Many SPIA students, especially those majoring in International Affairs, express interest in studying or interning abroad yet may feel intimidated by the planning and logistics of pursuing a study abroad program. As someone who worked as a Junior Advisor for the Office of Global Engagement and has studied abroad three times (in Spain, Japan, and Jordan), I can provide helpful tips for those interested in experiential learning abroad.
1. Plan as early as possible. Study Abroad can fulfill many degree requirements, including upper-level major courses and electives. It is easiest to designate which courses you would like to cover while abroad by planning. This is also crucial due to financial planning and the differences in scholarship deadlines.
2. Search programs on OGE’s website. On the Office of Global Engagement’s website, you can find a search bar with filters to compare programs based on duration, country, subject, etc. This source is a great way to understand what programs UGA offers and what programs you may want to consider outside of UGA.
3. Look into all kinds of scholarships. UGA offers over a million dollars in study abroad scholarships through different departments such as SPIA, OGE, Honors, Franklin, and Terry. There are also national scholarships like Gilman, Boren, and Critical Language Scholarship, which can often fund most of the costs of studying abroad. The Honors department also assists with preparing applications for these competitive scholarships.
4. Consider non-traditional programs. Most UGA students who study abroad opt for short-duration programs such as Maymester or Summer semester and choose destinations in Western Europe. Depending on your goals, looking into less-popular program types such as semester exchanges, internships, and research abroad or destinations in Latin America, Africa, or Asia may be valuable. Due to these programs being less pursued, they tend to have less competition in scholarships and can make a resume stand out even further.
Clemencia El Antouri
SPIA Ambassador
Center for International Trade and Security (CITS), Security Leadership Fellow
B.A. International Affairs and Romance Languages
Class of 2024
