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You Can Do It
Study away is for all! Whether you play sports, come from abroad or have never been abroad, you have two majors or a major and a minor, you have never studied another language or you are seeking fluency in a third or fourth language, you can study away.
Video Testimonials
These testimonials discuss myths Beloit College students broke about who studies abroad.
Resources
- Beloit College has an accessible financial model, several scholarships, and the GEO staff can help you with outside scholarships. See the costs and aid page.
- There are study options that cost less than a semester at Beloit College. Discuss options with a study abroad advisor.
- Diversity Abroad has tips for low-income students on making study away financially feasible.
- Speak with peers about the strategies they used to finance study away.
Disability is not considered in determining eligibility to study away at Beloit College. However, disability may affect program choice, as disability supports vary from country to country and institution to institution. Program choice can be discussed with a study abroad advisor.
- Mobility International USA (MIUSA) resources
- US Department of State: Travelers with Disabilities
- Beloit College Learning Enrichment and Disability Services (LEADS) office provides advice for students with disabilities considering study away.
Legal and social attitudes towards sexuality and gender vary considerably across cultures. Do your research while applying and preparing to study abroad so that you know what to expect and how to stay safe and avoid persecution.
- GoAbroad: An LGBT Student Guide to Studying Abroad
- International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC): Information by Country
- International Lesbian and Gay Association: Homophobia Map of the World
- Pew Global Research: Attitudes towards Homosexuality
- University of South Florida: LGBT Student Guide for Going Abroad
- U.S. Department of State: Information for LGBTI Travelers
Stay strong. Stay Focused. Stay Connected. Stay for the season. Then, go abroad!
- Look for universities with good athletic facilities and/or opportunities to play a club sport on campus or off-campus. A number of athletes have reported returning stronger and more fit for their sport after studying abroad.
- Play basketball or swim? Look for options with that begin when the season is over. Universities in Australia, Germany, Japan, Latin America, and New Zealand all have “late” starts in Beloit’s second semester.
- Stay connected to your team while studying away in the off-season.
Studying in another country can trigger a unique kind of stress. However, if you are able to manage your mental health at Beloit College, you can build a plan to manage your mental health abroad if you plan ahead. As you consider study abroad options, investigate available supports. It may be helpful to ask a GEO advisor to help you find the information you need.
Resources:
- Check with the foreign embassy of any countries you will visit or transit through to make sure prescription and/or over-the-counter medications you take are permitted in those countries. Information should be noted in US State Department Travel Advisory notes here.
- Bring a supply of medication to cover the entire period in which you will be abroad. This may require getting a “vacation override.” Alternatively, make plans to obtain the medication abroad.
- Carry a letter from your physician describing your medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic name of prescribed drugs.
- Keep medications in their original, labeled containers.
- Keep your medications in your carry-on luggage when you travel.
Studying away can enhance and expand learning in all disciplines, and is an effective High Impact Educational Practice (HIP), especially when combined with additional HIPs such as research, collaborative projects, volunteering, and internships.
Studying abroad offers a unique opportunity to critically examine your national identity.
Tips:
- Understand visa requirements. Requirements for visas may vary based on your country of citizenship.
- Understand your host country. Learn how your government’s policies have impacted citizens of your host country. This means exploring the history of the relationship with your home country, any existing grievances, and current events.
- Know Yourself. Explore your own values and identities. Understanding your own biases and values and what has shaped your opinions puts you in a position to articulate your beliefs and distinguish yourself from your government’s policies. Being challenged and questioned by others in your host country, while stressful, can prompt further reflection and exploration.
- Avoid being defensive. This is a chance to understand the perspectives of others, and to share your views respectfully. Though some may view you as a representative of your home country, you do not have to accept that role.
- Practice self-care. Navigating your national identity can be tiring. Monitor yourself and take measures to maintain your emotional and mental well-being. This may mean disengaging from political discussions when you need a break.
- Stay safe. If at any time you feel as though you are being targeted, harassed or threatened remove yourself from the situation. Then reach out for help.
Resources:
Questions to consider for your sojourn abroad:
- What racial categories or constructions exist in the host country?
- Do any of the power structures in the host country favor people of a certain race or races, or other markers? How will you fit into this system
- What is the history of colonialism in the host country?
- What are the pressing immigration and/or emigration issues in the host country?
- What have other students of a similar racial or ethnic background to you experiences while in this host country?
- What strengths do I bring to study abroad in regard to the experience of race or ethnicity? What are my limitations and biases?
Resources
- All Abroad : Advice from returned study abroad students with a focus on questions of race and gender
- Diversity Abroad
- Project for Learning Abroad, Training, and Outreach (PLATO): On-Line curriculum for study abroad students, pre-, during, and post-study abroad, with a section aimed a supporting diversity
- White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
Women can and do study abroad, and in fact, constitute nearly 70% of the American study abroad population. However, they can face particular challenges, because of different gender norms abroad.
- Canadian Government: Her Own Way - A Woman’s Safe-Travel Guide
- Diversity Abroad: Women Abroad
- Journeywoman: The Premier Travel Resource for Women
- U.S. Department of State: For Women Travelers