If you’re anything like me, you have spent some time looking at the options for studying abroad and weighing the possibilities of studying off-campus. The questions are always there, floating around your mind; “Will I find a program that will fit within my major track?” or “Do I need to know a foreign language to be eligible?” or even, “How do I know I will be comfortable being far away from home for so long?” They’re all valid questions, and the unknown can be worrisome, but the answers come with both a little bit of research and a sprinkle of faith in both you and your advisors, helping you make an informed decision. With the summer 2024 study abroad deadline coming up in December and semester and yearlong program deadlines in February, now is the time to start asking questions!  

Just by familiarizing yourself with the Center for International and Intercultural Studies website, you will find “30 off-campus programs in 22 countries that allow students to enrich their majors, expand their world, gain cross-cultural perspectives and skills, and prepare to be responsible global citizens.” Whether the program you are interested in is a SLU-based program or a partner program, each one provides you with a unique experience that you can’t get on campus. But when is the right time to study abroad? How do I know my program will be the right fit for me? For example, I myself am currently off-campus in Rennes, France, along with classmates studying in the London Program and in Madrid, Spain. Each of us has a very different experience but found ourselves in a unique position: we’re all seniors, graduating in the spring. There are also many students who chose to study abroad in their junior or sophomore year or have even taken advantage of a unique experience of having their First Year Program off-campus in London. Whenever you decide to study abroad, it is up to you, and there’s never a right or wrong time to take advantage of an off-campus experience.  

Each off-campus program comes with its own challenges, but it also provides students with an opportunity to expand their life experiences beyond that of the scarlet and brown. If you are more familiar with your classmates and SLU professors and are looking to have more of the St. Lawrence connection even while away, then you might be interested in our SLU Signature programs, of which there are seven closely connected to and integrated with the SLU curriculum, faculty and students. These programs include, but are not limited to, our Adirondack Semester Program Kenya Program, and programs in Madrid, Spain, as well as London, United Kingdom. If you’re looking for a program that is a bit farther removed from our home campus and wishing to integrate more with students at a local university or with another program, the partner programs give students an additional opportunity to immerse oneself in another language, even if the programs aren’t an internship based program, and opportunities to directly enroll in a foreign university —  but aren’t necessarily run by SLU faculty and staff.  

Debating homestay or student housing? Sometimes, you don’t have an option when it comes to where you stay during an off-campus program, but don’t stress! Both host family-style housing and apartment-style living are incredible opportunities to live in another city or country, and I can tell you personally both are incredible options in their own ways. By living with a host family in Rennes, France, I have constant access to learning the French language, Breton culture (those who reside in the Brittany Region), and a personal perspective of life in France that I wouldn’t get by staying in an apartment on my own. One gets to become part of a family and experience the inner workings of personal, work and social life outside of class of someone who lives and works in that region every day: it’s a rare opportunity that creates really strong connections and special bonds with your host and the local community.  

There are so many different possibilities when it comes to studying off-campus, and it’s definitely hard to know where to start, but I definitely recommend starting early. Even if you just take a quick peek at the CIIS website, explore which programs are out there, set up a meeting with our off-campus advising staff, or start by raising some questions with your academic advisor, there is no better time than the present to start exposing yourself to your options. The application takes time, and you’ll want to start early, ask as many questions as you need, reach out to former participants of off-campus programs, and dip your toes in the water of the off-campus experience. It’s not always easy, and it’s definitely not all sunshine and rainbows (especially in Rennes — it rains a lot in the fall!), but it is an opportunity to learn about another part of the world, more about yourself, how you interact with others, and most importantly, engage in an experience that will help you grow into a more involved global citizen, gaining a stronger awareness of your positionality and how you fit in in a larger, global context.