The 10 Best Study Abroad Programs

Want to learn another language, or culture or expand your horizons? Maybe its time to think about studying abroad!

Abroad101.com recently rated the 10 best study abroad programs for college students. The whole list is full of amazing destinations!

Check out our slide show of the 10 best study abroad programs. Then tell us, what's your favorite? Weigh in below!

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Comments

[Javieralvares]

04:20 PM on 11/30/2011

I just finished my Masters Degree and it was the best experience in my life!! I went first to San Francisco and then got transfered to London. The best way to do your Masters is to rotate campuses , that way you can experience different cultures. I got to rotate campuses with www.globalcampusrotation.com . Trust me is way better to rotate than to just stay at one campus.

[Ntanos]

03:10 AM on 11/24/2011

One of the best kept study abroad secrets in the world is Perrotis College, part of the American Farm School in Greece.

[LoveStudyAbroad]

07:22 PM on 11/06/2011

Went to Italy and LOVED it. Since there are SO many American students there, make a concerted effort to integrate with locals so you don't just stay in the study abroad bubble. More on this topic on www.ilovestudyabroad.com.

[aliceinnowonderland]

11:15 AM on 11/03/2011

The Semester at Sea Program (currently "docked" at UVA) is, by far, the best study abroad experience in the world because students get to see the WORLD, not just one place!!!

[smadxs]

09:35 AM on 11/01/2011

I participated in the Georgia State University/Northumbria University (Newcastle upon Tyne) exchange and it was far and away one of the best experiences of my life. The program is a full year and I was there for several months afterwards as well (about 18 months total). I came back a completely different person and all the better for it. I highly recommend backpacking through Europe, staying in hostels, occasionally sleeping outside (yes, I was a vagabond for a minute) and just taking in every morsel of the experience - you won't regret it. I continue to keep in touch with friends from the UK and all over Europe, Australia, India, South Africa, China and Korea (Northumbria is an international university). And no, I didn't come from a wealthy family (I worked my way through college), but I still managed to get into this wonderful exchange program, while working part-time in the sports medicine department at Northumbria.

[aburbank]

02:42 PM on 10/31/2011

This is Great! So many students say study Abroad is one of their most beneficial experiences of their career. I've done Experiences International, They offer amazing Internship Abroad opportunities to grow both your professional and personal career. It was really a once in a life time experience for me http://eiabroad.com/destinations/internships-in-london/

[Andrea Wangsanata]

01:37 PM on 10/31/2011

Everyone shoudl check out SIT (school for international training) I did their program and cape Town and it was amazing -- they really emphasize experiental learning & unlike other abraod programs, really immerse you in the local customs & culture!

[LaurieAnn]

03:43 PM on 10/30/2011

Does anyone here know of any study abroad programs for non-enrolled adults or seniors? I'd like to do a few months study abroad but I'm not looking to attend uni full time any longer. If you have ideas, I'd love to hear.

[srah]

06:51 AM on 11/01/2011

Semester at Sea has a Lifelong Learners program where you can sit in on classes and be a part of the community without being enrolled for academic credit.

[Ntanos]

03:06 AM on 11/24/2011

If you're interested in doing a service or internship project in Greece, you might check out Perrotis College's program in Greece. They are part of the American Farm School, which has programs ranging from pre-school to lifelong learning.

[LaurieAnn]

11:36 AM on 11/24/2011

I am.  That's a terrific suggestion.  I'll look into that.

[flashfyre]

02:44 PM on 10/30/2011

Two schools from Florence are listed. Italy is a good choice, especially for ladies who would like to lose a few pounds, particularly if their families have some extra cash laying around. Amanda Knox came back from her foreign adventure looking trim after the Italians demonized her, imprisoned her, and her family doled out $1M in legal costs to the Italian justice system.

[sydneymoon]

06:34 PM on 10/30/2011

When I lived in Perugia for the summer years ago, I enjoyed it immensely.

It was far less traumatic than Amanda Knox's experience.

[misswanderlust]

02:25 PM on 10/30/2011

What is the criteria? Clearly reputation, academic and programmatic oversight, commitment to cultural immersion, etc were not taken into account. As a study abroad advisor, a few of these programs being considered "top 10" is more than absurd, and frankly, a bit scary. Where is CIEE, Arcadia, SIT?

[JasonRF]

04:05 PM on 11/01/2011

The rankings were based on an "Overall" rating that returned students gave programs. The results were compiled from over 10,000 student evaluations over the past 18 months. At Abroad101, we also created similar lists for academics and program administration (CIEE finished 2nd). We are always looking for ways to improve and would love to hear any suggestions you have. You can see the complete rankings here: http://www.studyabroad101.com/study_abroad_rankings

[dansup]

01:15 PM on 10/30/2011

just go!

[lmoufette]

12:37 PM on 10/30/2011

FYI - in Barcelona, they speak catalan, not spanish, so don't go there expecting to be immersed in a spanish speaking environment. Typical dumb HP slideshow without one viable spanish option, even though it's the language we study most in US.

[Caryn Banker]

08:57 PM on 10/29/2011

In college I worked for a summer in Ireland with BUNAC work abroad student exchange program. They get you a visa work permit to the country, will assist if you have trouble finding accommodation or a job. For each US student going to Ireladn, (or whatever country) an Irish student, (or whatever) gets a visa and work permit for the US. It's good for 3 months to 1 year.

If you don't have the money or time to do a whole year studying abroad, it's a great option. The point is to live and integrate into the local culture. That is in itself the most worthwhile learning experience.

[Notsosurearewe]

10:40 PM on 10/29/2011

I did Bunac as well, with mixed reactions. I didn't get a job for 6 weeks, my landlord didn't bother telling me the correct phone number to the apartment (flat) where I lived, so getting work was difficult as .. you can imagine and when I did finally get a job, it was working 14 to 16 hours a day, 4 days per week. Towards the end I didn't get paid overtime due to the company's policies where I was working and because the unemployment rate at the time was so high, I was often told that I should be grateful to even have a job.

But, yes, it did give me a chance to see the countryside, which was wonderful, and do a few Irish things such as seeing the Cliffs of Mohair (sp?) and the Giants' Steps.

But I was glad when it was over.

[Caryn Banker]

01:01 AM on 10/30/2011

Haha! I have to admit, I was glad to go home too. In retrospect, it was one of the best things I ever did, and definitely had some great times, but it was hard. I went in 1991, very few jobs in Ireland then, I ended up working for an Abracababra, fast food kebab place run by Iraqi refugee/immigrants. I learned as much about pre-war Iraq as I did about Irish culture!

[Shoe Girl 154]

08:37 PM on 10/29/2011

Catholic University's semester in the Irish Parliament was pretty amazing and set me up for a job on Capitol Hill when I graduated. I don't think it gets better.

[J Smith 01]

08:33 PM on 10/29/2011

What are the criteria?

[Notsosurearewe]

10:42 PM on 10/29/2011

Generally you have to be a college student in good standing with your institution. If you have student loans it's best to NOT take two semesters off in a row (i.e. Summer semester and then Fall semester) because your loans go into default and you only have 6 weeks to start paying them back once you graduate (not the standard 9 months or whatever).

Also, there's a basic application process involved, which may or may not require getting some recommendations depending on your program. Were I you, I'd ask the international exchange division in my host institution for more information and specifics.