What You Should Know Before You Go

Think of study abroad as a formative space where every term a new group of distinct identities intersect in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a different country and culture.

We’ve seen a positive trend of rising student diversity in U.S. study abroad for more than a decade. As more students of different backgrounds and identities choose to study abroad from U.S. schools, we invite you and other students on our programs to be aware of how important it is for all of us—students, faculty and staff—to participate in creating an environment where all students can thrive while abroad.

All in all, for the purposes of true inclusivity, thinking about identity abroad and its complexities in the context of another culture is something we hope you’ll embrace in advance of boarding your flight for your IES Abroad journey. So, understanding how your own identity may play into your host culture experience abroad can help smooth how you acclimate and enable you to engage more easily and authentically with other students’ and host country residents’ personalities, ideas, perspectives, forms of expression and backgrounds.

Let's Talk

Reach out to the Diversity team at diversity@iesabroad.org if you have any questions about identity-based events, how identity can affect study abroad or internship experiences, opportunities, or more.

Send Us an Email

Students Honoring Their Identities Abroad

In 2018, we proudly marked the first 10 years of our IDEA Initiative: an innovative, sustained access and diversity effort that has inspired 17,000+ multifaceted students to study abroad and intern around the world. By answering our own call to action with intentionality, resources, and a willingness to walk a road less traveled, IES Abroad has ushered thousands of new stories of global education.

Join us in celebrating this milestone and a #worldofdifference as we share stories of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, members of the LGBTQ+ community, first generation college students, young adults with a history of overcoming diversity, and more. 

Share Your Story

a headshot photo of Eunice
“It can be challenging to get out of your comfort zone, experience new cultures and worldviews and shift your own perspective of the world... but it's all worth it.”
Eunice S. • Knox College • Nagoya Direct Enrollment - Nanzan University & Dublin - Writers Program

A black woman smiling at the camera with natural curly hair
“I’m freer to be myself; I know who I am in a different language and a different culture because I created that person and held her close and, in the process, became proud of her. I don’t think I would’ve had that without leaving the comfort of my spaces here at home.”
Ashley S. • Brandeis University • Granada – Study in Granada

Let's Chat

We're here to help! If you have questions about IES Abroad, our programs, or study abroad in general, we're here for you.

Contact Us
advisor sitting at her desk in front of two monitors