New Opportunities

Many IU students experience study abroad

Taking courses abroad as part of degree requirements is becoming more common among IUB students. In fact, 25 percent of graduating seniors have at least one experience abroad, placing IU tenth in the U.S. for the overall numbers of students abroad.

A recent research report found that among students who entered IU between 2001 and 2004, those who studied abroad graduated in less time than those with a similar academic profile who did not (91 percent). These students also graduated with a higher average GPA.

With President McRobbie’s encouragement and an International Strategic Plan in place, many units of Indiana University have added new and exciting programs to existing offerings. Many of these are discipline-specific and often are tied to an on-campus course.

This year, students from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs went to Spain to study the economics of health, safety and environmental programs and to Kenya to study ecology or to Germany to study public affairs.

Students from the School of Journalism had six programs from which to choose: Latin American media in Chile, AIDS reporting in Kenya, technology and the news in South Korea, international public relations in Japan, an internship in London or by following in the footsteps of Ernie Pyle in England and France.

Kelley School of Business students spent the spring studying emerging economies and then split up over spring break to visit Croatia and Hungary, Ghana, China, or Korea.

While short-term programs are multiplying, students still have access to 100 varied opportunities for the summer, a semester, or an academic year. Last year, IU students used over $8 million dollars in financial aid to study abroad.

Originally published in CampusLink, IU Parent's Association newsletter, Fall 2010