Whether in Mexico, New Zealand, China or the Czech Republic, University of Alabama students can earn class credit in these countries and many others through the University’s various study abroad programs.
Every semester, students travel abroad to study languages, cultures, history or major-specific topics in countries throughout the world. Some gain work experience through internships while others participate in service learning initiatives. Students studying anything from the classics to chemical engineering can find a study abroad program that will cater to their academic needs.
Michaela Johnson, a junior who spent the past spring semester living and learning in Rome, said there were many benefits of studying abroad.
“[Studying abroad] gives you an opportunity to see the world outside of your normal limits,” Johnson said. “It pulls you away from what you are used to and lets you experience different cultures, you get to meet people from all over the world and learn about their lifestyles and cultures. It is an amazing opportunity and you will come back a changed person.”
The University currently offers three different study abroad programs: faculty-led, semester exchange and direct enroll.
UA faculty programs travel overseas during the summer months. Students pay UA in-state tuition prices that cover the cost of the program, housing costs and most meals. Faculty-led programs are usually department specific and last anywhere from two to five weeks. These programs are open to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students who have a minimum GPA of 2.2.
The semester exchange program is designed for students who wish to spend an entire semester or academic year abroad while still paying UA tuition. Students attend one of the 20 universities with which the University currently has exchange agreements. Tuition costs are paid directly to the University, and housing costs are paid to the host university.
Direct enroll and affiliate programs offer opportunities during the summer months as well as both fall and spring semesters. The credits earned abroad will transfer to the students’ transcripts. Students pay the program fees directly to the study abroad provider, and GPA requirements vary by program.
Marie Tucker, a junior who attended the faculty-led “UA Honors in Oxford” last summer and just returned from “UA in Spain” this summer, said she learned so much abroad that she could not have learned in the classroom.
“When I studied in Oxford, I learned what it meant to experience history,” Tucker said. “The buildings in Oxford came alive with it. Literature becomes more than words on a page. It becomes your every day life. Also, I have learned more from studying abroad in Spain for a month than I ever could have learned from sitting in a classroom. The Spanish language became practical, necessary and so much fun to speak when studying abroad.”
Both Johnson and Tucker said studying abroad is an opportunity all students should take if they are able.
The study abroad office attempts to assist students who hope to study abroad in any way possible. Scholarships are available directly through Capstone International Academic Programs, and student can apply for these online. The office will also assist students in transferring financial aid to cover study abroad excursions. In addition to scholarships offered within the University, the CIAP office informs students of outside scholarship deadlines and requirements in their office and online.
For students wishing to study abroad, CIAP information sessions and walk-in visits will begin in August.
More information on specific study abroad destinations and scholarship information can be found online at studyabroad.ua.edu.
