Get Started

Unlock a world of opportunities with an Education Abroad program and embrace the chance to elevate your personal growth, enrich your Miami education, and distinguish yourself in your career.

Push Your Comfort Zone

When I first arrived in the Cusco airport, alone, I was scared and nervous. I was worried about fitting in, getting used to the language and culture, and adjusting to a completely new and unfamiliar country. Since then, I feel like I’ve adapted a lot; I’m much more comfortable with the city, my Spanish is improving, and I’ve made a lot of really great friends through this program. I like to think that being so far away from home and the familiarity of the Miami campus is teaching me to be more independent, and to take advantage of these rare opportunities instead of running away from them.

Olivia Snyder, Cusco, Peru

Boost Your Resume

Emily Shaffer

I had the opportunity to participate in an internship in Seville, Spain while I was studying abroad and it was such a positive experience for me. At first I was worried that it would interfere with my other goals while studying abroad, but I was easily able to balance my internship with my weekend trips. I gained communication skills, problem-solving skills, and actually worked in an industry while abroad, which will really help my resume when I look to work in international business in the future.

Emily Schafer, Seville, Spain

Earn Academic Credit

As a Chemical Engineering major, I needed to find a program that allowed me to take major classes while I was abroad. I was able to take my engineering courses from professors at a local university, which was really cool because I got to see engineering from a completely different perspective. When I returned to Miami the following semester, I was able to jump right back in with where I would have been anyway that semester.

Ellie Kornreich, Valencia, Spain

Explore New Places

Whenever I'd tell people I was studying abroad in Luxembourg, I'd always get the same question: "Where is that? Germany?" And I'd always have to say that while Luxembourg is near Germany, it's also its own country. It has its own language and traditions, and an immense sense of national pride. I found myself taking buses and trains all around the country, hiking on one of Luxembourg's many rainy days in Esch-sur-Alzette, visiting a mining museum in Differdange, stumbling into catacombs beneath a church in Echternach, climbing a truly massive hill to a beautiful castle in Vianden, and wandering through the snow-filled streets of Diekirch. Studying abroad offers amazing opportunities to find all the spots that tourists overlook and discover some amazing hidden gems.

Hannah Sroka, Differdange, Luxembourg

Learn a New Language

The main reason I decided to study abroad was to improve my Russian language skills. While I was in Kyrgyzstan, I had the opportunity to live with a Kyrgyz host family. My family didn't know any English, so I had to speak Russian all the time. When you're abroad, even normal daily tasks, such as going to a grocery store, ordering food at a restaurant, or taking a taxi can be exciting ways to practice your target language. My Russian greatly improved from the beginning of my stay to the end in a way that would only be possible if I was abroad.

Colton Powaski, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Have a Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience

Going abroad can be scary, intimating, and exciting all at the same time. When I was abroad, I fully immersed myself into the culture and tried to be as open minded as possible. I had a "yes" mindset. I said yes to trying new foods, new experiences, and meeting new people. Newness is scary but being open minded will allow you to grow in so many ways. When I was Florence, I tried lampredotto (cow stomach) which is a classic Florentine Street food. Never would I have thought I would try unique foods like that. When in your life are you ever going to get the chance to travel the world but also take courses that help you grow in your professional career? Going abroad is a once in a lifetime experience- you meet new people, try new experiences, see things from a whole new perspective, and learn all sorts of things.

Samantha Siegle, Florence, Italy

1. Get to Know Education Abroad

The best study abroad program for you depends on your goals and interests! Review these examples of study abroad goals and consider the program suggestions and tips for the goals that resonate with you.

What is Education Abroad?

What are the program options?

2. Set Goals

The best study abroad program for you depends on your goals and interests! Review these examples of study abroad goals and consider the program suggestions and tips for the goals that resonate with you.

Meet people from around the world

Program Suggestions

Consider a program that branches out from the Miami community and allows you to be in classes with students from all over the US as well as locals and international students!

