.
IES Abroad Vienna – music semester/year program
Take a semester or a year to learn all about music in Vienna thanks to one of the best study-abroad destinations. Take courses in music history, music theory, and performance studies in a city full of music history and culture.
Study in the same city where Mozart and Beethoven became household names, and forge your own path to musical mastery with the support of experienced professors and friends. Sounds like music to our ears.
CIEE Community Development, Language and Culture in Iringa
Take a semester to learn about the African country of Tanzania. Learn more than the culture and learn about its urban and rural communities so you can give back.
A very hands-on program where you will assist with field research for a local nonprofit organization, find solutions to community challenges and provide assistance to underserved communities across the country.
IES Abroad Siena Summer – Traditions And Cuisine In Tuscany
Study Italian culture in the Tuscan countryside while falling in love with learning. Immerse yourself in all that Sienna has to offer (and that’s all) for a summer experience you’ll love.
One of the best summer abroad programs in Italy, you’ll be able to explore a variety of themes with Siena’s piazzas, restaurants, and vineyards as a beautiful backdrop.
Study abroad in Siena for an experience that will fill your mind (and stomach) with Italian cuisine.
USAC KOREA: Seoul – Korean & East Asian Studies at Yonsei
Prepare for an authentic cultural experience while studying in South Korea. Study at Yonsei University, one of the top 200 universities in the world according to Times Higher Education, and enjoy a program delivered by one of the world’s best study abroad companies.
Break out of your American bubble during class and meet Yonsei University students. Get to know Korean culture by adapting to the Korean way of life for a semester or a year. Different in the best way, trust us, you’ll love it here.
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Schools Offering The Best Study Abroad Programs
Butler University
Butler University offers a unique program that allows students to spend a semester traveling to different locations with a Butler faculty member.
This program is ideal for a student who does not want to settle in one place but wants to experience several cultures.
During the trip, the instructor teaches one course, and then students are joined at various locations by another instructor who teaches other courses related to the area. In addition to GALA, Butler University offers more than 100 other study-abroad programs.
Carleton College
Carleton College has been sending students abroad for over 40 years. The school currently offers 18 faculty-led programs, along with numerous other programs sponsored by other organizations and universities.
Travel with a teacher and study ecology in Australia, Chinese in China, geology in New Zealand, and urbanization in Tanzania. Students are supported by faculty who are committed to fostering each student’s personal growth and development while abroad.
University of Washington
The University of Washington offers students hundreds of study-abroad opportunities. For students looking for a small group that works closely with a faculty member, UW Faculty-led Study Abroad has many beneficial opportunities.
Study architecture in Rome, art in Spain, literature in France, or Spanish in Peru, all while working closely and traveling with a trusted university teacher.
It is noteworthy that each program is specially designed by a leading faculty member and is open to students from any of the three campuses of the University of Washington.
Emerson College
Spend a semester in a 14th-century medieval castle with Emerson College’s Semester Abroad program in Velle, Netherlands. This amazing site, surrounded by two moats that once protected the castle, is home to 85 Emerson students each fall and spring semester.
Students are selected by random lottery and must apply a year in advance. Together with European studios, students will spend a semester admiring the incredible grounds at Kasteel Well, and their three-day weekend will be filled with European culture and history.
Goshen College
Goshen College’s Study-Service Team (SST) is a unique program. Founded as a program dedicated to something beyond the usual “study abroad” experience, joining the SST team means serving the local community and fully immersing yourself in the culture.
SST is a 13-week program that is divided into two separate parts. During the first half of the semester, students will live with local families, learning the culture and language with other Goshen students and group leaders.
During the second half of the semester, students will split up and move to a more remote location to begin work on a volunteer service project to help a local village. SST has been an integral part of Goshen since 1968 and serves more than 7,700 students.
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Each semester, the Franciscan University of Steubenville brings 150-200 students to live and study in a 14th-century Carthusian monastery in Austria.
Classes are taught by professors from Franciscan University, and students will have the opportunity to travel throughout Europe each week to places such as Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, beautiful Vienna, and the castles of Germany.
Franciscan students also have the option of choosing to study abroad at Oxford or work with professors to design their own study abroad program based on their major and interests.
Overall, the Franciscan Study Abroad program offers an intimate setting, an excellent education, and a life-changing experience.
Millsaps College
Not every college owns a 4,500-acre biocultural preserve in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula. While studying abroad in Yucatan, students can take courses in archaeology, business, ecology, education, geology, history, literature, and socio-cultural anthropology.
The reserve consists of a self-contained science and education center, a laboratory, and a research center in the nearby town of Oxkuckab, as well as a dormitory and classrooms.
Students may return for multiple semesters and conduct research at the institution and continue to attend classes. The unique setting and offerings at Millsaps make this a unique opportunity.
Wake Forest University
Spend a semester living at Casa Artom, a historic site that once housed the American Embassy, located along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The program is taught and supervised by a tenured professor at Wake Forest University.
Students will attend the Venice Film Festival, Carnaval, and other festivals, as well as travel around Italy during this wonderful semester abroad. Courses are offered in English and Italian.
Wake Forest Venice participants will not only gain a broader knowledge of art, history, and literature but also gain a better understanding of Italian culture and one of the most famous and historically significant cities in the world.
Assumption College
Open to only 25 students per semester, Assumption College offers sophomore, junior, and senior semesters in the Eternal City, Rome.
The Rome campus is staffed by a full-time Assumption faculty member, and students will complete their general education requirements while in a “living classroom” in Rome.
Travel is an important part of the Assumption Rome program, and trips to other locations and cities are included in the tuition fee. Accommodation includes both classrooms and living quarters where students enjoy family meals while enjoying a warm collegiate atmosphere.
ALSO CHECK: How to Study Abroad in Canada | Programs
Conclusion
As you begin to narrow down your spots, you’ll also need to think about what study abroad program you’d like to attend. Your school can run its own programs abroad. If you attend one of these, you will likely study with students and faculty from your school.
Another option is to participate in a program run by another American college or university or a private company. The last option is to enroll directly in a foreign college or university.
Some foreign schools create special classes exclusively for Americans, while others allow you to enroll for a certificate and study alongside local students.
Your school will likely have a list of approved programs. Most colleges also have a process by which you can request permission to study in a program that is not listed. Such requests can take time, so plan ahead.
References
goabroad.com – 9 Best Study Abroad Programs in 2023
Editor’s Recommendation
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