For students who spend class daydreaming of far off destinations, studying abroad may be the perfect way to get an education while fulfilling dreams of exotic travel.

Finding the right fit can be a time-consuming process, but the benefits of a successful study abroad experience can be worth the time and effort. About 25 percent of University students decide to study abroad, said Kasee Laster, director of study abroad.

“The first advantage is that we believe it can help you be a better citizen for your country and the world,” Laster said. “It increases your flexibility and adaptability, and it is a great way to learn a language.”

Three avenues

The team of study abroad advisors in the Office of International Education can help students take advantage of the many types of programs offered. There are three main avenues of doing so: UGA study abroad programs, UGA exchange programs and external programs.

“UGA has 100 faculty-led study abroad options – we have programs in about 50 or 60 countries a year,” Laster said. “On top of that, we have 50 exchange partners around the world, where we trade students.”

Exchange programs are typically longer than a study abroad program, lasting a semester or a year, and usually entail greater immersion into the country.

Students can also take part in programs from any other University System of Georgia School, and the University is now a member of the South Eastern Conference Academic Consortium, which allows students to engage in programs from other SEC members and pay in-state tuition

Study abroad advisors such as Julie Escobedo and Colleen Larson help students make the right decision based on their individual needs.

“Usually students come in with an idea of either a location, or they have some academic requirements they want to fill and are looking for a program that specializes in that,” Escobedo said.

Though academic requirements are a good starting point, students should not feel restricted by major requirements.

“There are creative ways to look at your degree – you can do your electives or core credits,” Larson said.

Specific programs

One of the tried and true programs is UGA at Oxford.

“It has a lot to do with the variety of classes that they offer, as well as the structure and the academic system,” Escobedo said.

Kalpen Trivedi, director of UGA at Oxford study abroad programs, takes great pride in the nearly 20-year-old program.

“The vast majority of our courses are taught by faculty at the University of Oxford, which allows us to draw on a large pool of faculty expertise and offer a significantly greater variety of courses than is usually the case with study abroad,” Trivedi said. “The other thing to note is that we offer a comprehensive residential experience, and our students are completely integrated into college life in Oxford, which makes for a very good balance of challenging academics and varied social activity.”

To build international bridges, UGA at Oxford has joined forces with the University’s Washington semester program to offer a joint study abroad. Students will spend the month of June in Washington, D.C., and the month of July in Oxford, earning six semester hours of credit. Applications are now being accepted for summer 2010.

Another program that is growing in popularity is the study abroad in the South Pacific and Caribbean.

“They have Maymesters that go to Australia and New Zealand – they travel around a lot, and students get upper division, kind of elective credit,” Escobedo said.

But those are only two out of a plethora of options.

“We offer afternoon information sessions three times a week that are designed to acquaint you with the options and then help you narrow it down with a small group of advisors,” Laster said.

The funding

Another critical aspect to consider is money.

Traditional study abroad programs are handled with OASIS like any other class, so the HOPE scholarship and academic credits are automatic. HOPE can still be used with exchange and external programs, but students must fill out a credit approval form, which allows students to receive credits during study abroad and ensures maintained status as a University student and financial aid eligibility.

Students should also look critically at program prices and understand that the listed price of each program does not cover the same expenses.

The same concept applies when students compare the costs of a study abroad program versus an exchange program.

“Do not discount a semester program,” Larson said. An exchange program for a semester might have a bigger price tag than a shorter summer study abroad program, but students should take into account the per day cost and the amount of credits you are earning.

“So a semester exchange program may be $5,000 more than a semester at UGA, but you might pay that much for a program fee,” Larson said.

Exchange programs do not have the big package pricetag for extras – weekend excursions, sightseeing, food allowances – like a study abroad program may, so students can pick individual travel arrangements. However, the package of activities might be appealing to those who prefer more structure.

Many factors must be taken into consideration when studying abroad, but with the appropriate use of planning and resources, it can be an opportunity for any student willing to put forth the effort.