8 Benefits of Earning College Credit While Abroad
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Studying abroad is an exciting opportunity to see the world and grow as a person at any stage of your academic journey.
While there are many excellent travel programs open to young adults, our first year of college abroad programs let you earn college credit as a first-year college student outside the U.S.
The college credit you earn abroad can be applied to a degree program in the U.S., helping you advance your studies while experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
What Are College Credits?
College credits are academic units that you earn for each college-level course you complete.
Students may earn between two to six or more credits per course, depending on the course’s complexity and number of credit hours.
What Is a Credit Hour in College?
A credit hour is a measurement of how many credits a course is worth and is typically equivalent to the number of hours a class meets a week.
Courses with lectures, labs and discussions are usually worth more credits because they have more credit hours.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of earning college credits toward your U.S. degree abroad.
1. Ease Into the College Experience in a Fun and Productive Way
College is much more rigorous than high school and is undoubtedly a big life change!
Why not make it extra fun and do it abroad? Your time abroad is a great way to begin your college years with a bang and set yourself up for success for the rest of your undergraduate career.
2. Start Your College Career with a Better Idea of Your Professional Interests
After high school, you must choose what to study in college and, essentially, your professional career. That’s a big decision to make at just 18 years old!
By completing your first year of college abroad, you’ll have the rare opportunity to see the world, meet people from different walks of life, and learn unique points of view that you wouldn’t have at home.
These experiences will help you learn more about yourself, which can make it easier for you to pick the right course of study when you return home.
3. Stay on Track to Graduate in Four Years
As wonderful as studying abroad is, it can throw a wrench in completing your chosen college degree if not thoughtfully planned.
However, a credit-earning study abroad program like CIEE’s First Year Abroad ensures your experience abroad can keep you on track to complete your full degree program on time.
But how long do college credits last? The good news is that they never expire! That means the credits you earn on your study abroad are valid for the entirety of your academic career and may even help you complete your chosen major quickly.
Learn more about what to expect on a First Year Abroad program and how it can open the doors to the exciting chance to live and study abroad!
4. Experience Invaluable Cultural and Language Immersion
Not only will you learn a lot in your classes, but outside of them, too!
Cultural and/or language immersion can improve your cultural sensitivity and foreign language ability, two valuable professional skills in the 21st century.
Language immersion also shapes our brains to be better at processing and recalling information, priming us for a successful college experience back home.
5. Make Long-lasting Friendships
Living in a different country forces you outside your comfort zone, and you’ll become a resilient, empathetic and confident young adult that will be better at connecting with others. Meeting other U.S. students in your First Year Abroad program will also give way to meaningful relationships that can last a lifetime.
6. Get More Bang for Your Buck
College is expensive. Why not put your tuition money towards living and studying abroad while still completing a productive year of college?
Studying abroad isn’t usually much more expensive than the average college experience!
7. Travel Before You Settle Down
As you progress further into your university program, it can become more difficult to travel and study abroad:
- Your courses become progressively more difficult and specialized and may not be available abroad.
- You may be offered valuable internships, residencies, additional academic opportunities, etc., that are hard to pass up for a study abroad program.
- You may become more settled and established in your town or city, whether through relationships or a job, which may make it more difficult to leave.
8. Make Your Resume Stand Out When Job Hunting!
Finally, earning college credit on your First Year Abroad can also help you nab a good job after graduation.
It shows future employers that you’re a hard-working individual, dedicated to personal growth and adopting a global mindset.
It is proof of your ability to rise to the challenge of not only studying college-level courses but also doing so while navigating the challenges of adapting to new cultural norms in another country.
It’s impressive, and hiring companies will take notice!
Earn Credit for Study Abroad on a CIEE First Year Abroad Program
Curious about how to earn college credit while studying abroad? Schedule a call with a CIEE Enrollment Coordinator to learn about your First Year Abroad options.