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Finding out overseas is an expertise of non-public and educational development like no different—permitting you to earn credit towards your diploma when you discover a brand new nook of the world and immerse your self in an thrilling tradition. The advantages of finding out overseas are quite a few, however there are various components to think about and inquiries to reply, comparable to, “When is the appropriate time to check overseas?” Under, we’ll information you thru this query and enable you determine when a examine overseas program is greatest for you.
Now’s the time to map out your examine overseas journey—learn on to find out about your choices and the way to determine when to go overseas.
When to Examine Overseas: Evaluating Your Choices
There are sometimes many choices for when you possibly can examine overseas, particularly while you notice that some college students don’t must be in school to check or intern overseas. Because of this some current highschool graduates and school graduates can examine overseas, along with underclassman and upperclassman school college students.
Think about the next components to slender down your decisions:
1. Seasonal concerns
Do you wish to examine overseas throughout a selected season? Do you have got a favourite season at dwelling you don’t wish to miss or athletic obligations that forestall you from going overseas throughout your competitors season? Or perhaps you hate the chilly and wish to examine overseas in a heat nation.
No matter your preferences are, take into account what time of 12 months you’d wish to or are eligible to check overseas.
2. Length
How lengthy do you wish to examine overseas? A full college 12 months, a fall or spring semester, or a short-term program? AIFS Overseas provides many program choices all year long. These embody January Time period packages that final just a few weeks, to full semester packages that may be mixed with Could Time period or summer season periods for an extended examine overseas expertise.
Quick-term choices typically happen outdoors of conventional semesters, like summer season or winter break, making them a superb possibility for those who can’t examine overseas in the course of the conventional college 12 months.
3. Lecturers
AIFS Overseas provides numerous packages that assist college students full Gen Ed or main necessities and earn credit towards their diploma. Some universities might require college students to finish sure programs on campus, so make sure that to examine along with your school advisor.
4. Funds
While you examine overseas can also have an effect on the price. For instance, some short-term examine overseas packages might have decrease program charges than longer, full-semester packages. Additionally, native prices might improve in examine overseas locations throughout peak vacationer season.
Do not forget that monetary help packages can typically apply to check overseas programming if your private home establishment permits it—simply make sure that to examine along with your monetary help workplace. Moreover, AIFS Overseas offers scholarships and grants, and we settle for third-party scholarship funding.

Finding out Overseas as a Excessive College Graduate
Earlier than you set off for school, you possibly can examine overseas as a highschool graduate so long as you might be 18 or older and enrolled full-time in an undergraduate diploma.
Questioning, “How can I examine overseas as a highschool graduate?” You possibly can examine overseas throughout a niche 12 months, the summer season earlier than school, or a semester for those who defer. Don’t overlook to talk along with your school advisor or college’s examine overseas workplace and analysis packages which are out there to highschool graduates.
Finding out overseas as a highschool pupil could also be an excellent match for those who’d wish to:
- Examine overseas a number of occasions: Finding out overseas earlier than school provides you with extra alternatives to do it once more sooner or later.
- Graduate early: Incomes credit earlier than you start school might enable you graduate early.
- Discover educational pursuits: For those who’re unsure what main or diploma you wish to pursue in school, a examine overseas program may help you discover your choices.
- Workaround educational or athletic necessities: If you’re unable to check overseas when you’re in school because of educational or athletic obligations that require you to remain on campus, finding out overseas earlier than you get to varsity could also be an answer.

