International Herd Transcending Borders

Not many students are prepared to live and learn in a foreign land. But then, there are always those who are daring to go a step ahead. There are ways for international students to study abroad while studying abroad.

It is always amazing to know that you could travel to a new destination while already being an international student. The Office of International Programs makes it all happen.

I met with Dominique Karlsson, the study abroad advisor to find out more about this, and below are excerpts from our interview.

Q: What is the aim of study abroad?
A: There are many reasons why students choose to study abroad: to learn more about the world, to learn more about your major or minor in an international setting or to learn more about yourself. It’s also a great way to improve your resume and to show that you have the international perspective needed to compete in the global job market today.

 
Q: How many students are enrolled in study abroad this semester?
A: There are currently 40 students abroad this fall.

Q: How many international students have studied abroad in the past year?
A: Last year six international students studied abroad.

Q: What expenses do students bear in studying abroad?
A: On an exchange program students pay NDSU tuition and fees for their term abroad, which is a great deal! There are also a number of affiliated non-NDSU programs where NDSU tuition is waived and students pay the actual cost for their time abroad. For those programs, the cost varies depending on where students go and for how long. For all programs students would have the additional cost of their passport, airline ticket and spending money. For some locations, a student visa and immunizations might also be needed.

Q: Are there any scholarships available for students to study abroad?
A: Students can apply for financial aid and scholarships toward the costs for their time abroad. There are a number of scholarships available specifically for study abroad, and because not many students apply for these scholarships it’s definitely worth the time it takes to apply.

Q: What majors or fields can they study in this program?
A: Students from any major can participate in study abroad! Each major is going to have better timeframes for studying abroad, so it’s important for students to work with their departments to determine when is the best time to study abroad.

Q: How many semesters at maximum can students study abroad?
A: We don’t have a limitation in our office, but students would want to talk with their advisors about planning for their major.

Q: What does a student need to do if he or she wishes to study abroad?
A: We hold study abroad info sessions Monday through Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in the Memorial Union in room 116, so I hope that anyone who is thinking about studying abroad will stop in to learn more!