by Annika Min
Studying abroad can be an amazing opportunity to broaden your horizons, meet new friends, learn about another culture, step outside your comfort zone, enhance your language skills, gain confidence navigating the world, get a different perspective on your host country (and your home country!), travel, and deepen your understanding of our environment.
HOME AND PARTNER INSTITUTIONS
An amazing place to start perusing study abroad options is your college or university’s study abroad office or by talking to your advisor. Many institutions have their own programs, like the University of California’s UCEAP, or partnerships with other universities or independent study abroad programs that can facilitate applications and transfer of financial aid and academic credit. This will likely be the easiest (and often cheapest) route to study at another university for a semester or two with on-campus courses, dormitories, etc., but many universities also offer field programs of their own. If you want to study abroad through another institution that doesn’t have a direct connection to your own, check with your advisor about whether the credits will carry over.
INDEPENDENT PROGRAMS
If your home institution offers great study abroad programs, why might you consider an independent program? For one, other institutions offer an array of destinations that aren’t typically available for studying abroad, such as Mongolia, Zanzibar, the Amazon rainforest, Bhutan, Patagonia, Madagascar, and many other places around the globe. In the same vein, you can study subjects (including many environmental fields!) not offered by your home institution or typical exchange options. A lot of independent programs are very hands-on and field-based, with small class sizes. That means a lot of one-on-one time interacting with and learning from your peers, locals, and your professors. Oftentimes, very few students from your home institution will be on the same program as you, meaning you can meet students from all over the world, or at least all over the U.S. Your professors might also be from around the world. A lot of independent programs are unique experiences that aren’t shared by a lot of your classmates.
FIELD STUDIES
While there are plenty of more conventional opportunities to study environmental sciences and related fields at universities abroad, there are also many immersive options for students interested in the environment. Study abroad programs that take you into the field for classes and research include the School for Field Studies (SFS), the School for International Training (SIT), Round River Conservation Studies, Wildlands Studies, and SEA Semester. An overview of these and other study abroad programs will be added soon. Your home institution may also offer field study or research options.
TIMING
You can study abroad in the spring and fall semesters (or an entire year) as well as the summer.
You may want to look ahead early in your time at college or university - there may be certain major requirements or other circumstances, such as a capstone project or specific classes that are only offered every other semester, that may limit when you can go. Many students study abroad their junior or sophomore years, though some do go during their freshman or senior years. Most people only study abroad once - whether due to cost, limits on the number of credits that can be accepted, or personal reasons - but it’s possible to study abroad twice (or more) depending on your situation.
COST
The up-front costs of studying abroad are often higher than a semester at your home institution, encompassing tuition, lodging and board, airfare, other travel, and personal expenses. However, don’t be discouraged! Some are actually less expensive depending on where you go and for how long, as well as how high the typical tuition costs of your home institution are. You may be able to take your university’s financial aid with you on its own or partner programs. Different programs often have their own scholarships and financial aid and you can take your federal financial aid with you. There are also scholarships available specifically for studying abroad, particularly for students that demonstrate financial need - one example of a need-based study abroad scholarship is the Gilman Scholarship.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The application procedures varies by program, but generally you may need to submit a transcript, essay, and recommendation letter and possibly have a scheduled interview. Deadlines & requirements vary greatly - make sure you search for programs early so you can apply in time! For instance, applications for fall semester programs can be due as early as January of the same year.
ALTERNATIVES TO STUDY ABROAD
If you can’t or don’t want to study abroad though a typical institution or program, there are still a plethora of ways to explore more of the world.
One classic option is to take a gap year (or a gap semester), either before you begin university or even during your undergraduate degree - just make sure to talk to your advisor about the logistics of this possibility.
Some universities may have field programs that don’t take place abroad - and thus fly under the radar - but could be great alternatives that offer amazing field experiences. For example, the University of California system offers the summer Forestry Field Camp in the Sierra Nevada mountains as well as the seven-week California Ecology and Conservation course.
Volunteering is also one way to get experience abroad and possibly practice your language skills. Many programs do charge a fee for this; the fee generally covers room and board, administration and logistics, and often a donation to or support of local communities. Be careful to choose a reputable organisation that operates ethically and sustainably and won’t charge exorbitant fees. Another thing to keep in mind is that when volunteering abroad, it is often you who benefits most from the newly gained experiences, rather than being an altruistic mission to help local people.
Another option is to take language classes at a private or non-profit language school in a country abroad. I personally have experience with studying Spanish through language schools in Mexico and Perú as well as French in France. It’s certainly not the typical study abroad experience but it can be more cost-effective and immersive and has the potential to introduce you to people from all over the world and walks of life who you wouldn’t meet at a university.
In sum, there is a vast array of fantastic opportunities to explore the world during (or between) your studies, from classic university semesters abroad to immersive field studies and alternative options. No matter what, I hope you find the right opportunity for you to stretch your comfort zone and experience more of our amazing Earth!
More information on study abroad considerations and options will be added in due course.