Finding out Overseas as an Underclassman
Finding out overseas as an underclassman is another choice for a lot of college students. Think about finding out overseas as a freshman or sophomore in school if you wish to:
- Resolve on a serious: Discover numerous educational pursuits throughout your examine overseas program that will help you determine on a future course of examine.
- Take Gen Ed programs overseas: As an underclassman, you doubtless have quite a few Gen Ed programs it’s essential to take to graduate. Many examine overseas packages provide these similar programs or their equal so you possibly can end educational necessities in an thrilling worldwide vacation spot.
- Increase your overseas language abilities: If you wish to main or minor in a overseas language, finding out overseas is a superb method to rapidly advance your language proficiency, serving to you place into extra superior language programs at your private home college.
- Examine or intern overseas a number of occasions: For those who examine overseas as a freshman or sophomore, you’ll have extra alternatives to do it once more as an upperclassman, or intern overseas, for those who’re keen on doing each. (Do you know you possibly can examine and intern overseas on the similar time?)
Finding out Overseas as an Upperclassman
Finding out overseas as an upperclassman is a well-liked selection for a lot of school college students. In spite of everything, you’ve received extra expertise beneath your belt, and also you’re doubtless extra impartial than you have been as an underclassman, permitting you to check overseas with extra confidence.
Examine overseas as a junior or senior if you wish to:
- Acquire distinctive educational alternatives: Dive into a distinct segment or entry programs and experiences that might not be out there at your private home college or to underclassman. Now that you simply’re pursuing a selected space of examine, you possibly can select specialised packages and take extra superior programs.
- Lend your research a world perspective: As a junior or senior, you’ve constructed a basis in your research, now see how different professors and worldwide college students can form your data and provide a brand new perspective to your studying.
- Examine in a worldwide hub: Advance your diploma in a metropolis greatest recognized in your space of curiosity. For instance, examine theater at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, find out about Renaissance artwork in Florence, or pursue style advertising in Milan.
- Resolve on a profession: Even when you have a serious, it doesn’t imply you understand what profession you’ll pursue after commencement. Finding out overseas may help you pursue choices and decide earlier than commencement.
Whereas some college students favor to check overseas throughout their junior 12 months in order that they’re on campus throughout their remaining 12 months of faculty, others wish to take advantage of their senior 12 months by finding out overseas. Some college students even select to check overseas throughout their remaining semester of faculty to allow them to proceed their travels immediately after commencement.
Nonetheless can’t determine? Map out your educational programs and after they’re provided in your junior and senior years to see which one makes probably the most sense. Or contact our staff; they will present steerage to assist you decide!

Finding out Overseas as a Current School Graduate
Didn’t get the prospect to check overseas throughout school or wish to do it once more earlier than you enter the workforce? Chances are you’ll be eligible to check overseas as a current school graduate—particularly for those who’d like to take action in the course of the summer season after commencement. If that is one thing you’re keen on, make sure that to talk along with your school advisor earlier than you graduate, to make sure you’re eligible.
Examine overseas as a current school graduate if you wish to:
- Increase your resume: Present future employers you have got cross-cultural communication abilities and the flexibility to adapt to new cultures.
- Develop a worldwide community: Finding out overseas lets you develop worldwide connections, setting you up for achievement when you enter the skilled world.
- Discover post-grad choices: Unsure if you wish to proceed academia after commencement, or for those who do, uncertain which route to take your research? A examine overseas program may help you determine. Plus, some examine overseas packages provide post-graduate and grasp’s stage programs, permitting you to get a jumpstart in your post-grad diploma.
- Examine overseas (final probability!): For those who’re a current school graduate, that is your final probability to have the superb, one-of-a-kind expertise of finding out overseas. Don’t miss out—examine overseas earlier than it’s too late!
An alternative choice as a current school graduate is to intern overseas. As examine overseas choices are sometimes restricted for graduates, there could also be extra worldwide internship packages out there to you. Plus, it’s a superb alternative to realize hands-on skilled expertise when you immerse your self in a brand new tradition and journey the world!
Deciding When to Examine Overseas

Now that you simply’ve reviewed your choices, you must take a while to guage your educational observe and timeline. It will possibly assist to ask your self questions comparable to:
- What are my educational and journey objectives?
- How versatile is my coursework? What required programs do I’ve?
- Based mostly on my private preferences, diploma, required programs, and different obligations, which time period and 12 months makes probably the most sense to check overseas?
When you don’t must have each second of your school profession deliberate out to a T, going over potential paths, taking a look at diploma necessities, and speaking to your educational advisor will guarantee you possibly can examine overseas with no need further time to graduate.
For those who’re like many school college students, you gained’t have a single small window to check overseas—you’ll have a number of choices, which means it actually comes down to non-public desire. There might not at all times be an apparent “greatest” time to check overseas, which might make it troublesome to decide.
On the finish of the day, you simply must take that leap of religion—discover a examine overseas program and apply for one which’s the appropriate match for you and your objectives. Your future self will thanks.
Are you able to take the leap and examine overseas? AIFS Overseas is right here to assist!
Finding out overseas is an unbelievable alternative to develop as an individual and journey the world, all whereas incomes credit in direction of your diploma. Whereas making the choice on when to check overseas might really feel scary, you possibly can relaxation assured that AIFS Overseas has your again. Because of our useful program inclusions comparable to social and cultural actions, housing, journeys and excursions, 24/7 emergency assist, complete insurance coverage, and on-site workers, you possibly can ditch the examine overseas nerves and deal with profiting from your expertise overseas!

