Increase in Students Going Abroad

Increasingly, American college students are choosing to expand their educational horizons by studying abroad. Since 1995 the number of students choosing to study abroad has increased 144% according to the Institute for International Education from 84,403 in 1995 to 205,983 in 2006. What is even more interesting is students are seeking non-traditional, non-English speaking locations in greater and greater numbers. However, as different as their experiences abroad might be the majority of them have one thing in common: when asked if they would do it again they all say “I would do it again in a second.”

How am I going to fund my study abroad experience?

One of the most daunting aspects of studying abroad is figuring out how to pay for it. Thankfully there are many ways that this can be done. First off, you need to talk with your financial aid advisor at your college, since if you are studying abroad through an American institution your financial aid will apply just like it would if you were taking classes on campus. However, it is often more expensive to study abroad due to increased cost of living, additional incurred costs (like weekend trips to neighboring countries!) and simply spending money on souvenirs. Here is a list of ideas to try when raising money to study abroad:

1. Look for scholarships! http://www.studyabroadfunding.org/ is one of the best places to start, as many organizations want to encourage students to go abroad and come back more prepared to work in the global market that exists today.
2. Try local civic bodies, such as Rotary International. Many of these offer full scholarships to students studying abroad when the student completes an interview application process.
3. Get a BUNAC Visa. It’s a little more work than just getting a student visa but it will allow you to work when you’re abroad. It’s not that encouraged by many schools, however, due to the high amount of opportunities you’ll miss out on due to working while abroad.
4. Apply for a Fulbright Scholarship, which is through the US State Department and was created specifically for students going abroad. http://us.fulbrightonline.org/