Planning and Requirements
Studying abroad is an exciting opportunity, and a little preparation can make the experience smoother. Understanding the requirements and next steps can help you feel more confident as you embark on your journey. Use the resources below to begin your study abroad experience.
Here's 10 Great Reasons to Study Abroad:
- Expand your worldview
- Enhance your career opportunities and grow your network
- Learn another language and improve your multi-lingual skills
- Experience another culture first-hand
- Make new friends from around the world
- Discover new things about your own culture
- Learn more about yourself and gain self-awareness
- Strengthen communication, teambuilding, and adaptability skills
- Boost your confidence and independence
- Become a savvy traveler
Setting your Goals
Before you decide which study abroad programs might be a good fit for your, take a moment to think about why you want to study abroad and what you want to get out of it. This will ensure that you make the most of your experience overseas.
- What courses do you still need to graduate?
- Will the course(s) in the study abroad program help you graduate?
- Have you spoken with your academic advisor about your study abroad plans?
- Have you spoken with the study abroad program leader(s)?
- Have you attended our annual study abroad fair (typically the first Wednesday in October)?
- What budget do you currently have available for studying abroad?
- What scholarships and financial aid opportunities could support your study abroad goals?
- When would funding be available to you? That is, if you are counting on financial aid covering a major portion of your trip, when would you receive those funds, and when are payments actually due for the program?
- What other expenses are you anticipating in the near future?
- Do you want to study a language you've never studied before?
- Do you want to practice a language you learned or are learning?
- Do you want a program that is offered fully in English?
- What skills do you hope to learn: more independence, the ability to travel alone, better user of public transportation, or something else?
- What do you want to learn about other cultures?
- What do you want to learn about yourself?
- What makes you nervous about traveling and how could you address those fears?
- Is there a particular term when you hope to study abroad: Fall, Winter, or Summer?
- How comfortable would you feel traveling abroad for various time periods: 10 days, 3 weeks, a whole semester?
- How do your financial, academic, and personal growth goals affect your decision about program length?
Costs Overview
Program costs are typically the major factor for most students when considering different study abroad options. UM-Dearborn tries very hard to make the expenses for all internally managed programs as low as possible without sacrificing safety or quality. Below are some questions to think through when choosing a program, especially if you plan to participate in a program that is not managed by UM-Dearborn.
- In general, the shorter the program is, the less expensive the experience will be. This has one big caveat, however, as there are locations where the cost of living is quite low and the major expense will be the flight over or the educational programming.
- Longer programs, such as a semester abroad, tend to be more expensive. But this too depends. Consider factors like paying rent for an apartment in Dearborn while you are abroad. If you live with someone who financially supports you, living abroad will likely be an additional expense. However, it might actually be cheaper to rent an apartment overseas depending on where you go.
- Where you go will have a huge influence on the program cost. Larger cities tend to cost more than smaller cities. Some regions are more expensive than others. The cost of living for a particular city, country, or region can usually be found with a simple Internet search.
- Consider the currency exchange rate. Compare how much 1 U.S. dollar (USD) is worth versus the local currency. Also consider how much of the local currency is needed to buy items you might typically buy. For example, how much is a coffee in Rome after you do the conversion rate?
Look at how much you will be paying for tuition. If this is different than the rate you pay to UM-Dearborn, consider if the tuition rate is saving you money or costing a lot extra.
To be eligible for federal aid, there are typically enrollment requirements you will need to be meet, so speak with your Financial Aid advisor ahead of time to understand all applicable rules.
If the credits, or some of the credits, won't count towards your graduation, consider the impacts that will have on any potential financial aid. Is the cost worth the experiecce?
If you are traveling with a third-party provider, do they offer scholarships? How do you apply for those scholarships? What are your odds of receiving a scholarship?
- The cost of airfare is often one of the larger expenses of studying abroad. The good news is that you can pretty easily search for a broad range of flights for various destinations to choose those that best fit your needs.
- Some students have gotten cheaper rates by flying out of Chicago or Toronto versus Detroit. Direct flights tend to be more expensive than those with additional stops, but be sure to consider how long each layover is, especially if you go through Customs, to allow enough time for delays and time to find your next gate. As a rule of thumb, a minimum of an hour and a half is often needed to get from one gate or terminal to another or to go through customs (and, depending on the airport and how busy they are, it can sometimes take much longer).
- Also consider the timing of when you buy your tickets. Often, 3-6 months ahead of time will be the ideal time to book an international flight.
- Another major expense will be lodging. Speaking with on-site program facilitators is always recommended for choosing appropriate housing. Shared dorm rooms tend to be a more economical option if available. If you decide to look for other housing options in the area, make sure you consider:
- Is the location safe?
- Are public transportation, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other needs readily accessible?
- Eating out can become very expensive for longer periods. Consider preparing your own meals if that is an option versus going out all of the time.
Make sure you see a clear budget for each program to understand what a program fee does and does not include. Some program fees include lodging, airfare, activities, etc., and some do not.
Have a thorough understanding of all out-of-pocket expenses before you commit to any program. Ask lots of questions so you feel comfortable making a choice that is good for you financially.
- If you plan to study abroad in a popular tourist destination, consider traveling in that location's "off-season" as there can often be significant savings this way and also have a less crowded experience. There might also be tradeoffs with weather or availability of sites of interest, so make sure you understand the effects of traveling at different times.
- The timing you choose often impacts the amount of aid available to you. We strongly encourage all study abroad participants to speak about your available options with UM-Dearborn's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.