Planning for Study Abroad

Studying abroad offers students many opportunities to learn about an academic discipline, a different culture, and themselves. It is also an opportunity that requires planning very early in a student’s college career.

• Hofstra offers many different options for study abroad, so no matter what major a student chooses, they can fit study abroad into a four-year academic plan. We sponsor several faculty-led trips during the January Session, spring break, and summer. We also support programs of various durations offered by established programs with other universities and private study-abroad providers. Hofstra also offers various exchange programs with partner universities in Europe and Asia, where students can study as visiting students.

• Depending on the length and type of program, students may be able to fulfill some distribution and/or major requirements abroad, while also earning credit. Students should talk to their advisor in the Center for University Advising, as well as their faculty advisor in their declared major department to do careful planning, beginning as early as the first year. For students to receive Hofstra credit for courses taken abroad, students must first meet with the Office of Study Abroad and then receive pre-approval from the respective chairpersons and deans before departure. All students must seek guidance from the Office of Study Abroad, in order to receive Hofstra approval for their programs. 

• There are many programs that do not require prior language study; in these programs, courses are offered in English and students are in a classroom with other American students, rather than with native students. However, if a student plans to study in a non-English-speaking country, starting or continuing study of the language spoken in their region of interest in their first year will expand their choice of study abroad programs. To study in the native language while abroad, students should expect to complete at least four terms of language studies before going abroad. 

For further information about study abroad opportunities, please visit hofstra.edu/studyabroad or contact the Study Abroad Office at studyabroad@hofstra.edu.