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Have you ever thought about attending college in another country? Most students are now familiar with the idea of studying abroad, but did you know that a student can spend their entire college experience and earn a bachelor’s degree from a university overseas? Check out the different options for attending college abroad.
Short-term Option: Study Abroad
Short-term Option: Study Abroad
Studying abroad has become a popular and widely available option for students to travel while earning academic credit. Most colleges and universities in the United States, including many community colleges, offer study abroad programs. In fact, approximately 1 in 10 students study abroad at some point during their time as undergraduates. This short-term option allows you to choose to participate in programs for as little as 6 weeks up to one full academic year.
Study Abroad Through Your University
The most common way students study abroad is through the college/university they choose to attend. Many colleges offer this option starting in your second year of study. This is often considered the easiest way to book a program because credits are almost guaranteed to be transferable, it is likely to fit your academic requirements and fees often link to your tuition payments. Check with your college to see what locations and fields of study they offer for study abroad programs.
Study Abroad Through a Third-Party Provider
If your college doesn't offer the location or field of study you're interested in, you could look into going through a third-party provider. These providers specialize in matching students with study abroad programs based on desired location, major, duration, and other factors. Keep in mind, this path may be a little more complicated for several reasons. 1) You will have to work with your college carefully to make sure the credits will be transferable, 2) There is almost always a service fee, and 3) Financial aid may not be accepted- although some do have separate scholarships. Always make sure to do your research! Below you'll find some websites that can help with your search.
GoOverseas.com GoAbroad.com StudyAbroad.com
Verto Education
Verto Education is a unique program where you spend your first semester or year abroad and then transfer into a 4-year or community college program. It is not a "gap year", students will earn college credit while they're traveling. When you are admitted to Verto, you are guaranteed admission to one or more of the 60+ partner colleges. Not interested in one of the partner colleges? No problem, counselors will help you apply and transfer credits to the school of your choosing. Destinations include London, Milan, Madrid, Latin America, and the South Pacific. Scholarships are available for low-income families.
Long-term Options: International Universities and American Universities Abroad
Long-term Options: International Universities and American Universities Abroad
If you are interested in a more long-term international experience, you may consider pursuing your entire bachelor's degree at a university in a foreign country. This is more than an educational trip- this is living and working in an unfamiliar place for three to four years. You could choose to study at one of the thousands of international universities worldwide or attend an American university abroad. The difference is that American universities abroad are modeled after the U.S. educational system and are accredited by a U.S. regional accreditation body while international universities are governed by the traditions of the country in which it is located. You can use this Guide to International University Admission as a starting point for your research. It does an excellent job of breaking down the application and admissions process for 15 foreign countries including Spain, Japan, Australia, and more!
Needless to say, it is a huge decision and there are many things to consider before making this commitment. Here are some things to think about before deciding on college abroad:
Benefits of College Abroad
Life Experience. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that you get to travel the world. Traveling is exciting and you will create lifelong friendships and memories.
Gain New Cultural Perspective. Living for an extended period of time in a foreign country allows you to be fully immersed and experience the culture in a way you can't get from a vacation. This will help you gain a multicultural perspective, be a more empathetic person, and you may even learn another language. All of these qualities will help you in our growlingly diverse country where international relations are extremely important.
Potentially Cheaper. Several countries have a free tuition policy while others cost much less than the average tuition found in the United States. Additionally, many programs abroad take 2-3 years to complete a bachelor’s degree compared to the traditional 4 years in the U.S. which can lead to great savings as well.
Increase Employment Opportunities. Many employers look favorably upon international experience and earning a degree abroad could help you land a career or secure a spot in the grad program of your choice.
Things to Think About (adapted from collegevine.com, link to full article)
Language Skills. If you travel internationally, you’ll find that many people worldwide speak English. However, English is not the dominant language everywhere and is certainly not the primary language of instruction at every university. Though you will inevitably pick up some of the language, the concepts taught in class will be sophisticated and will require extreme mastery of the language. Some colleges will require language proficiency tests in order to be admitted. Be honest with yourself, you don’t want your academic performance to suffer because of the language barrier.
If you decide that you’ll be better off attending a college where English is the language of instruction, you still have some options. You can attend a university in an English-speaking country. Even in countries where English isn’t the official language, they may offer courses and programs taught in English or you could attend an American university abroad.
Differences in Educational Systems. American universities abroad tend to align closely with the educational system in the U.S. but if you choose to attend an international university, there are many unexpected differences you may encounter. Therefore it is important to double-check the requirements of each foreign university you are considering. Some countries don’t have the K-12 system to which we are accustomed. Some require students to choose a track or focus earlier in the process and many put more emphasis on major exams. While you may be college-eligible in the U.S., you may find that you don’t quite meet the requirements of an overseas university. You may be required to obtain an International Baccalaureate diploma or take additional standardized tests that aren’t used in the U.S. This can take extra time and money so you’ll need to give yourself enough space to complete these additional requirements.
Another common difference you’ll find in colleges abroad is the timeline. Some have an application deadline as early as August so you would need to be on track to submit your application before you even begin senior year. Others start classes in April, before you will have graduated high school, so you would need to plan on taking a bit of a gap in order to start the following year or attempt to apply midyear. Additionally, the extra entrance exams or language proficiency tests may have certain deadlines and need to be scheduled months in advance. For this reason, it is urgent that you do your research and start planning early!
Visas and Documentation. In order to live in another country for an extended length of time, you will be required to obtain a visa. There are different types of visas depending on how long you plan to stay and whether you plan to work while there. The process of obtaining a visa can be a lengthy and expensive process or it can be relatively simple, depending on the country and type of visa. As you can see the process of obtaining a visa is highly variable so it is important to research, plan ahead, and if you have any specific questions it’s best to speak to an expert, such as an immigration lawyer.
Financial Aid. Unfortunately, most financial aid is not able to be used in other countries. The Pell Grant (from FAFSA) is not to be used outside of the United States. American universities abroad will accept federal student loans, but international universities will not. Additionally, most scholarships have a stipulation that it be used within the U.S. or its territories. Of course, there are some scholarships specifically intended to be used at foreign universities but be aware that this is not the majority. As discussed above, some countries have free tuition policies or have relatively cheap tuition, but keep in mind that most (if not all) of the cost will be coming out of pocket.
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