On Thursday, Sept. 13, students attended a Study Abroad Fair to learn about the study abroad opportunities Winthrop offers.
Students are able to travel to 19 different countries in Europe, South America, Australia, Asia and Africa. Faculty-led programs are also available to students who would like to study abroad for a shorter period of time.
Emma Lindenberg, a freshman integrated marketing communications major, said that the study abroad fair encouraged her to consider studying outside of the country.
“Hearing about all the different options we have was really interesting. I hadn’t really thought about studying abroad, but after seeing the places we can go, I’m definitely going to look in to it,” Lindenberg said.
Lisa Gerraty, head of international recruitment and admissions for Edge Hill University in England, said that the benefits to studying abroad are endless.
“I studied abroad 20 years ago and it’s life changing, being able to meet people from different cultures, nationalities. You make friends for life, there’s no doubt about that,” Gerraty said.
Paula Haeder, a representative from the Learning Abroad Center at University of Minnesota, said that studying abroad is a life changing opportunity for students.
“You can go into a study abroad experience one person and come out a completely different type of individual with different goals. I think it can be life changing no matter if you’re going for a couple weeks or a few days or for an academic year,” Haeder said.
Haeder also said that there are many misconceptions that students tend to have about studying abroad.
“They think that they can’t get academic credit, or it’s too expensive, or that it’s too scary, and they’re going to be alone in another country, and that’s just not the case. There are a lot of great study abroad programs that support you right from when you turn in your application right until you’re back in the United States,” Haeder said.
Winthrop-affiliated study abroad programs cost the same as Winthrop tuition which means that students are able to use their financial aid to study abroad.
Students are eligible to study abroad beginning the summer after their freshman year until the second to last semester of their senior year, because of Winthrop’s policy that students must be on campus for their final semester.
Students interested in studying abroad are required to attend a group advising session at the International Center in Dinkins 212. Sessions are on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
