Study Abroad Print this info out in our tri-fold brochure!

Why Study Abroad?
The reasons for studying abroad are as varied as the students who undertake it.

For some, studying abroad is an important part of their undergraduate field of study. Those majoring in a language, Global Studies, or International Business will find the study abroad experience invaluable to their course of study and it is highly recommended (though not required) for those majors.

Even if it is not directly indicated by a student’s major, study abroad can be the best possible way to further specific intellectual interests or commitments. Political Science majors interested in post-Soviet politics may discover how eye-opening a stay in Prague can be. What better place for English majors to study English or Irish literature than in England or Ireland?  What better place for a  Music major to study Mozart than Vienna?

Study abroad is just that: study. As such, it ought to fit with a student’s overall educational goals and interests.

But beyond those specific linkages, Study abroad offers all students the chance to experience the world from a different perspective, to escape parochial confines, and to push themselves to know themselves and their world in a far richer way. Study abroad is a transformative experience, and those contemplating it ought to prepare to be changed. As one returning Assumption student put it:
“It blew my mind and changed the way I live.”

Where Have Assumption Students Gone?
Assumption College students are globetrotters. The college has sent students to Europe, Asia, North and South America, Australia and Africa. Some of the most frequently visited sites include: Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Florence, London, Paris, Dublin, Costa Rica, Washington D.C., and the Semester at Sea program, which includes stops in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Egypt, Turkey and Croatia (among others).

Have a stellar GPA?  Consider going to Oxford or Cambridge University for a semester, or a year. Please note: deadlines are early for Oxford and Cambridge.

Questions to Consider Before Applying
Why do I want to study abroad? What aspects of study abroad seem most important to me?
Have I planned my coursework to accommodate a semester away? Will study abroad create setbacks in earning my degree?
In what geographic region, country, or city would I like to study? Why?
What is my foreign language ability?
How long do I want to study abroad, and when would I like to start?
Do I have the financial means to support a stay abroad?

Words from Past Travelers:
“ … It was fun to be studying a slide of Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ and I could say I already went to the Reina Sofia in Madrid and stood in front of this gigantic masterpiece.”

“I loved being surrounded by beauty and history while I studied and socialized.”

“One can never understand a country fully and wholly until they visit it.”

“It was one of the best experiences I ever had and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back.”

“It blew my mind and changed the way I live.”

Qualifications to Study Abroad
Those students at Assumption College looking to study abroad must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at the time of applying
  • Be in good judicial standing at the college
  • Have planned degree requirements to allow for time spent abroad
  • Have Junior status at the college (some exceptions are made)
  • Be in good mental and physical health
  • Are mature, resourceful and self-reliant
  • Hold a clear idea of what he or she hopes to gain from the experience, both personally and academically
  • Show a genuine willingness to be immersed in a foreign culture, and show a respect for that culture (Students abroad represent not only themselves, but their country, their college and their families back home)
  • Have an adventurous spirit! After all, study abroad will be an adventure

Applicants need not have prior knowledge of a foreign language to apply.

Assumption College Providers
Assumption College students study abroad primarily through the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS); the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA) through Butler University; and Semester at Sea.  We also send students to Washington D.C. through the Washington Center for Internships. These providers offer programs of study in sites across the globe. They have been chosen by the college based on their reputations for academic rigor, authentic cultural offerings, and global reach, as well as for their popularity with past students.

Resources and Websites:
Here are some helpful sources of information for those interested in study abroad:

Ready to get started, or still have some questions?
Contact the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies;
Schedule an appointment with at the office, Alumni 026,
Or reach us by phone at (508) 767-7486.

 

                              Introducing Assumption >     Academics                      Campus Life                          Admissions                            Financial Aid