Selecting a Study Abroad Program

The following questions should be considered when selecting a study abroad program. However, these questions do not replace the advice and support you will get in consultation with study abroad advisors, academic advisors, parents, financial aid officers, registrars, admissions personnel, program coordinators, and other faculty, staff, and students who have participated in the program(s) you are considering. Talk with these people before you make a final selection. Be certain you understand the policies at your home institution relating to studying abroad and transfer credit, and if necessary, gain the permission required or recommended to study abroad.

Purpose/Program Type | Location | Language | Timeline | Courses and Credit | Cost | Housing

Purpose/Program Type

• Why do you want to study abroad?
  Do you want to immerse yourself in a foreign culture, develop foreign language skills, travel, have a good time, or a little of each? Some programs are more academically challenging than others. Some offer many excursions, others none. An exchange program will offer a high degree of cultural immersion and a greater possibility of developing foreign language skills (also possible in a longer study abroad program). A shorter study abroad program will give you a taste of a country and help you practice foreign language skills.
• How much and what kind of structure and support are you going to want or need from a program?
  The University of Mississippi Study Abroad Office offers three times of programs to students.
  Faculty-led programs are taught by UM professors in another country. These programs tend to be shorter in length and offer between 3 and 6 hours of pre-defined credit. Students in these programs often stay together and meals and transportation in country are usually included in the cost.
  Partner programs last from a summer to a full year and involve enrollment at a foreign institution through a partner organization. Students have more independence and course choices than in a faculty-led program, but also have program directors to help with academic or cultural difficulties. Housing options vary from homestays to dorm or apartment living. Interaction with residents of the host country is limited because students will be in class with other Americans.
  Exchange programs last from a summer to full year and involve enrollment at a foreign institution. Semester students enroll in at least 12 hours of course work from the foreign university's course catalog. Housing options vary from homestays to dorm or apartment living. Students in these programs have a greater level of independence and interact more with students and residents of the host country.

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Location

• What region or country most interests you?
  Are you prepared to adjust to living in a new country and adapting to its culture? Consider the popularity of the destination for study abroad or tourism. Will you be the only U.S. student, or one of many?
• Do you prefer living in a larger city or a smaller town?
  Remember that there is always time to visit the well-known cities during weekends and school breaks. Sometimes living in a smaller or destination less frequented by tourists means you will have a greater chance to get to know people from the host country.

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Language

• Do you want to study in an English-speaking program?
  If you do not speak a foreign language, it does not mean that you have to study in an English-speaking country. Many programs in non-English-speaking countries offer classes in English.
• What language(s), if any, do you want to study? Are you hoping to become fluent in a language while abroad?
  Most schools will not allow you to repeat a language course for which you have already received credit. Immersion programs are the best way to aquire language skills. A semester or longer program is recommended for students with goals of foreign language fluency.
• Are you sufficiently advanced in a foreign language to take courses at a foreign university in that language?
  In general, you should have at least two years of college language courses or the equivalent.

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Timeline

• What is your preferred duration of stay?
  The majority of Ole Miss students attend short-term summer study abroad programs. However, most students who attend short-term programs wish they could have stayed longer. Frequently, students who have gone on short-term programs decide to go abroad again for a longer stay. The longer the duration of the study abroad program, the greater the development of foreign language and cross-cultural skills. Students should plan early for study abroad so that they have the time and flexibility in their academic schedules to go abroad for a longer period of time.
• What year or semester of your university stay is best for study abroad?
  Students study abroad from freshman through senior years, as well as in graduate school. Sometimes going abroad in your freshman or sophomore year affords you the greatest flexibility in course selection, and concentration on major requirements is not as important. On the other hand, certain programs may offer upper-level courses in your major, allowing you to go during your junior or senior year.

