Despite an economic recession, an increasing number of students at the university and throughout the country are leaving the United States to study.
In the 2006 to 2007 academic year, the number of American students studying abroad increased 8.2 percent compared to the previous year, furthering a trend that has seen an increase of almost 150 percent in the past decade, according to the Open Doors 2008 report, which was published by the Institute of International Education.
The institute, a nonprofit cultural exchange organization funded in part by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, released the report Nov. 17.
The university has also noticed an increase in interest for its study abroad programs, with the largest number of students enrolled for the winter and spring semesters. In particular, Maryland-in-London, the oldest study abroad program at the university, has 60 students, which is its largest group so far, said Lisa Tenley Alton, the outreach coordinator for the Study Abroad Office.
The office has also seen more students study in non-traditional areas, such as China, Indonesia and countries in the Middle East.
Students are increasingly attracted to study-abroad programs because they are “looking for a unique educational experience,” Alton said.
The programs continue to grow at the university because students seek an “enriching” experience, she said. Students are also conscious of the effect studying abroad can have on setting them apart from peers in the competitive job market, as many companies are no longer based in just one country, she added.
“I don’t know what career I’m going toward,” said sophomore economics and geography major Vivey Chen. “But I’ll definitely stand out.”
Chen plans to study abroad in India for a three-week child and adolescent development winter course. The destination rose 24 percent between the 2005 to 2006 and the 2006 to 2007 academic years, according to the Open Doors report, and Chen said she was attracted to the program’s location more than the class.
“Europe is similar to American culture,” she said. “It’s really Western, but India’s not Western and has a really diverse culture.”
While non-European countries are becoming more popular, the number of students studying in more traditional places is also increasing, Alton said.
Sydnee Chavis, a sophomore business major who plans to spend her spring semester studying in Australia – the No. 6 destination for U.S. students studying abroad, according to the report – said she is looking forward to living in a country that offers many different experiences.
“I figure this is the only time I’ll have the ability to spend time living in another country,” Chavis said. “Australia is so far away, and there’s so much to do.”
While the current state of the economy would suggest the number of students studying abroad would go down, this belief is a misconception, Alton said. Most university-sponsored programs allow students to apply their financial aid for tuition and offer scholarships.
“Especially for out-of-state students, they could be paying less by studying abroad,” she said.
Compared to the $11,500 per semester university tuition for out-of-state students, the average tuition among the four university-sponsored sites is $9,800 per semester, according to the Study Abroad Office’s website.
Chavis said she was also impressed by the “large scope” of university functions that are “very well versed in involving students to study abroad.”
“From my experience from looking at all the programs Maryland has, there’s a huge variety for where you want to go and what you wanna get out of your study abroad experience,” Chavis said. “It was cool to realize.”
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