LYNX LIFE LIBRARY

No matter how long you've been on campus (one whole week? Three years already?), you may have heard about studying abroad here at CU Denver. As a CU Denver student, you have programs ranging from a week in length to a full academic year available to you. We're very excited to offer short-term programming in 19 different countries, two semester-long programs in China and Germany, and dozens of other countries are available through our third-party providers! But where should you go? When should you go? Is it better to go for two weeks or three months? Let me help you figure out the "right" program for you (or convince you to consider studying abroad at all!).

My credentials: 

• I'm a CU Denver alum and current student at the Colorado School of Public Health. 
• I studied abroad for a full semester during my undergrad degree and for two weeks during my graduate degree.
• I currently work for the Office of Global Education as a Program Manager.
• I’ve been on four of our short-term study abroad programs!
  

So, let's dive into it: 

• What's "better"—a two-week program or a full semester program? 
  • I loved my two study abroad programs for very different reasons. When I was 21 and a junior in college, I spent the Fall semester in London and loved the experience of living in another city in a way that ultimately made me feel like a local. I got to know my flatmates and classmates who were from all over the world on a very personal level (we're still friends, 10 years later!), enjoyed learning from multiple faculty members at my host university, and spent every other weekend exploring other countries and U.K. cities. My semester abroad forced me to become comfortable with being uncomfortable and taught me how to be more independent, understanding, adaptable, and resourceful. 
  • When I was 29 and in the middle of my MPH, I spent two weeks in Cuba earning three credits of an elective course that counted toward my degree. I had the privilege of getting to know my peers prior to traveling to Cuba with them, and we became very fast friends during our 12 days together. I appreciated the intensive focus on one topic throughout this short program because the learning style was so different from what I was used to. We got to focus exclusively on one topic and learned about it from different faculty members and community members, through various lenses, all while gaining a first-hand experience of the local culture to complement that knowledge.
• Should you take electives or major-specific courses abroad? 
  • No matter the program type you choose to participate on (short-term, faculty-led or with a provider for any length of time), you have options to take major-specific courses that will help you complete your degree as well as courses that can satisfy elective requirements. Both options are valuable for your academic and personal development and success. In London, I got to take elective courses like British Politics, Latin, and a Shakespeare writing class. While my biology degree didn’t require these, I loved the opportunity to take classes that weren’t offered at CU Denver and let me explore my host culture more in-depth (and Latin ended up being very useful for Anatomy and Physiology!). However, my public health class in Cuba was much more directly applicable to my degree and the knowledge I'd pull from if I worked in the field of Public Health. Either way, you should plan to talk to both your academic advisor and OGE staff to ensure the credits you earn will transfer to CU Denver (in the case of provider programs) and apply to your degree. 
• When is the best time of year to go? 
  • Lucky for you, between CU Denver programs and our providers' programs, you can go abroad literally any time of the year! Fall or Spring semester, Winter Break, Maymester, Summer, Spring Break, you name it—we've got a program for you! Winter Break programs are especially fun because they often get you into a warmer or different climate than what the U.S. is experiencing, but a semester-long program lets you experience the magic of changing seasons in another country. Want to spend time on the beach in January? You can do that in Brazil or the Dominican Republic this winter! Want to see the cherry blossoms in Japan in the Spring? We've got several provider programs to choose from! The options are so endless, you might have a hard time choosing where to go first! 
• Think it's too expensive for you? Hear us out!  
  • We won't deny that studying abroad prices can invoke some sticker shock, but let's break it down! Whether you're spending two weeks or four months abroad, that price is always going to include your tuition, housing, insurance, some excursions, some meals, and (usually) in-country transportation. When you add up what those things cost you to live and go to school in Denver, a program abroad often ends up being a very similar price! For some students, like international or out-of-state students, studying abroad is almost always cheaper than what you pay for a class or semester in Denver.
  • You can also use your financial aid to help offset the cost of studying abroad, and there are tons and tons of scholarships available! 
• Should you go on a CU Denver program or a third-party provider program? 
  • Why not try one of each? CU Denver's short-term programs are a great way to ease yourself out of your comfort zone and into a new country, topic, and group of friends while earning CU Denver course credit. Third-party provider programs could be your ticket to language fluency, exploring a new passion or academic interest, and gaining a new sense of independence and confidence.

No matter which program or what type of program you may participate on, I promise you'll come back with new friends, new ideas, new perspectives, and a countdown until the next time you get to go outside of your comfort zone. 

So, what are you waiting for? Check out all of the amazing study abroad programs available to you on our website, schedule an appointment with one of our advisors, or get inspired by the photos and testimonials on our Instagram! The sooner you start planning, the easier it is to make studying abroad the best decision you've ever made.