A summer spent abroad:

Where you can go and why you can afford it

[Comment Below]

By Joshua Davidson

Students spend their summers in many different ways each year – whether it be working to save up drinking money for the next semester, going back home and being a bum, taking summer school or traveling abroad with one of LSU’s 19 programs.

Many follow the misconception that studying abroad for the summer is expensive, but it is really quite affordable. Students are able to apply for additional financial aid to cover the programs and, in some cases, use TOPS as if it was a normal semester at LSU.

The summer study abroad programs at LSU range in price, costing an average of about $3,500 per trip. This cost usually includes insurance overseas and sometimes food and field trips; however, it does not include the cost of airfare and a passport.

Some of the more popular programs offered feature trips to Ireland, Paris, Spain, Italy and London while some of the less frequently traveled trips include ones to Thailand, Mexico, the French Alps, and a Swahili Safari in Tanzania.

Altogether, nearly 400 students studied abroad last summer. Paris had the most students travelers with 49 while Tanzania had the fewest with seven.

Aside from the curriculum offered, which in most cases consists of classes specialized to the region traveled, the three to five week affair gives students the opportunity to emerge into a culture far away from home and to gain a more in-depth understanding of the country traveled. LSU in Paris, for example, renders art classes as well as a trip to the famous Louvre Museum.

“We don’t just lock the students in a classroom while over there,” replies Dr. Harald Leder, the academic programs abroad interim director. “Students get to experience the country and learn much about the use of public transportation.”

Along with heading the program, Dr. Leder is also the head faculty member of LSU in Germany, a study abroad program offered over the summer.

Another misconceptions about studying abroad over the summer is that there is a requirement to know the language of the country. Unlike the International Exchange Program, where students must take 16 hours of a country’s language in order to attend, the summer study abroad program has no such agenda.

“There’s no set guideline by the instructors of the summer abroad programs of how their program works,” says Dr. Leder.

In fact, each program is designed differently by the faculty member that is running it. Some are more expensive than others in overall cost; some programs feature more traveling and sightseeing than others.

According to Dr. Leder, the best time to travel abroad is during the sophomore or junior year because juniors and sophomores seem to have more flexibility in their schedules than freshmen and seniors. However, there are some exceptions.

Of the students that study abroad during the summer, Dr. Leder predicts that nearly 98 percent enjoy their time away. Of that 98 percent, roughly 25 percent of students study abroad or in another state for a semester or a year.

“I think that the semester and year long programs abroad, and also our National Student Exchange program, offer exciting opportunities that are actually more affordable than the summer programs,” says Dr. Leder. “A semester abroad or at another university costs about as much as a semester at LSU or even less. The only additional cost really is a plane ticket you need to go where you intend to study.”

Students are able to apply for a $1,000 scholarship for the summer abroad program, a $2,000 scholarship for a semester, or a $3,000 scholarship for a full year. The only real specification to apply is to have a 2.75 GPA for a summer abroad student or a 3.0 GPA for a semester or year long abroad student.

“I’m really looking forward to traveling to Germany this summer,” says LSU sophomore Pam Forest. “The cost was pretty affordable, and I’m a big history buff when it comes to Germany.”

Like the other countries offered in the program, LSU in Germany offers students a chance to see historical World War II museums and other famous places while overseas. Aside from German courses, the instructors also offer History 2075 and History 4130.

“The programs really are more than what meets the eye,” says former abroad student Chris Langford. “I had an absolute blast when I went to London two years ago. There’s so much to do there, and the whole trip leaves you wanting so much more.”

On January 28, there will be one last LSU Study Abroad Fair and Photo Exhibition in the Design Building from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. There will be vendors from all of the different countries as well as people from the Office of Student Aid and Scholarships. Others in attendance include representatives from the U.S. State Department Passport Services and the University of New Orleans International Programs.

The deadline for applying for a summer abroad with LSU is February 27. There is no application fee, but there is a $500 deposit. For those planning on taking summer school already, it might be time to mix it up a little and go the extra mile (or three thousand) and learn a bit about another country at the same time.

Originally Published: Issue 750 - January 14, 2009

Share on Facebook

Back to the top