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Where Should I Study Abroad: 7 Tips to Help You Decide

Where Should I Study Abroad: 7 Tips to Help You Decide

December 12, 2023

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College Study Abroad

We have quite a few study abroad locations, so narrowing down where to study abroad can be tricky.

If you know you absolutely want to study abroad but you’ve been asking yourself, “Where should I study abroad?” take note of our top tips to help you decide. You can even consider this guide as a sort of “Where should I study abroad quiz!” And be forewarned: All our destination options are incredible!

7 Tips to Decide Where to Study Abroad

#1: Consider Your Academic Goals

Consider this first tip to help you decide where to study abroad as one of the most important.

Nailing down your academic goals is integral when thinking about how to choose where to study abroad. Do you want to earn credits toward your intended major? Or put some extra credits toward your minor, or similar path? Maybe you’re on track for all your credits related to your major but you’ve been dying to take a few courses abroad related to subjects you’re just passionate about, like history or environmental sciences.

No matter what your academic goals are, you can peruse our areas of study to help you match subjects you’re interested in with a variety of CIEE study abroad locations. And each of our areas of study include a wide range of program locations that span the globe – you won’t be limited in any way when considering your academic goals while choosing where to study abroad.

alicante students abroad learning classroom

#2: Determine Your Budget (And Research Scholarships)

Considering your budget when deciding where to study abroad is important and will further help you condense your study abroad program options, allowing you to better determine where to take your travels! Make sure to talk to the right people – like your parents or guardians and your study abroad office – to determine a study abroad budget that works best for your personal situation.

As we’ve mentioned, we offer a wide range of study abroad programs, and that includes programs with varying costs, too!

The cost of your study abroad program will differ based on a range of factors, including length of your program, location, and more. However, it’s important to remember that our one-time program fee covers most expenses including:

Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure advising
Orientation
On-site staff and 24/7 emergency support
Culture and co-curricular activities
Travel protection

Keep in mind that we also offer millions in scholarships and grants each year to make studying abroad a reality for as many students as we can. Check out our How to Apply For Scholarships page to see what type of financial aid you might be eligible for. Qualifying for a scholarship or grant might broaden your options when choosing where to study abroad! We’re always available for questions, too.

#3: Consider Your Personal Travel Interests

When asking yourself, “Where should I study abroad?” we’re sure this tip, considering your personal travel interests, is top of mind. And that’s perfectly understandable!

While there’s a ton baked into each of our study abroad programs, including exciting excursions, cultural classes (think cooking and dancing!), and more, you’re still going to want to do some independent exploration in your new international city!

So, when considering where to study abroad, keep your personal travel interests in mind. Are you someone who enjoys visiting museums? Are you a total foodie? Or maybe you’re someone who thrives when you get to be active during your travels, like going hiking or swimming?

No matter what your personal travel interests are, we have a study abroad program that will fit them. Explore your top programs to see what’s included in your trip and discover the travel possibilities!

#4: Determine How Long You Want to Go Abroad

We have study abroad programs that fit just about any schedule – short-term, long-term, semester blocks, quarters blocks – you name it, we offer it! And each of these programs is offered in a range of our locations, making for another great way to narrow down where to study abroad.

Our short-term study abroad programs range from three weeks to 12 weeks, and most of them occur in between semesters too, usually during summer and winter breaks. If a short-term study abroad program makes the most sense for your schedule, look for program locations that align – you’ll find one, don’t worry.

We also offer study abroad programs that fit quarter and semester systems. The quarter system, as opposed to standard semesters, follows an academic calendar that’s usually divided into three 10-week terms, whereas a semester system is usually two 15-week semesters. And we’ve even broken down each of our program credits into quarter and semester systems, too, so you’ll know how many credits you’ll receive no matter what schedule your school follows.

Knowing how long you want to go abroad will most certainly help you decide where to study abroad!

#5: Determine When You Want to Go Abroad

Another key consideration when asking yourself, “How to choose where to study abroad,” is determining when you want to partake in a study abroad program. And, as usual, we offer a variety of programs that happen throughout the year – spring, fall, summer, and even winter.

Your study abroad program locations may vary depending on the time of year you want to be on program, but you’ll still have plenty of options to choose from.

#6: Decide If You Want to Study a Language Abroad

When you’re fully immersed in a new culture and new language, you’ll be able to pick up on local words and everyday conversation well, helping you to sharpen your language learning skills, or learn an entirely new language during your study abroad experience.

Studying a language in any study abroad location is an incredible experience. You really can’t go wrong with any international city. However, if there’s a specific language you want to learn or practice abroad, that’s a great place to start when considering where to study abroad.

For example, you can study Russian in Estonia, practice your Spanish in several destinations, including Spain, Mexico, and Costa Rica, and even Japanese in Tokyo or Kyoto. And tons more. Make sure to review all our options to help you decide where to study abroad!

#7: Think About What Kind of Landscapes Appeal to You

If exploring natural landscapes is an important part of your study abroad experience, consider what kind of environments appeal to you to help you decide where to study abroad. Are you someone who loves the beach and ocean? Someone who’s passionate about hiking and spectacular mountaintop views? Interested in seeing ancient architecture and monuments? Or perhaps you’re someone who loves a bustling cityscape and meetings tons of people.

No matter what kind of landscapes appeal to you, our study abroad location options encompass it all.

Get on Your Way

When you’re considering “Where should I study abroad?” browsing through our tips for studying abroad in this guide will steer you in the right direction. You’ll find the perfect study abroad location that aligns with your interests and goals – making an incredible experience even better!

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