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Courses and Credit

• Do you have particular courses you must take while you are abroad?
  If you know you must take a particular course while abroad, this can help you narrow your possible program choices. However, sometimes courses are cancelled, so it is better not to base your program selection on one course.
• Do you want to take courses in your major or minor while abroad?
  Be sure to check with an academic advisor in your department to verify the number of courses you can take off-campus to count toward your major or minor. This will be a factor if you are considering a program offered through a university other than your own.
• Are you interested in an internship or practicum experience abroad?
  Many study abroad programs now offer internships and practica in a wide variety of fields. While some offer academic credit, others do not.
• What level of academic rigor do you expect or want from a program?
  Some programs are more academically challenging than study at your home university or may seem more difficult as you adjust to the educational system at a foreign university. Others are less academically rigorous. Speak to former participants and the Study Abroad Office get a sense of the academic rigor and the various class workloads.
• Do you need to earn academic credit while abroad?
  In most cases, students want to earn academic credit while abroad. This will enable them to receive financial aid. Most universities will only accept transfer credit from an accredited college or university program, so be sure to verify that your institution will accept transfer credit from the program you select.
• How many hours do you need to take based on guidelines given by your academic program or your student financial aid office?
  Semester or all-year students are required to take at least 12 hours of course work per term. Summer and winter programs require between 3 and 9 hours of course work.
• Do you understand the details of credit transfer?
  If your program is through another university, make sure you know who will be issuing your transcript and how grades will be awarded on your home. Go to Study Abroad Office for a course approval form.

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Cost

• What is included in the cost of a study abroad program?
All UM prices include tuition and health insurance. Most programs also include housing and some meals. Consult the Study Abroad Office for specifics on the program in which you're interested.
• When will the study abroad program fees be due?
All programs require an application fee and a few require deposits for housing. These costs are due when the application is returned to the Study Abroad Office. The Study Abroad Office will bill students' UM Bursar accounts for the remaining cost of UM programs at the beginning of the term of study. Fee payment follows the Bursar's schedule for UM on-campus courses.
• What are the financial penalties if I withdraw from a program?
If, for any reason, a student chooses to withdraw from a program, notification must be submitted in writing to the Study Abroad Office and must include the reason for requesting withdrawal. Verbal statements of withdrawal will not be considered as notification of withdrawal; therefore the student will still be considered a program participant until written notification is received by the Study Abroad Office. Availability for refund will be based on the date of written notification for withdrawal.
• If a student withdraws from a program prior to the application deadline, he/she will be refunded all funds, less the $50 application fee, and any fees the Study Abroad Office has committed on the student's behalf.
• If a student withdraws from a program after the application deadline, he/she will be refunded any funds that are recoverable and have not been committed by the Study Abroad Office on the student's behalf, less the $1000 deposit and the $50 application fee.
• If a student withdraws from a program less than 30 days prior to the program's start, the Study Abroad Office cannot guarantee the refund of any expenses. In the event that extreme circumstances during the 30 days prior to the program's start cause the student to withdraw, the Study Abroad Director will review the situation on a case-by-case basis. At the discretion of the director, any funds that are recoverable and uncommitted may be refunded, less the $1000 deposit and $50 application fee.
• Under no circumstances can any refund requests be considered for students who have completed a program. And at no time can the Study Abroad Office refund charges that are not recoverable and have been commited on the student's behalf.
• Do you plan to use federal, state, and/or institutional financial aid for study abroad?
In general, if you are otherwise eligible to receive state and federal financial aid, you may use such money for study abroad. Some types of institutional aid will also apply to study abroad. Consult with study abroad and student financial aid officials at the University of Mississippi to determine how to apply for aid, whether you will receive your aid from your home university or from the university sponsoring the program, and when and in what form your aid will be disbursed. Find out if additional loans are available.

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Housing

• Where do you envision yourself living while overseas (e.g., hostel, homestay, campus residence hall or apartment)?
  
Most programs offer a specific housing option and each housing option has its pros and cons. Homestays will allow the greatest amount of cultural immersion, the opport unity to practice a foreign language, and frequently, home-cooked meals. However, staying in someone else's home will require a certain amount of flexibility on your part and you will need to adjust to the habits of your host family. Students can not always expect a "typical" family. Sometimes singles or retirees host students. You can usually choose whether you would prefer to have small children in your home.
Residence halls, if shared with students from the host country, are an excellent opportunity to meet many people. However, in many non-English-speaking countries, residence halls, when available, are often populated primarily by international students If you are looking for cultural immersion, make sure you will not be on a hall or apartment full of students from the U.S.
• Will you be sharing a room or have a single room?
  
Sharing a room may be comforting to many students, especially those struggling with a new language. For others, it means an easy escape back to the world of English. If you wish to become fluent in a foreign language, live with someone from the host country, if possible.
The same is true for dorm living. Programs that provide apartment accommodations for students typically group international students together, though apartment buildings may be shared with someone from the host country.