Study Abroad 101: How long to Study Abroad

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The answer to this question first depends on the policies at your institution. Every college and university has its own policies about when and for how long students can receive credit for studying abroad. If there are policies about when, then your freshmen and/or senior year may be restricted. If there are policies about how long, then you may be restricted to only a semester or year, or two years at the most.

The real question is how many academic requirements can you fulfill by studying abroad through your home institution? Generally, the more requirements you still have to fulfill, the easier it is to find study abroad opportunities and replacement courses to match. For instance, if you have fulfilled all your general education requirements on campus, then your study abroad program choices are limited to those that can help you fulfill your major, minor, and elective requirements.

Late sophomore or junior year is a good time to study abroad because you've adjusted to college, you should have a major declared, and you don't have to worry about graduating and looking for a job as soon as you return. However, there is no hard or fast rule about the best time to go abroad. My advice is to think and plan a year or two in advance. Planning can help you hold off on certain requirements that you are able to fulfill when you study abroad.

In addition to considering the academic factors that have an effect on your study abroad experience, it is also important to think about your personal experience. Consider the climate in conjunction with activities, and the time you'll have after the program. For example, Australia's summer vacation is from December to February; so if you study there from July to November, you will have part of summer to enjoy afterwards.

From an employer's perspective, don't forget that longer study abroad experiences are more valuable than short-term experiences. Chances are you will have learned so much more, and will be able to articulate how that learning influenced decisions you made in your personal and academic life. The more connections you can make between your study abroad experience and your college career, the more favor you will find in your job search after graduation.