Illustration by Sarah Faulkner
Tessa Case – News Editor
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Have you ever dreamed of hopping on a plane and jetting off to a new country, immersing yourself in new food, cultures and lifestyles, all while pursuing your degree? UAB’s Office of Education Abroad is here to help you achieve these goals.
UAB Education Abroad offers programs in over 45 different countries, according to its website. These destinations include the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, China and many more.
Programs available include UAB exchange, faculty-led programs and third party organizations such as USAC, ISA, CIS and CIMBA Italy amongst others.
To be eligible for study abroad, an individual must be an enrolled UAB student, be at least 19 years old or have parental permission and be in good academic, disciplinary and financial standing with UAB. The website indicates that some programs have additional requirements, and typically an individual has to be at a sophomore standing, although some of faculty-led programs are open to freshmen.
A major concern for students interested in studying abroad, such as Jayde Sherron, a senior international studies major, is price. Before her trip, Sherron described how she researched and vetoed many programs based solely on price. She eventually settled on a trip with the University Studies Abroad Consortium, a partner of UAB.
“If you can afford to come to UAB, then you can afford to study abroad,” said Katy Vaugh, a senior social justice major and education abroad peer counselor. “Even if you’re coming here through whatever loans or scholarships.”
The Office of Education Abroad lists its three most affordable options as being UAB exchange, a program with USAC, or faculty-led programs. The exchange program typically has the cost of tuition, room and board is about the same as a semester at UAB, where USAC offers low prices and the program cost includes tuition, room and board as well. Faculty-led program costs often include accommodations, ground transportation, some meals and the education abroad insurance.
One such faculty-led program will be with Margaret Bond, a French professor at UAB, to Paris during the month of May. The trip is $4500 and includes airfare, a home stay, courses at the Alliance Francaise, metro and bus passes and cultural visits from areas such as the Louvre and Montmarte to lesser known areas such as Fontainebleau. Students participating in the trip will receive six credit hours.
“We have such an amazing price for this life-changing opportunity,” Bond said. “There are so many activities planned, and students should be ready to have their lives changed.”
Sherron, who stayed in Pau, France, suggests careful planning and research in order to find the best option. She began planning her study abroad trip a year in advance in order to have enough time to save money. She also credited being able to direct her scholarships and financial aid toward the cost of the program, which is an option available to all students. Most existing UAB scholarships and individual’s financial aid can be applied to fall or spring semester study abroad programs, according to the Office for Education Abroad. For non-UAB programs, a consortium agreement form will need to be filled out.
Scholarships specifically for education abroad are available also, and a list can be found on the Education Abroad’s website. They also provide a list of other UAB scholarships that can be applied toward studying away, as well as a list of external scholarships that can be used.
“Another thing I did before I left was that I asked that all my Christmas and birthday presents be money in order to help pay for the trip,” she said. Despite the price, Sherron said she didn’t have to give up any of the opportunities that she was seeking.
“Students feeling limited by their finances is understandable,” Rajesh Kana, P.h.D, said.
Kana is an associate professor and co-director of the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program who is leading a study abroad trip to India in May 2017. The cost of his trip sits at $3,444 and includes three credits of UAB tuition and fees, airfare, lodging and some meals. The program is intended to allow students to examine cross-cultural perspectives on mental health and mental illness in the context of India. Each day of the course will explore a different theme such as gender, identity and religion. The program cost also includes several field trips.
“Many students will take a look at the course fee and make a decision without inquiring further,” Kana said. “This is not the best approach. In reality, there are several sources of funding they can avail. For example, the Psychology Department has scholarships for students to support some percentage of the cost. Students can also find out from UAB fellowships offices about sources of support available.”
Cost aside, studying abroad has proven to be an invaluable experience to many students.
Shanquela Williams, a senior social work major and recipient of the Benjamin Gilman scholarship, studied abroad in Ghana. She was the only person from the South on her trip, and she felt she was able to offer a different perspective because of that.
Williams had a memorable trip and suggested that students plan ahead and research. By doing this, individuals can apply for more scholarships and research can help students deal with and adjust to culture shock appropriately.
“Success starts with renewing your mind,” she said. “Life is about growth, and I believe when you leave your comfort zone, you grow. Studying abroad was the best decision I ever made.”
Williams now serves as an Education Abroad peer counselor.
“The entire process of applying for a visa, travelling on your own, going to school in a foreign country and being immersed in a new culture is very humbling and teaches you to look at the world in an entirely new way,” Sherron said.
Her best advice to students studying abroad is to stay with a host family if at all possible, as it allows an individual to be immersed in their target culture, and typically breakfast and dinner are included.
She also suggested downloading a series of helpful travel apps, such as: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Citymapper, Booking.com, HostelWorld, Trip Advisor and AirBNB. The two most useful to her, however, were Maps.me, an offline GPS and Venmo or another cash app.
“You need Venmo,” Sherron said. “They will not split your bill. I am very serious about that, so make sure to get an app like that and always have cash on you.”
Kana suggested that students keep an open- mind and lower their expectations of what things should and should not be. He said if students are able to take that approach, then they will be to enjoy the process and reap the benefits of the course more.
Bond encouraged students to be open minded, but also not to over plan their stay and not to over pack. She also said students should research the culture, and make sure they are aware of any cultural “faux pas.”
“Students should seriously consider study abroad courses,” Kana said. “There is not a quantifiable measure to examine what you achieve from a study abroad course. However, all I can tell [them]is that this will be an invaluable experience in their life.”
