Education Abroad - Outgoing Program FAQs

Studying abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a student’s academic career, but it is one that might seem daunting at first. How much will it cost? Will I delay my graduation? Where can I go? How long do I go for? These are perhaps some of the most common questions and rightly so!

The first thing you need to do when you want to study abroad is think about what kind of experience you want to have while you are away by asking yourself:

A good first place to start might be length of study. At USF Education Abroad we offer three kinds of programs:

Semester Study—Fall and spring full semester programs allow students to truly integrate into their host culture and attend institutes, colleges, and universities overseas with other foreign and local students. Student living options and prices range from program to program as does the field of study available. In most cases, student may take courses from a range of majors as varied as the USF catalogue. A semester abroad is a truly enriching experience allowing you to truly acculturate to your host country. It allows you the opportunity to get to know the people and culture as well as see and experience your discipline from a different perspective—one that can not only compliment your own understanding but one you can bring back to campus with you and supplement USF with. For more information see our Semester Programs page. Semester Programs

Summer Programs—USF summer programs range in length from 3 to 9 weeks during the May to August period. Program dates vary but each are designed to maximize student exposure to their host cultures while providing an intensive academic study. In most cases, some lectures will be conducted on campus before and after the trip as well as exams and projects to be coordinate with the faculty director on-site in their host country. In addition to USF faculty led programs, Education Abroad is partnered with many international partner institutes and universities that host are students for focused study. There is also the potential for experiential learning through service, teaching, and internships. For more information see our Summer Programs page. Summer Programs

Short-Term Programs—The Education Abroad Office has previously arranged spring break and intersession short programs designed for students with limited travel time but intense interest. These programs are highly intensive in nature and rely on a good deal of course work to be completed on campus prior to departure. This work is then brought to life through on-site research and firsthand experiences. Short-Term Programs

Not all schools and programs have terms dates that line up exactly with USF’s dates. You are encouraged to research your program on the web or speak to an Education Abroad Advisor for more details on particular programs.

Each program length as its own advantages and you should consider first and foremost the kind of experience you want to have. Semester study is often considered to be the most enriching as students are often integrated with local students in their host country, take courses at a host university or institution, and have the opportunity to truly integrate into a society by participating in local customs and truly living abroad; they are also the most cost effective programs when total cost is compared to time spent in country. Summer programs offer students a taste of the culture but are shorter and thus sometimes work more easily with their schedules and responsibilities at home.

No matter the end result it is always best to plan early. Everyone’s schedule is different so this is something you really need to think about. It is always a good idea to go to your major’s academic adviser and talk about your desire to go abroad so they can help you make room in your schedule. The earlier you have this conversation the easier it is to make sure you stay on track for graduation. This includes saving some of your electives for the semester or summer you want to go and researching the schools for ones that offer your major.

Students looking to go abroad for a semester must have at least sophomore standing the first semester they are away. Graduating seniors may not go abroad in their last semester as grades often take two or more months to properly transfer from overseas. Sophomore and junior year are the most popular times for students to study for a full semester.

Students interested in summer programs are welcomed at any stage or level of their education. The only requirement is that students be at least 18 years old at the time of participation (certain exception can be made with parental consent for younger students enrolled at USF).

Graduate students are advised to check with their departments as required courses are often only taught on campus during certain parts of the year. Scheduling and logistics for alternative-calendar programs such as independent research, field work, medical rotations, special projects and internships should be a collaborative effort between the student, their department, and the Education Abroad Office.

With programs on six of the seven continents (sorry nothing in Antarctica—yet) this questions has the potential of being one of the most difficult to answer. USF Education Abroad strives to have a diverse and rich selection of programs in a variety of fields to match the needs of all of our students. However, we know this might be a difficult goal to achieve; until then, we offer programs in over 20 countries. Our overall program list is constantly being updated. Be sure to check back often for additions.

Our office can also help you attend programs in other institutions if we do not have one that is right for you. While we cannot guarantee the costs of such ventures, we are always happy to help students with their independent programs. For more information see our Independent Programs page <link Independent Programs>

Depending on what academic requirements you are looking to fulfill can greatly influence the program you select. Our summer programs have a variety of available courses but they are limited by what faculty are going and what sorts of classes the institute overseas is willing to teach. Most summer programs will have a short-list of anywhere from one to six classes offered with the average being two. Students should check the individual program pages and descriptions to see what classes are offered on these short programs. Some summer programs like our Cambridge International Summer School offer a large number of courses with very specific topics. Students should always speak with the academic department they are looking to get credit from to be sure how these summer courses will transfer back to USF.

Semester programs offer students the greatest selection of courses as the entire course catalogue of the foreign school is normally open to students studying for a semester or a year. That being said, students may be limited in language of instruction in the case of countries where English is not the primary language; in most, courses are available in English but students should investigate their school of choice

Each student’s academic program is different and students should work with their academic advisers through out the process of studying abroad. USF Education Abroad advisers are administrators and not academic advisers—therefore they cannot advise you on how classes will count towards you degree, only you department can do that.

Tip 1: Plan early. Talk to your academic adviser in advance about your desire to study abroad. Students studying in on the premed or pre-architecture track, through the College of Medicine, College of Engineering, College of Nursing should consult as early as possible with their advisers to make room in your schedules to remain on track for graduation.

Tip 4: which courses must be taken on campus and which can be replaced by external courses.

In the end, our office is here to help any way we can. If you or your adviser have any questions or concerns, our staff is here to address them. Please feel free to contact us.