Types of Programs

1. Programs sponsored by US colleges/universities. Most undergraduates enroll in programs sponsored by their own or other US colleges. These programs allow students to study in a foreign environment while maintaining enrollment at a US institution as academic credit is often arranged through the sponsoring US institution. Special courses in the language and culture of the foreign country are often provided. The sponsoring college usually either provides or helps arrange nonacademic essentials, such as housing and round-trip transportation.

   Most programs fall into one of these categories:

   1. Study in a foreign institution combined with courses arranged for the group by the sponsoring US institution. Some knowledge of the language of the host country is required but requirements may be somewhat relaxed. The main advantage of this program is that they allow students to study at a foreign institution while meeting requirements for a US degree.

   2. The fully integrated program at a foreign university or other college-level institution. Students enroll in regular academic courses in the foreign institution, where fluency in the language of instruction is expected. Students must be able to follow lectures and take examinations along with natives of the country. These programs can be very exciting and challenging for students who qualify. Because these students will not have the opportunity to take US courses overseas, they must schedule required coursework at their home campus.

   3. The “island” program, in which all courses are arranged for the US group and taught by faculty members of the sponsoring US school or by foreign faculty engaged specifically for the program. Some of these programs offer intensive language study for language majors. More often, however, these programs are conducted largely in English. In many areas of the world, they offer the only opportunity for meaningful study for students without a good command of a foreign language. The chief disadvantage is that US students are isolated from the foreign academic milieu and may find themselves socially as well. Pre-arranged home-stay options with local families may allow participants in an “island” program some limited degree of contact with the local culture and may be suitable for most American students.

   4. Sponsorship by Consortia. Many programs abroad are sponsored cooperatively by groups of US colleges or consortia. Some are administered through central consortium offices, others by the participating schools that rotate administrative duties among themselves. It usually makes little difference to the student whether the program is offered by one school or a consortium.

2. Direct Enrollment. It is possible to enroll directly in many foreign universities. Direct enrollment is an option more often chosen by graduate students than by undergraduates, both because graduate students are more likely to be able to profit from specialized study programs abroad and because many foreign universities require that new US students already possess a bachelor’s degree. On occasion, an independent US undergraduate may also wish to study, conduct research, and/or seek out specialized instruction with a particular professor at an overseas university. Students wishing to direct enroll should be prepared for a lot of independent planning and for working with the overseas institution directly.

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