Study Abroad 101

Study abroad is an immersive college experience that lets you live and learn in another country while earning college credit, gaining career-relevant skills, and building global perspective. You can choose to spend a semester, summer, or year studying abroad. Study abroad is more than just going to school abroad; you make your host city your classroom and campus. 

Study abroad programs include courses that can transfer back as credits to your home school, along with local housing, predeparture and on-site support, and cultural experiences to contextualize what you're learning. This includes field trips, internships, or community-based learning. Credits earned abroad are documented on a transcript and, when pre-approved by the student's home institution, can count toward graduation.

Study Abroad Differs from Tourism or Independent Travel

  1. Study abroad is academic. Sure, homework and vacation don't go hand-in-hand but on study abroad, you get all the benefits of being somewhere new and exciting, with courses and excursions designed by trusted experts to enhance that experience. Plus, our courses adhere to high-quality college grading standards.
  2. Study abroad is structured. Housing, orientation, health insurance, and support services are arranged in advance, and programs are designed to front-load activities until students feel more comfortable and independent towards the end.
  3. Study abroad is credit-bearing. Your work can transfer back to a degree program and can count toward graduation.
  4. Study abroad is immersive. Hands-on learning and excursions, led by respected experts in their fields, take your experience beyond the classroom to gain international exposure and connect you with the local culture.

Different Types of Study Abroad Programs

Most U.S. undergraduates study abroad through one of the following models:

ModelHow It WorksTypical Support Level
Third-Party Provider (e.g., IES Abroad)A provider organizes courses, housing, insurance, orientation, and on-site staff. Students may take courses at the provider's Center, a partner university, or both.High: predeparture advising, visa support, 24/7 on-site support
Direct Enrollment (e.g. through IES Abroad)Students enroll directly at a college or university abroad and take courses alongside local and international students. Some providers (including IES Abroad) offer direct enrollment programs with added support.Varies: minimal if independent; higher support through a provider (with housing and support included)
University ExchangeA reciprocal agreement lets students swap places with a student from a partner university abroad, often paying home tuition.Moderate: home and host university offices usually available
Faculty-Led or Customized Program (e.g., IES Abroad Customized & Faculty-Led Programs)A short-term program led by a home-campus professor, often during J-Term, Spring Break, or summer.High: familiar faculty, pre-arranged logistics

Where Can You Study Abroad?

Study abroad programs exist all over the globe. We offer 130+ study and internship programs in 30+ cities across Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania (we're still working on Antarctica). Many IES Abroad locations have operated for decades. Our first and oldest location, in Vienna, has been open since our founding over 75 years ago!

How to Choose a Destination

  • Language goal: Do you want to study in English, take one language course alongside English-taught classes, or fully immerse? You can filter our program list by Language of Instruction and Language Prerequisites.
  • Academic fit: Does the location's course catalog cover your remaining degree requirements? Learn more about our academics.
  • Cost of living: Program fees and daily expenses vary widely by city; a semester in one location may cost less than a semester of home tuition while another may cost more. Learn more about how much study abroad will cost you.
  • City size and pace: Large capital vs. mid-size university city. See all our destinations.
  • Identity and comfort: Country-specific considerations for race, religion, gender, sexuality, and disability. See our resources to help you be you abroad.

Regional Overview

RegionRepresentative IES Abroad LocationsCommon Academic Strengths
EuropeAmsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Cambridge, Dublin, Florence, Freiburg, Granada, London, Madrid, Milan, Nantes, Nice, Oxford, Paris, Rome, Salamanca, Siena, ViennaBusiness, art, culture, fashion, European Union studies, language immersion, environmental studies, health studies, internships, STEM, journalism and communications, literature, music, theatre
South AmericaBuenos Aires, Quito, Galápagos Islands, SantiagoSpanish language immersion, environmental studies, health studies, politics and social justice, business and economic development
AsiaNagoya, Seoul, TokyoLanguage and culture, influence and innovation, STEM
AfricaCape Town, RabatSTEM, sustainability and innovation, politics and social justice
OceaniaAuckland (Tāmaki Makaurau), Christchurch (Ōtautahi), SydneyDirect enrollment, Internships

 Browse All IES Abroad destinations

A student admiring the stunning stain glass windows inside La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
Hei K.A. • Yale - NUS College

Why Study Abroad?

