How to choose a study abroad programme

There are more study abroad programmes than any one person could read about, and most of them look appealing on a website. The trick is to stop browsing and start filtering. Work through the questions below in order: each one removes options, and by the end you should have three to five programmes worth a closer look.

1. Will the credit count?

Start at home, not abroad. Ask your study abroad office or academic adviser which programmes your university already approves, and whether the courses you take will count towards your major, your minor or only as general credit. A semester that does not move you towards graduation can cost far more than its price tag suggests. If you are not enrolled at a university and want a full degree abroad, the question becomes whether the qualification will be recognised where you plan to work.

2. What kind of programme suits you?

Programmes fall into a few broad models, and the differences matter more than the destination:

• Exchange: you swap places with a student from a partner university and usually pay your home tuition. Cheap, but places are limited to your university’s partners.
• Direct enrolment: you apply straight to a foreign university as a visiting or study abroad student. Full immersion in local classes, with less hand-holding.
• Provider programme: an organisation such as CIEE, IES Abroad or CEA CAPA handles admission, housing, excursions and on-site support, often with its own classes. More expensive, more supported.
• Field-based or faculty-led: small groups studying one theme, from marine ecology to public health, often travelling between sites.

Our comparison of the three main routes goes into the trade-offs.

3. How long can you go for?

A summer programme of four to eight weeks is the easiest to fit around a degree and a job. A semester gives you time to settle in and build friendships. A full academic year is where language skills really take off. Our guide to semester, summer and year-long programmes compares them in detail.

4. What can you afford, all in?

Compare the total cost, not the headline price. Add flights, visa fees, insurance, housing if it is not included, food, local transport and spending money. A cheaper programme in an expensive city can end up costing more than a pricier one with housing and meals included. See our guide to study abroad costs for published prices from real programmes, and start your scholarship search early.

5. Which language, and at what level?

Be honest about your language level. Many programmes in Europe, Asia and Latin America teach in English, while others expect you to take classes in the local language. If you want to become fluent, look for homestays, language pledges and direct enrolment. If you need courses in your major, an English-taught programme may be the better choice.

6. What support do you need?

Check what happens when things go wrong. Who meets you at the airport? Is there a 24-hour emergency number? How is housing arranged, and can you change it? Are there mental-health services in your language? Read recent reviews from past students, and ask the provider to put you in touch with an alumnus.

Where to start

Browse destinations by chapter, filter programmes by term and subject on each country page, and check the official study portal and visa page we link for every country. When you have a shortlist, go to each provider’s own website to confirm dates, prices and eligibility, because they change every year.