How to Study Abroad

A semester or year abroad does take some planning and forethought. Most of your questions will be answered here, but feel free to stop by Global Program to speak to an advisor or to see Dean Scott Carpenter to help plan how studying abroad fits into your academic program at Columbia.

Students at a local soccer match in St. Petersburg

When you are researching programs and thinking about the possibilities, you might ask yourself a few questions to guide your search:

• What are my personal goals for my time abroad? Academic goals?
  
• How will my term abroad complement my course of studies here on campus?
• What kind of language-learner am I?
• What kind of strategies should I consider for immersing myself in the local culture: Housing arrangements with locals? Opportunities to get involved with the local community? Direct enrollment program with local universities?
  
• What do you think will be most challenging about studying abroad?