Study abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience an exhilarating challenge of academic and cultural immersion—plus a whole lot of fun. It changes how you see the world and your place in it. When you study abroad, the world is your classroom. We often say, study abroad changes lives and changed lives change the world.

For more than 75 years, IES Abroad has researched what actually happens to students after they come home. The pattern is consistent: the personal growth is real, and the career benefits are especially substantial.

See the Benefits of Studying Abroad

How Much Does Study Abroad Cost?

Study abroad costs depend on location, duration, enrollment model, and what the program fee includes. Our program fees include tuition, housing, and health insurance, along with high-quality predeparture and on-site support, small class sizes, and the opportunity for field trips and immersive experiences. In many of our locations, you can even add a part-time internship to your schedule for no additional cost. 

Some programs cost more than a semester of home tuition and some cost less, depending on local cost of living. The exact cost of your program will depend on multiple factors including those listed above, your home university's billing agreement with us, as well as any financial aid you receive from home or IES Abroad.

See What's Included

Costs Not Typically Included in a Program Fee

  • Roundtrip airfare
  • Meals (unless included with a homestay or specific housing option)
  • Textbooks and course materials
  • Cell phone and local transportation
  • Optional field trips
  • Personal travel and expenses

Understand What Study Abroad Will Cost You

IES Study Abroad Programs

Our programs are offered through IES Abroad Centers in 30+ cities around the world and through partnerships with nearly 100 international institutions. Semester students generally earn 12 to 19 semester credits within the base program fee; summer students generally earn 6 to 9 credits depending on program length. Credits are issued on an IES Abroad transcript or, if a home school requires it, on a School of Record transcript through the University of Rochester. Full details on what a program fee covers are at What's Included.

What an IES Abroad Program Includes

Students hike in the Alps on a sunny day with their classmates on a field trip from Freiburg, Germany.

Take Courses

Take courses at an IES Abroad Center, where faculty are hand-selected to teach IES Abroad students in a local context; at a partner university alongside local students; or a combination of both.

Find a Program
IES Abroad Berlin - Berlin Summer 2023 Internship

Add a Part-Time Internship

Add a part-time internship for credit, paired with an academic seminar, as one of their elective courses.

Find a Program with an Internship Option
group selfie of cape town students smiling with kids in the sun

Add a Community-Based Learning Placement

Add a community-based learning placement for credit, combining coursework with volunteer work in the host community.

Find a Program with a Community Option
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Enroll Directly

Enroll directly in and attend classes at one of our trusted partner universities, all while still having the IES Abroad support network.

Find a Direct-Enrollment Program
Myle Duong - Study Abroad Fair - OG Content

How to Find a Study Abroad Program

Your path to study abroad will depend on factors such as where you go to school, what you’re studying, and whether or not your school's financial aid transfers to your program. The steps apply regardless of which provider or model you choose.

Check Out Our 'How to Study Abroad' Guide

Dani Raiche
“The early stages, finding a program, applying for a visa, and taking such a big step on your own, can feel overwhelming, but the growth and confidence you gain make it all worthwhile. I’ve already learned so much about myself and my independence through this process. Don’t be afraid to put in the effort up front.”
Dani R. • Hope College • Madrid - Business, Economics & Social Sciences
A 3x3 grid of headshots of our student ambassadors.
IES Abroad

Want to Talk to Someone Who Studied Abroad?

No one knows the IES Abroad experience better than a student who has lived it! From budget tips to housing experiences, our student Ambassadors are here to share it all.

Contact an IES Abroad Ambassador

Read our Student Blogs

“What made studying abroad feel possible to me was learning about the program and where I was going to live. I talked to a former IES Dublin student, thoroughly read the course descriptions, and did my own research on how to be a tourist in Dublin (like basic customs and navigation). Knowing that I was going to be learning and living with a cohort of like-minded students was reassuring; fifty of us were experiencing the same thing together and we needed to rely on each other in order to thrive in a foreign city.”
Madelynn S. • Hope College • Dublin - Writer's Program

Your world [redefined]®

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student looking up at Basílica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona

Frequently Asked Questions