Catching Flights and Credit Hours: Study Abroad Opportunities for Online Students
The flexibility of online degree programs allows students to complete classwork from their living rooms or halfway across the world. Students who pursue an online degree from Georgia State University enjoy not only this flexibility, but also the opportunity to experience international learning.
Georgia State’s Study Abroad Programs are available to all students – regardless of their in-person or online degree status. A team of dedicated and experienced staff members in the Study Abroad office support students and the faculty that lead these learning opportunities.
Aug. 31 is World Distance Learning Day, a holiday that highlights and embraces learning and education that takes place outside of the physical classroom. Today, we’re taking a closer look at our Study Abroad Office and the opportunities available to online students who want to take a leap – or flight – to learn in a different country.
An international perspective
With more than 100 programs on five different continents, Georgia State gives students a wide variety of programs to choose from. Undergraduate and graduate-level programs are available, with each student able to earn credit hours for courses offered in each program.
Students can travel to Italy to learn Italian and humanities or Buenos Aires to explore the teaching of English as a foreign language. Copenhagen hosts students learning positive psychology, while the British Virgin Islands allow the exploration of STEM topics. Programs like the Engaging Contemporary South African Literature are even available online.
For students looking for more than just a Maymester or week-long experience, Georgia State offers exchange programs with other institutions. Business students are able to enroll in classes with the Toulouse Business School in Toulouse, France, to take courses from an institution recognized as one of the top 1% of business schools in the world. Partner institutions allow GSU students to take courses in Germany, South Korea, Morocco, Martinique and elsewhere across the world.
Finding the perfect locale
GSU’s online database makes it easy to learn about programs and save them for future reference. Each program has its own page, providing an overview along with details on itinerary, costs, course information, health & safety information and a program contact. The database’s interactive cost sheet function allows students to tabulate total costs for the trip, including tuition and other fees.
Students can sort opportunities by sponsoring school or location, and an advanced search feature allows individuals to filter options based on lodging, course credit level, term and more. The online database also provides short student stories and testimonials, and PantherTales holds a collection of study abroad stories, a series of fellow students sharing their international experiences and project work that provides context for interested students.
How to get involved
Students interested in studying abroad are encouraged to make an appointment with a peer advisor and check their eligibility for certain programs. Study abroad advisors are also available to answer questions that arise during the process.
After speaking with advisors, it’s time to apply. Note the type of application that your program requires, as some have strict deadline requirements, while others have rolling applications.
Financial aid is available to students who are interested in studying abroad. Georgia State offers a number of scholarships, including the International Education Fee (IEF) Scholarship and International Access Scholarship (IAS), and several GSU departments provide scholarships to students. Students have access to external scholarships and fellowships to fund their studies, while current financial aid can be used to cover costs. More information on financial aid and how it can be used is available from Financial Aid Advisors.