I am a college sophomore interested in studying abroad but would prefer not to miss an entire semester at my home campus. How do I go about finding shorter programs that I could possibly do on a school break?
Excellent question! There are actually many study abroad programs that take place during the summer and winter breaks and, coincidentally, that is where DIWYY co-founder Jerri and I met!
We did a two week program in Australia and got a few college units that we were able to transfer back to our home campuses. Additionally, I did another program the following summer for a longer duration where I earned the units equal to one semester!
To begin looking for programs, check out the following places:
-Websites like studyabroad.com have distinct sections for shorter, summer programs.
-Many of the University of California schools have Travel Study programs in the summer. If you are a UC student (any campus), the units transfer very easily! Check out UCLA’s Travel Study site as well as UC Berkeley’s Travel Study site for program information.
-Be sure to check with your school’s study abroad office to see if they have any information. Typically, only the semester and year-long programs are publicized but there are often shorter programs that they are aware of.
Some general tips before registering for any study abroad program:
-Be sure to meet with your academic advisor prior to registering for the program to ensure that you can transfer the units back to your home campus. They will usually need a description of the program, a syllabus, and information about the sponsoring organization/school.
-When considering cost, make sure you factor in things like Visas, meals, souvenirs, and weekend excursions so you get a better idea of the total cost.
If you have additional questions, please post them here or email [email protected]
-Kristina
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Great post! Looking forward to more travel tips!