Tips

  • Join clubs and organizations
  • Attend cultural events
  • Live with a host family

Learn a Language

Program Suggestions

Look for programs that offer plenty of courses in your target language. Additionally, programs that allow students to live with a host family are great for language acquisition.

Tips

  • Join clubs and organizations
  • Participate in a language exchange with local students
  • Live with a host family

Boost Your Resume

Program Suggestions

Consider participating in an international internship! This could be a remote internship or part of a study abroad experience. These programs offer opportunities to network with international professionals and develop crucial intercultural development skills that employers are looking for.

Tips

  • Consider how your experience impacts your career goals
  • Set up informal coffee meetings with international professionals
  • Learn how to articulate your experience on a resume or during interviews

Earn Academic Credit

Program Suggestions

Talk with your academic advisor about which courses to look for abroad. Many programs listed as “direct enroll” or “liberal arts” are open to all majors and offer a variety of courses to fulfill Miami Plan or major requirements. Other programs are more major-specific and can offer more advanced courses in your major.

Tips

  • Talk with your academic advisor about which courses to look for abroad
  • Think about your interests and consider how studying abroad can be an opportunity to study something that you wouldn’t normally be able to on Miami’s campus

Push Your Comfort Zone

Program Suggestions

Everyone’s comfort zone is different. Some programs offer the comfort of traveling with other Miami students, while other programs allow you to meet students from all over the world. Some program locations offer familiarity while others take students off the beaten path. Be sure to understand your personal comfort zone and consider the balance that will work best for you.

Tips

  • Stay with a host family
  • Find opportunities to speak with locals
  • Try new foods
  • Study something different

3. Meet with an Academic Advisor

Understand how studying abroad will fit into your academic plan by meeting with your academic advisor.

Questions for your Academic Advisor

  1. What are my remaining graduation requirements?
  2. Which requirements should I try to fulfill through studying abroad?
  3. Which would be the best term to study abroad based on my remaining requirements?

Meet with an Advisor

4. Make Cost-Effective Choices

Understanding your the cost of studying abroad will help you find the right program to fit your needs.

Tips for an Affordable Education Abroad

Get off the beaten path

Look for programs in countries with a lower cost of living. Additionally, some scholarships prioritize students who choose to study abroad in non-traditional locations.

Choose a semester program

It may seem counter-intuitive, but a semester program is often more cost-effective than short-term programs. For example, you are probably already budgeting for one or more semesters on campus, but not necessarily for the winter and summer terms. On semester programs that charge Miami tuition, you can also leverage more of your Miami scholarships and financial aid.

Review all program options

If you are an in-state student or receive significant scholarship funding from Miami, consider programs that charge Miami tuition, such as Luxembourg, Co-Sponsored, and Exchange. If you are an out-of-state student or do not receive many scholarships from Miami, consider participating in an Approved non-Miami program that does not bill Miami tuition.

Start researching scholarships early

Deadlines for some national scholarships can be 6-12 months prior to the departure date of your program. Be sure to plan ahead and meet with an Education Abroad Advisor to discuss scholarship opportunities.

Know your resources

  • Education Abroad Advisors can review the cost of studying abroad with you and advise on study abroad scholarships.
  • Financial Aid Advisors can confirm your financial aid package and advise on how you can use it to study abroad.
  • Consider other resources you have on campus such as the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, Academic Departments, and the Center for Career Exploration and Success.

5. Explore Programs

Search through Education Abroad program options based on your goals.

6. Meet with an Education Abroad Advisor

Schedule an appointment or attend drop-in advising hours with an Education Abroad Advisor to discuss your education abroad plans.

Meet with an Education Abroad Advisor

7. Apply

  • Search for your study abroad program and apply through Miami’s Education Abroad portal.
  • If you are applying to a Co-Sponsored or Approved program, you must apply directly through the program provider as well as through Miami.
  • Eligibility and application requirements vary for each program.
  • Application deadlines vary and can be up to a year in advance of the program.