IIEPassport Student Guide

How do I research my options?

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
http://suabroad.syr.edu/

Rated among the top academic programs abroad! Syracuse University is synonymous with quality coursework, world class internships, and superb student services. Why choose anyone else?

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
http://www.nyu.edu/studyabroad

NYU has a signature system of academic and student support services in place to keep you thriving abroad both in and out of the classroom. We offer semester-long and academic-year undergraduate programs on 3 continents - Africa, Asia, and Europe - in addition to other summer study abroad and international exchanges. Experience the world with NYU.

If your school has a study abroad office, talk to a study abroad adviser about how and where to research programs. If your campus does not have a study abroad office, ask your academic adviser. You should also talk to your school registrar or someone in the admissions office about your school's policies on study abroad, especially if you are considering a program that is not sponsored by your school. Also, if you'd like credit in your major for study abroad, be sure to see an adviser in your major department.

Many US colleges and universities have a study abroad library, or a section of the college library that is devoted to study abroad. The best reference guides are IIEPassport: Academic Year Abroad and IIEPassport: Short Term Study Abroad, published by the Institute of International Education and EducationDynamics. Your campus study abroad library may also carry the magazine Transitions Abroad, with articles about study, work, and travel abroad written by recently returned student participants (also see the magazine's website, www.transitionsabroad.com).

Using the Internet, you can gather information on hundreds of programs and foreign universities; on financial aid: scholarships, fellowships, and grants specifically geared to study abroad; on internships and volunteer opportunities; on international travel; on particular countries or specific fields; on getting your passport and visa requirements; on health and safety conditions; and on international currency exchange rates and banking. Information alone will not be sufficient, so it should be gathered, studied, and discussed with your campus advisers and fellow students.

A few of the best sites to start with are:

If you are interested in a particular program, talking to returned students who have recently taken part in it is often the best way to find out what it's really like. Be aware, however, that no two students on the same program ever have precisely the same experience or response, and you may have different goals and interests. If it's not possible to talk to students who've been on programs that interest you, talking to students who have taken part in any study abroad program will be useful, since you'll hear about what it's like to live and study in a foreign country.

Talking with program representatives can provide invaluable insight and information, which is direct and personalized. Ask questions, and gain insights from persons who know their program from direct experience.

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