Should You Study Abroad Short- or Long-Term?

How to Decide from Your Many Options as a Student

By Isabel Eva Bohrer

Making a decision about how long to study abroad from the many options requires forethought.

You have made the first step: you decided to study abroad. As a conscientious student, you are now approaching the study abroad office for your first appointment. While the agenda of items to be considered will naturally differ for every student, one question will come up for all: how long do you want to study abroad? 

Study Abroad Time Terminology

“Short” versus “long-term” is relative. For one student, “short” may mean a 2-week summer program; for another, it means “only” a semester abroad instead of a whole year. You can also complete your undergraduate or graduate degree abroad. This latter possibility would be termed a long-term commitment. However, some may no longer see it as a conventional “study abroad,” which tends to be a finite period abroad within a “home university” program. In the end, however, what “short” and “long-term” means to you is entirely individual, as is the decision to commit to either.

Shorter-Term Study Abroad Options

Whether or not “short” means summer or a single semester to you, going abroad for a limited time has its benefits and drawbacks. In general, keeping it short is a good option for first-timers. Going abroad always carries inherent challenges, whether culture shock, homesickness, or jet lag for the first few days. If you have never studied or been abroad, the first experience in a foreign country can sometimes be challenging and perhaps even overwhelming. Restricting your time abroad can help you see the challenge as temporary; you would be surprised that homesickness will not feel as bad if you know you have only a week to go.

The summer months can often be used to test the waters. Most U.S. universities offer summer classes on their home campus and accept credits from courses taken abroad, whether at another university’s campus abroad or their own. Check with your study abroad advisor on restrictions; some universities may only accept credits from their own campus abroad.

A couple weeks in the summer can be the ideal opportunity to explore an entirely different culture. In most cases, summer programs are less intensive than an entire semester, and you will likely have free time to experience the local way of life. Keep in mind that your professors want you to take advantage and learn about the host country, and spending time at local venues — as opposed to the classroom — is part of the deal. The generally sunny weather in most parts of the northern hemisphere also helps. However, it should not be the primary reason for you to spend a summer abroad in Spain!

Study Abroad Longer-Term

More adventurous students may go abroad for a more extended period. Again, whether this means a year abroad or doing an entire degree program in a foreign country is up to you. Remember to be realistic about your plans; are you ready to be away from your “protected bubble” for that length of time? While the answer to this question will only genuinely reveal itself once you are in-country, others can be addressed beforehand. 

Questions to Ask Your Study Abroad Advisor

• Will I receive enough credit for courses taken abroad?
  
  
• Which preparatory courses do I need to take before going abroad?
  
  
• Is a specific language level required?
  
  
• Where will classes be held? At a local university or a U.S. campus abroad?
  
  
• How much does it cost, and how can I afford to study abroad?
  
  
• If applicable, how will an extended stay affect my financial aid package?
  
  
• What extra-curricular options are available abroad?
  
  
• Is credit given for internships?

The last two questions are particularly pertinent to longer-term study abroad. Generally, companies offering internships prefer that their interns stay longer and may even require a minimum time commitment. While this may vary from company to company, it is advantageous for both parties; on the one hand, the company does not have to train a new intern every two weeks. Conversely, the intern is likely to be given more important responsibilities. Additionally, suppose the internship is conducted in the local language. In that case, a student may need some initial time to adapt before being ready for productive work.

Learning a Language Abroad

Learning a language is perhaps the main reason most students go abroad. While countless short-term programs exist to do so, a more extended stay will allow for more substantial immersion. It is only natural that you will learn more in three months than two weeks. Typically, it is also the case that programs at local universities are only offered during the academic year, as opposed to the summer. Studying at a local university with local students can work miracles for language and cultural immersion. Keep this in mind when you choose a program that is right for you.

When Short- and Long-Term Study Multiplies

While the first flight may seem daunting, going abroad can become an addiction. Among fellow classmates at Columbia were many who first went abroad for a summer in France and then returned for yet another semester in Paris. My experience was quite similar. As an undergraduate, I studied abroad through Middlebury College in Madrid. I then studied at Middlebury College’s graduate program, which is also located in Spain. Whether for the summer, a semester, or a year, your time abroad will be a life-changing experience!

Isabel Eva Bohrer is the Director and Founder of ROOSTERGNN Global News Network, a non-profit news agency.