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Choosing a Program 

For general study abroad questions, these online guidebooks are excellent resources:

• The Center for Global Education's Study Abroad Student Handbook -- CGE also has 29 different country-specific online handbooks. 
• Studyabroad.com's online Study Abroad Handbook
• Come to our office to take advantage of our Resource Room

Steps to selecting a study abroad program:There are literally hundreds of study abroad programs available to MSUM students, and sifting through them to find the program that's best for you may seem like a daunting task.However, if you can come up with answers to some or all of the following questions, the process will go much smoother:

• Where do you want to go?
• You don't necessarily have to pick the exact school you want to study at, or even the specific country.But if you can narrow your choices down to a handful of countries or a continent, you're well on the way to weeding out the programs that aren't right for you.
• When do you want to go?
• The term you're looking to study abroad may play an important part in which programs are available.If you plan well in advance, almost all programs will still be open.On the other hand, if you decide in April that you'd like to study abroad the following Fall, many programs may have passed the application deadline.
• How long do you want to be gone?
• Study abroad programs can last from as long as an entire calendar year to as short as 1 week, and everything in between.
• Do you need an English language program?
• Just because you can't speak French doesn't mean you can't study abroad in France - it just means there will be fewer options available to you.  The same is true of any other non-English speaking country.  English-language programs are available in many countries where English is not the official language.
• What academic subject(s) would you like to study?
• Study abroad can be the perfect time to explore special interests you may have.If you've always been curious about Russian literature, study abroad in Russia would be an excellent way to develop this interest.If you've taken 4 semesters of Spanish and want to put it to use, study abroad is the perfect setting.Similarly, study abroad is a perfect chance to learn a new language.However, if you're looking to take courses that will transfer back home to fill certain graduation requirements here at MSUM, a little extra planning may be required to find a program to fill your needs.
• How much support do you want?How much cultural interaction?
• Some study abroad programs are single-student exchanges, offering full immersion in the host culture.Such programs are both very challenging and very rewarding.Other programs offer plenty of support and guidance, but may not offer as much cultural interaction with students from the host country, as classes and living arrangements may be with other American students.While neither format is "right," deciding which design is best for you is important to finding the most satisfying experience.
• How important is cost / financial aid?
• Study abroad programs can range greatly in cost.Shorter summer programs might cost only a few hundred or a couple thousand dollars, while more expensive programs can reach well over $20,000 per semester.Also, many scholarships are available for certain programs, but not for others.While you can easily find a rewarding study abroad program at the same price a semester at MSUM costs, more options are available at higher prices.