Studying abroad as a graduate student can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Opportunities to conduct research, gain work experience through an internship, or enroll in unique course offerings can contribute meaningfully to your educational and career aspirations. However, the opportunities open to graduate students are limited compared to undergraduates, so it's important to plan ahead and take initiative.
Follow these steps to find a program that matches your personal and curricular needs and fulfills your goals.
Talk with Your Adviser & Department
- Tell your academic adviser about your interest in including an international component in your degree program. Advisers can supervise independent projects, provide professional contacts, and approve courses to fulfill degree requirements.
- Determine your goals and priorities for study abroad in consultation with your adviser. This may affect the model, length, and location of the program that you choose.
- Contact the Director of Graduate Studies in your department to discuss registration and credit arrangement options to remain in status while abroad. Failure to maintain your UofM student status may impact your financial aid and insurance options. All credit and status arrangements are managed by your academic department.
Explore Your Options
- Use the Learning Abroad Center program search and filter your options to find programs that will best fit you. Under Student Year, select Graduate Students to view programs that are open to graduate students. Some but not all of those programs listed offer graduate credit.
- Ask UofM colleges and departments about their short-term programs abroad. Many colleges offer short-term programs abroad taught by UofM faculty. Program offerings may change each year. Check with the sponsoring department about eligibility, coursework, dates, and fees.
- Consider non-credit options if you do not plan to earn credits toward your degree. Non-credit options abroad can include teaching, internships, volunteering, research, or language study. These options may provide more flexibility in cost, timeframe, and program features.
Find Funding
- Check if you can use any federal financial aid you receive for organized programs or directed study credits. For more information on how to use your financial aid for your program abroad, contact One Stop at 612.624.1111.
- Research funding options specifically for graduate students. You can learn about grants, scholarships, and fellowships for UofM graduate students going abroad from the Learning Abroad Center and the Global Programs & Strategy Alliance.
- Use scholarship databases to broaden your search. The Learning Abroad Center's External Study Abroad Scholarship Search includes more than 250 study abroad scholarships. Many additional scholarships are available on external databases such as UCLA's GRAPES database and StudyAbroad.com.
Apply for Programs & Scholarships
Allow yourself plenty of time to complete program and scholarship applications or to make the necessary professional contacts to secure your own placement. Application deadlines range from three months to one year before the program start date.
Follow Required University of Minnesota Policy
- Travel to countries on the State Department Travel Warning List require special approval. UofM ITRAAC (The International Travel Risk Assessment and Advisory Committee) approval is required for activities abroad involving credit, use of University funds (financial aid, scholarships etc.), to fulfill degree requirements, or on an activity led by a University faculty/staff on behalf of the University. Note that approval takes 6-8 weeks so you are advised to apply early. Travel warning updates occur regularly and students should consult the State Department Travel Warning List frequently. Popular locations that have a State Department Travel Warning include; Israel, Kenya, and Mexico.
- International insurance coverage is mandatory for students engaging in activities abroad involving credit, use of University funds (financial aid, scholarships etc.), to fulfill degree requirements, or on an activity led by a University faculty/staff on behalf of the University, as stipulated by University of Minnesota policy. To see details of the coverage, visit the international travel, health, and security insurance web page. To read the University of Minnesota policy, go to the University of Minnesota policy web page. Note that the University of Minnesota also requires students maintain their US health insurance whenever enrolled, including while learning abroad. Visit the website here.
Graduate Degrees Abroad
Exploring graduate degrees abroad may be an exciting opportunity for you, particularly if you had an undergraduate experience abroad and want to go abroad again for a longer duration. There are many benefits to pursuing a graduate degree abroad, but it is important to consider all factors before committing to a program.
Increasing options for graduate degrees abroad
- There are a growing number of graduate programs in English. In Europe alone, universities offer over 6,000 master's programs taught partially or entirely in English. Countries around the world are increasing the number of English-taught graduate degrees offered to international students.
- There are many graduate degree databases available. Search for program options online using an online database, such as MastersPortal.eu or MasterStudies.com. Many countries also offer online resources specifically for international students to find graduate degree programs at their universities.
Benefits of earning a graduate degree abroad
- Obtaining a graduate degree abroad can be less expensive than in the US, and in some cases it is free. Some countries offer additional funding for international students earning a graduate degree (e.g., DAAD in Germany, MASA in Israel). Additionally, some countries offer free healthcare, so paying for a private plan is not necessary.
- Access to unique academic resources--such as professors, research opportunities, and primary sources at a specific university or in a specific city/region--can offer you significant advantages.
- Opportunities after graduation, such as employment or residency, can be more easily obtained in a foreign country if you have earned a graduate degree there. If your goal is to work or live abroad, the connections you make while completing your degree can be valuable.
- Program durations may be shorter than those of equivalent US programs. Many master's programs may take as little as one year when you enroll full time.
- Some countries allow students enrolled in a degree program to work part time, such as Australia and the United Kingdom. However, visa restrictions in many countries do not allow you to work while studying, so make sure to review all visa policies before looking for work.
- Some schools abroad accept US federal financial aid. Visit the FAFSA website to search schools with federal school codes.
Considerations before committing
- Some degrees earned abroad may not be recognized by professionals in the US or may not be considered equal to graduate degrees obtained at US institutions. Check with faculty and industry contacts in your field to make sure your degree abroad will be recognized and beneficial to your long-term goals.
- Logistics of applications and course registrations may be complicated, and the institution may offer limited support. Be prepared to navigate the application and matriculation process independently.
- The academic style of the program may be different than what you expect from that of a US program, which tends to be based more on coursework. Research program requirements and course syllabi to understand and assess whether your workload will be manageable.
- Navigating a new location and culture may be difficult, especially when you are also managing graduate courses. Consider how you might handle homesickness, language barriers, and the challenges of living in a new culture.