Why should I study abroad?

Selecting a program which best matches your interests and fits into your course of study requires spending time doing self-reflection. Consider why you are studying abroad and how your chosen program will align with your personal and academic goals.

You should consider the following when browsing study abroad programs:

Academics

• What courses do you still need to fulfill for your degree that you could take abroad?
• Have you met with your academic advisor to discuss how study abroad will fit into your academic plan, outstanding courses and pre-approval of credits?
• Review the admissions criteria to see which programs you qualify for.

Location

• Will the program require travel throughout the duration of your time abroad (I.e. faculty-led)?
• Do you need a visa to enter this country?
• The cost of living in a city is more expensive than a rural area. Will you need to commute to university? Does commute mean walking or paying for a bus or train?

Academic Accommodations & Support

• How is the program coordinated on site?
• Who will be your main contact (study abroad office, faculty leader, provider?)
• Is the instruction English or a foreign language? Do you have pre-requisites to take classes in another language?
• Does the program have the services and support you need to be successful during your time abroad?

Housing

• Does the program offer dormitory, apartment or home stay accommodations?
• Will you live with other international students, with domestic students of your host country or a family?
• Does the program cost include housing?

Finances

• How are you funding your experience (financial aid, scholarships, out-of-pocket)?
• Are scholarships available that you qualify to apply for?
• What is included in the program cost (i.e housing is not included in most semester programs).

Students should consider all these questions and more before meeting with a Study Abroad Advisor so they we are able to best understand your personal and academic goals and interests. 

The term exchange program indicates that a university has made an agreement with an international partner to exchange equal amounts of students in both directions. The main difference between exchange and study abroad is financially exchange programs tend to be less expensive. Exchange student pays SUNY tuition and fees while education abroad students are responsible for the foreign university tuition. Foreign university tuition is paid by a combination of SUNY tuition and the tuition differential (see costs section for more information). For many of our programs, we send students as both exchange and study abroad. It is important to understand there is no practical difference in how study abroad and exchange students are treated at the host university: both are integrated fully into the university community.
 

You can study abroad anywhere after your second semester of freshman year. First year students can study abroad only at the University of Roehampton during their spring semester their first year. All over study abroad programs are open to students who complete their freshman year. You should meet with your academic advisor as early as possible to discuss your academic plans and when studying abroad would best fit into your schedule. Programs vary in length, with some being as short as 1 week, or a full academic year. A summer/winter short-term program traditionally lasts 14 days. Students who wish to study at a university during the fall or spring semester have the option to go for one semester, or both.
 

Yes! We encourage all students to take advantage of international learning experiences. Here are some things to keep in mind: 

• If you transferred a substantial amount of credits, there may be a limits to the amount of additional transfer credit recognized by Brockport
• You may have a shorter window of time to plan for going abroad
• You have to find programs in which you can complete credits towards your major ​
• When applying, you need to provide transcripts from your previous college(s) or may need references from your former professors ​

Yes! We encourage all students to take advantage of international learning experiences. Here are some things to keep in mind: 

• Depending on your country of origin and your country of study, you may have different/additional visa requirements
• You should consult with your academic advisor/department as well as International Student Services to ensure you understand all policies for studying abroad.

All credit recognition must be approved by the appropriate advising office/department. For Brockport and other SUNY programs, you are guaranteed to receive credits towards graduation, however CGEE is not able to approve credits to go towards your major, minor, or Gen Ed requirements. You should bring any course information available (course description/syllabus) to your academic advisor to be evaluated and pre-approved. For many programs, you will not know the exact courses you can enroll in until you arrive. To be safe, you should receive pre-approval for more courses than you plan to enroll in so that you will have back-ups in case a course is full or cancelled while you are abroad. You should receive this pre-approval from the appropriate faculty/department before you go abroad.
 

The cost of studying abroad varies from program to program and according to destination. Be sure to look at program details and budget sheets to determine the exact costs of the programs you are considering. Factors that influence cost:

Tuition: Most education abroad programs have a set tuition. In SUNY this is your standard in-state or out-of-state tuition.
 

• Instructional costs: Within SUNY, a program sponsor may add instructional and administrative costs to the standard tuition. The additional charge is a "tuition differential;" the amount varies greatly from program to program.
• Costs of living: Student style cost of living varies greatly according to the location. In general, capital cities are noticeably more expensive than provincial areas. In many places the cost of living is greater than in the U.S.; in other destinations, the cost of living is less.
• International airfare: The destination determines the price. Students should purchase changeable airline tickets even though they may be more expensive. Non-changeable tickets do not provide adequate protection for unforeseen circumstances. Be sure to read all of the provisions associated with airline ticket purchase. ​
• Totals: Be sure to add up all the individual costs. A program with low tuition and fees in a site with a high cost of living may be more expensive than one with higher tuition and fees located where the cost of living is cheaper. ​

Most Brockport and SUNY programs use a standard application. To apply to a Brockport program, the following materials are required on most applications:

• Official transcript(s)
• Study statement- a short essay in which you write about your purposes for studying abroad on a specific program
• 2 faculty recommendations

Notes;  

1. Many programs require an official copy of your transcripts. You should check the application instructions and give ample time for the transcripts to be sent from the registrar's office (can take up to two weeks) 
2. Brockport students can request a transcript using this form
3. Application materials vary by program. Some programs may have additional requirements. Make sure to read the instructions carefully to ensure a completed application by the deadline. 
4. When your last application material is submitted, your entire application will automatically be submitted to the Office of Education Abroad. You will not manually submit your application.   ​