5 Benefits of Studying Abroad During Summer

If you’ve been considering studying abroad over the summer, we’re here to convince you that it’s a good move!

Summer is a great way to test the waters for study abroad. Programs are shorter, so you won’t be away from home for long, but you’ll still get a fulfilling experience. Summer is also the perfect time to study abroad if you’re short on time or don’t want study abroad to interfere with your academic schedule.

Here are a few more benefits of studying abroad in the summer that you won’t get when you study during a semester.

5 Benefits of Studying Abroad During Summer

1. Mix and match program locations

Can’t decide where you want to study abroad? That’s okay!

The beautiful thing about studying abroad over the summer is that most programs offer two sessions. This means you can go to two different locations in a single summer. Studying Spanish? Head to Costa Rica for the first summer session then onto Spain for the second!

Summer sessions are offered in the following countries*: Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Korea, The Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.

We recommend heading to our website to see which courses are offered in these locations and decide which two countries you want to knock out this summer!

*Note: due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and safety precautions, program and course offerings for Summer 2021 sessions are subject to changes or cancellations. Please refer to the USAC website to learn about program availability.

2. More cost effective

Cost is one of the main points of concern for students studying abroad.

Fortunately, USAC is already known for being one of the most cost-effective organizations, but if you’re really on a tight budget, a summer session can save you quite a bit of cash.

On average, summer sessions are about half of the price of a semester session. Make sure to double-check the fees associated with each program to understand the price difference.

“I was a low income student and relied heavily on loans for school. Spending time away from work was a choice I did not take lightly. Thankfully University Studies Abroad Consortium was a very affordable and even had summer options. I spent 6 weeks in Luneburg, Germany with a wonderful host family.” Brittany, Lüneburg, Germany

You can also save money abroad by choosing to study in a location where the cost of living is less expensive.

For example,  the cost of living in Chiang Mai, Thailand is 83% lower than living in Los Angeles. It’s 71% less to live in China and 20% less to live in Ghana. When looking at the fees and deadlines for a program, be sure to check out the interactive budget sheet to get an understanding of what it will cost to spend a summer in that location.

3. Complete one semester of university foreign language in five weeks or a year in 10 weeks

If you’re a language major or minor, going abroad for the summer could allow you to complete an entire semester of language coursework in just five weeks. You could even complete up to a year within 10 weeks!

Here are the locations where this is possible*.

Santiago, Chile
Chengdu, China
Shanghai, China
Heredia, Costa Rica
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
San Ramón, Costa Rica
Lyon, France
Pau, France
Lüneburg, Germany
Reggio Emilia, Italy
Torino, Italy
Verona, Italy
Viterbo, Italy
Alicante, Spain
Bilbao, Spain
Madrid, Spain
San Sebastian, Spain
Valencia, Spain

4. You won’t get behind in school

Being able to study abroad without getting behind in school is a big bonus.

While many students are willing to add a semester or year to college in order to study abroad, there are also those who don’t want to have to do that in order to get the study abroad experience.

For those who aren’t looking to add more time to their college career, a summer session is perfect.

Not only will you be able to keep up with your coursework, but it may even speed up your graduation process depending on the classes you take and how they transfer back to your university.

If you’ve ever thought you just didn’t know how to work study abroad into your schedule, then summer is the time for you!

5. Get your feet wet with study abroad

Leaving home for several months at a time can be scary.

The great thing about studying abroad is you can do it as many times as you’d like!

If you’re wanting to study abroad but are nervous about the thought of being gone for a whole semester, summer is a great place to start.

You can start small with a three- to five-week session, extend to eight or 10 weeks and go from there. If you loved your experience you can apply for a semester or yearlong term. The possibilities are endless, but don’t let a little fear get in the way of studying abroad. We rarely hear students say they regret going abroad but always hear students say they wish they had gone in the first place!

Have we convinced you yet that study abroad is for you?

If so, head to our website to learn more about studying abroad this summer!

If you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments or email us at studyabroad@usac.edu