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Program Selection
Photo by Danielle Stanko
How to choose a program
A study abroad advisor in the Office of International Education can provide you with information about study abroad programs and can help you get the information you need to choose the program that's right for you. Ultimately, however, the decision comes down to you. Here are some questions that you can ask yourself to narrow down the many options that are open to you:
- What do you want out of your study abroad experience?
What are your priorities? Are you interested in immersion in another culture? Learning a foreign language? Perfecting language skills? Retracing your family roots? International work experience? Credit toward graduation?
- What do you want to study?
Do you want to work towards a major or minor or take classes for Miami Plan or thematic sequence? Do you want to learn a foreign language?
- Where do you want to go?
Do you have a continent or country in mind? Do you want to study in a capital city or a smaller one? What are the advantages of each?
- How do you want to study?
Students at Miami have the opportunity to participate in a number of direct-enroll programs or exchanges, where you are enrolled as a student in a foreign university and participate in student life as an international student. They also have the opportunity to go abroad to a study center and take their courses in English with other American students, or to do a hybrid program that combines aspects of the direct-enroll and study center options.
- How do you want to live?
Some programs offer homestays with host families, while others provide students with rooms in student dormitories. Other programs arrange apartments for students to live on their own. If you have a preference, it could affect your choice of program.
- How will you be financing your study abroad?
Federal loans will apply and Miami University scholarships may apply to study abroad programs you are considering. Some programs cost more than Miami tuition, but some cost less. If you are concerned about selecting a program that you can afford, see the Funding section for more information, read about the different program types or come and talk to a study abroad advisor to find out which programs best fit your needs.
No matter what you decide about your study abroad priorities and no matter what program you select, the program you choose will end up being the right program for you. You can visit our Study Abroad Resource Center in 216 MacMillan for help getting started on your study abroad search, for information about specific programs or to talk to a study abroad advisor or returned student about any programs you're considering.
If you find a study abroad, volunteer, internship or work abroad program on your own, please talk to a study abroad advisor in the Office of International Education to verify that Miami can accept credit for your international experience.
Search for a Study Abroad Program
To find a study abroad program that is a good fit for you, you can meet with a study abroad advisor or do research yourself. To find a study abroad program, try the Study Abroad Program Search. You can input a number of different criteria to find a program that's a good match for you.
Search Tips:
- Hold down the Ctrl button to select multiple options in a field.
- Think broadly about the type of classes you're looking for. If you're a Zoology major and Pre-Med, you may want to include the Public Health and Kinesiology and Health fields in your search terms.
- If you're using the GPA field, select all the GPA options that are less than or equal to your GPA.
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