T H E J AY H AW K G U I D E T O S T U DY A B R O A D
B E YO N D T H E H I L L STUDY ABROAD: A JAYHAWK TRADITION Over 27% of KU undergraduates study abroad before graduation, continuing the tradition of the first Jayhawks who studied abroad in 1949. Today, KU has one of the strongest study abroad programs in the region. The Office of Study Abroad administers more than 160 programs in over 70 countries. Our office works with students to identify appropriate options based on their majors, goals, language abilities, and finances. More than 1,500 Jayhawks go abroad each year, engaging with people across the globe and developing a deeper understanding of our global community. Want a leg up on the competition after graduation? Studying abroad can help you get a job, make more money, and gain valuable skills. A recent Global HR News survey revealed that 8 out of 10 HR executives are more likely to hire students for global roles if they have studied abroad.
What is study abroad? Study abroad is the opportunity to...
What are the options?
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Study, conduct research, or intern in another country
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Earn academic credit
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Experience life in another culture
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Gain valuable skills
Am I eligible? •
Any major can study abroad
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Must complete one semester on campus
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Minimum 2.5 GPA
What can I study? •
KU Core Requirements
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Courses towards major, with prior planning
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Foreign language
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Intern or research
Spend a semester or academic year taking classes at a host institution abroad
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Travel with fellow students and a professor abroad over winter break, spring break, or summer
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Take summer courses abroad
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Intern abroad
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Conduct research abroad
When should I study abroad? •
Consider a semester or full year abroad
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Your academic advisor can help you identify when it will fit best in your academic plan
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Check out studyabroad.ku.edu to research classes and options for your major
Where can I go?
What safety measures does KU provide?
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Almost anywhere that’s safe (as determined by the Office
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KU monitors all program sites for safety
of Study Abroad)
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Study abroad staff are available 24/7 for emergencies
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Must be credit-bearing through an accredited institution
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We provide comprehensive health and safety information
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Not all locations offer coursework for every major
to all students studying abroad
WHY STUDY ABROAD?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Graduate on time Earn academic credit that helps you progress in your degree program.
Prepare for your career Expand your professional network and gain cross-cultural skills that are highly valued in an increasingly globalized workforce.
Push your boundaries Become more independent and boost your self-confidence as you learn how to navigate a different culture.
Engage with global issues Expose yourself to different perspectives on the most pressing challenges facing the world today.
Improve language skills Studying a foreign language? While abroad, you can interact everyday with native speakers in an immersive environment.
Go beyond the classroom Enhance your KU education with on-the-ground work or research experience in an international setting.
Have an adventure
Make new friends, try new foods, and open yourself to new and exciting experiences.
OPPORTUNITIES Programs to fit your goals, in locations around the world.
STUDY ABROAD OPTIONS Note: Students must petition to study in a country with a U.S. State Department Travel Warning.
KU offers programs in more than 70 countries around the world, and if a KU program doesn’t fit your needs, we will help you find a non-KU opportunity that does! Your study abroad experience could be a summer internship in Prague, researching beetles in the rainforest of Costa Rica, a semester of business classes in Argentina, or a year living and studying language in Japan. With hundreds of opportunities, we’re happy to help you find the right program for you.
OPTIONS FOR EVERY MAJOR Finding the right program is an important step, and we offer comprehensive advising for all students to help with this important decision. For major-specific recommendations, please check out the Find a Program for Your Major resources at studyabroad.ku.edu.
BUSINESS
ENGINEERING
EDUCATION
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
FINE ART
HEALTH
JOURNALISM
LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES
SOCIAL WELFARE
MUSIC
Business majors can choose from a wide variety of shortterm, semester, and summer programs. Semester opportunities include exchanges in Australia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Spain, Hong Kong, China, and the United Kingdom. Faculty-led programs include destinations such as Cuba, Costa Rica, Panama, Northern Europe, Brazil, China, South Africa, India, and Israel. Alternatively, students can take summer courses in Italy or Austria. Visit the Center for Global Business Studies in Capitol Federal Hall for business study abroad advising.
Education majors have the opportunity to go abroad on semester programs and short-term faculty-led programs. Popular short-term programs include a TESOL practicum in South Korea, a curriculum development program in Italy, and an early childhood education seminar in Costa Rica. Semester options include Spain, the UK, Australia, or Costa Rica. Programs and optimal timing vary by discipline, so students should begin planning early.
Fine Arts majors can choose from summer internships, faculty-led programs, and semester study abroad opportunities. Program options for visual art majors include Scotland, Korea, Finland, Japan, and a variety of locations within Europe. Dance and theatre students may participate in semester study at Folkwang University of the Arts or KU’s faculty-led Theatre in Greece summer program. Fine arts students should visit the Office of Study Abroad to discuss their options.
Journalism students have flexibility when it comes to selecting courses. Students can pursue semester programs in Scotland, Australia, England, Morocco, Bulgaria, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, New Zealand, and more. Many journalism majors intern abroad in Dublin, Sydney, London, Shanghai, or Prague. With advanced planning, journalism students can study for a semester any time after their first year and still stay on track for graduation.
There are numerous programs for students in the School of Social Welfare. KU faculty host short-term programs annually in Italy, Costa Rica, South Korea, and India. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in the UK, Costa Rica, Spain, or Slovenia. Talk to an academic advisor and begin planning early.
Engineering majors can study abroad at partner institutions, conduct research, or participate in short-term faculty-led programs. Common destinations for engineering students include Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. Most programs are taught in English, but non-English options are available for students with strong language proficiency. Engineering majors should plan to study abroad during their sophomore year, but programs and recommended semesters vary by discipline.
Students studying architecture or design can choose from semester, summer faculty-led, or internship options. Design majors can choose semester programs in Germany, Australia, or Finland. Architecture majors can study for a semester in Denmark, the UK, and other locations around the world. Architecture and design students should plan ahead and discuss study abroad options with academic advisors.
Students preparing for health professions have a variety of study abroad opportunities and should speak to an academic advisor to identify the best time to study abroad. Health-specific programs for a semester or year are available in the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, Sweden and Costa Rica. In addition, pre-health students can shadow doctors in Spain, study a second language, or join mobile health clinics in South Africa.
Most students go abroad for a semester or year during their second or third year, and early planning is recommended to find the best program and funding opportunities. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences can study or intern almost anywhere for semester or short-term programs. From Russia to the UK, Costa Rica to Ghana, liberal arts majors can pursue their passion around the world and many use this opportunity to learn or enhance foreign language abilities.
Music students can take KU Core courses and electives abroad or pursue music studies with department approval. Options include faculty-led programs and semester studies at Folkwang University of the Arts, the University of Birmingham, the University of Leeds, and Utrecht University. Music majors should also consider non-KU programs through IES Abroad (Vienna, Milan, Amsterdam, and Paris), CIEE (Ghana, South Africa), and Syracuse University (Strasbourg). Students should work closely with an academic advisor to plan their study abroad experience.
LEARN A L A N G UAG E If you are studying a language, immersion can be the best way to improve your language skills. Here are some options to consider:
ALREADY STUDYING A LANGUAGE? If available, take a language placement exam through the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures before registering for your first language class at KU. Language courses will help reinforce and prepare you for language immersion abroad.
START STUDYING A LANGUAGE AT KU! KU teaches over 40 foreign languages. You can start taking a foreign language at KU and continue studying that language abroad. KU offers an opportunity to study many unique languages, including Croatian, Hindi, Persian, Wolof, KiSwahili, Quichua, and Uyghur. If you want to study a more commonly taught language, consider French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, or Portuguese.
START STUDYING A LANGUAGE ABROAD! You can start learning a foreign language while studying abroad, no prior experience required. Beginning language courses are available in Morocco, Brazil, Japan, France, Spain, Italy, Nicaragua, and many more.
GET STARTED NOW
SOON
Follow us on Instagram @KUStudyAbroad
LATER
Like us on Facebook at KU Study Abroad
Check out our website at studyabroad.ku.edu
THIS SEMESTER
BE SURE TO
IN SEPTEMBER Attend the Study Abroad Fair to learn about a variety of KU and non-KU programs.
DON’T FORGET To apply for your passport! Passports can take up to 3 months to process. KU’s Passport Office is located in Strong Hall, Room 300.
DEADLINES Fall & summer applications are usually due March 1. Spring applications are usually due October 1. Get those applications in on time!
Stop by the Study Abroad Info Center in Lippincott 105 to talk to a peer advisor about all the programs available.
PLAN AHEAD Meet with a program coordinator to learn more about the program you are interested in, the requirements, and the application process. Call 785-864-3742 to make an appointment.
ALMOST THERE Pre-departure orientation will prepare you to study abroad.
Talk to your academic advisor! Your advisor may be able to recommend a suitable program or help you determine classes you can take abroad.
APPLY Complete your KU Study Abroad application online. Applications usually include a short statement of purpose, your bio, a transcript or advising report, and 2 recommendations.
FINALLY Go abroad!
Students who study abroad typically earn
$7,000 more in starting salary
97%
of study abroad alumni secured a job after graduation
75%
of alumni felt study abroad helped them improve key skills, including adaptability and communication http://www.iesabroad. org/study-abroad/ why/alumni-surveyresults
OPTIONS IN ENGLISH Not studying a foreign language? No worries! KU offers a variety of opportunities in English-speaking countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, India, Ghana, the UAE, and New Zealand. You can also take classes in English in countries where English is not the official language, although course offerings may be more limited. Options include the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Denmark, Morocco, Italy, Germany, Japan, Spain, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Bulgaria, and more.
H OW M U C H D O E S I T CO ST ? The cost of a study abroad program is based on: Location cost of living Spending habits Cost of travel Length of program Included services Type of program
PROGRAM COST BREAKDOWN: Costa Rica, Semester
Program Fee $7,960
Estimated Additional Expenses $4,250
Accommodations 3 meals per day Airport transfer On-site staff Program-related excursions
Airfare Passport Visa Books & supplies Public transit Personal expenses
Tuition & Fees $3,435 One semester of instruction Administrative fees Emergency medical evacuation & repatriation services KU pre-departure orientation
COST COMPARISON
The chart below compares the cost of a semester in Lawrence to a semester abroad. The costs include tuition and fees, room and board, transportation, estimated travel expenses, and other costs associated with a semester in college. City
Resident
Non-Resident
Lawrence
$12,982
$25,963
Moscow, Russia
$9,707
Bonn, Germany
$12,729
Accra, Ghana
$14,880
San Jose, Costa Rica
$15,645
Seoul, South Korea
$15,727
Cork, Ireland
$17,700
Essex, England
$17,801
Sydney, Australia
$23,951