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Study Abroad
Meaningful academic engagement abroad can be a significant and transformative element to a world-class undergraduate education, no matter what your major. Studying abroad is one of the best ways to learn about the cultural, economic, political, and scientific forces that shape our world. These experiences will challenge your perspectives, expand your self-awareness, and inspire lifelong global engagement.
¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp’s Office of Global Programs offers a range of options for ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps interested in studying abroad, including semester-long and summer programs, a full term in Dungarvan, Ireland (Erie’s sister city), and many opportunities for faculty-led, course-related travel to locations across the globe. ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp also partners with internationally recognized affiliate programs for independent study abroad opportunities.
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Short-Term Study Abroad
The Faculty-Student Academic Travel (FSAT) programs offer ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps and faculty shorter-term options for study abroad at course-specific locations around the world. FSAT courses link in-class course experiences to unique travel components. Together, ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps and their professors study incredible content and travel to fascinating destinations in order to bring content to life in the world and on the ground. Programs run from 8 to 11 days. Multiple destinations are available every year, and each trip offers two to three classes to choose from. Students can earn academic credit toward their major or minor, or satisfy REACH Curriculum requirements.Ìý
In recent years, FSAT programs have taken ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps and professors to study indigenous cultures in Australia and New Zealand; art therapy in Nepal; crisis informatics in Iceland; science and martial arts as well as photography and video-making in Japan; history and criminal justice in Dublin, Galway, and Belfast; philosophy and religion in Spain, France, and Italy; theatre, psychology, and English in Italy and Greece; social work and public health in Guyana, Haiti, and Nepal; biology field experiences in Peru; and fashion studies in Italy, to name a few.
Seize the opportunity to see the world – check out the short-term FSAT opportunities and find out where your adventure is waiting!
Dungarvan, Ireland
A unique and cherished study abroad program, ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp in Ireland allows a limited number of ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps to travel alongside multiple ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp professors to the small coastal town of Dungarvan, Ireland, to live and study for a period of eight weeks each Spring Semester. Over the past 30 years, ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp has established a strong connection with Dungarvan, a thriving seaside harbor town in County Waterford. Our presence in Dungarvan and relationships with local leaders have helped foster one of the most immersive and engaging study abroad opportunities in the region.Ìý
¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp in Ireland differs from other study abroad programs because it allows ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps to spend an entire semester in a foreign country, fully immersing ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps in the culture and the community. The town of Dungarvan has warmly opened its heart to each new cohort of Lakers since the beginning of the program, even giving them a special opportunity to march in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.
While living and studying in Dungarvan, ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps are also given the opportunity on weekends to travel in small groups to other parts of Ireland and other European countries. These excursions encourage independence, as they’re given the freedom to arrange their own plans and itinerary for traveling, with the approval of the professors. During spring break, the entire group of ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps also travels to a different country with their professors. These mini excursions serve as a way for ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps to learn and broaden their horizons by experiencing different cultures and practicing independence.
Affiliated Programs
Though ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp University offers a wide selection of different trips to ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps each year, there are also a variety of study abroad programs to choose from outside the university. ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps are encouraged to select the program that best suits their needs.
As the university is determined to provide our ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps with the best options, the Office of Global Programs maintains close relationships with nine unique and diverse programs. All of these programs are well-established and internationally recognized.
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Students choose to study abroad for many reasons. Some want to see the world, others want to learn about new cultures and/or work on their language skills, while others want to build skills that are attractive to future employers. Whatever the reasons, study abroad complements academic study and is an essential part of preparing to thrive in an increasingly global 21st century world community.
Faculty-Student Academic Travel (FSAT) programs provide ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps the opportunity for a short-term, faculty-led experience abroad. Most FSAT program courses carry college credit and can fulfill a requirement in the REACH core curriculum and/or the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp’s major, depending on the program. Each course is linked to its own custom travel component that brings the classroom to life. Together, ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps and faculty travel abroad to amazing destinations to make a valuable connection between the classroom and real-world experience. These programs are great options for first-time travelers and ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps whose personal, professional, or academic situation does not allow them to be out of the country for an extended period of time.
The ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp in Ireland Program is a full-term experience that takes ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps and faculty to the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp University Ireland facility in Dungarvan, Ireland for eight weeks. If accepted, ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps take 2-3 courses onsite in Ireland, live in university-leased accommodations, and travel/study throughout Ireland and Europe as part of the program.
Independent Programs offer many options for ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps in all majors for summer, semester, and full-year study abroad. These programs are administered by "affiliates," which are approved providers (i.e. international study abroad programs such as AIFS, Global Experiences, API, CEA, CIEE, CIS, ISA, Semester at Sea, Spanish Studies Abroad).
An undergraduate with at least 30 credits who meets the minimum GPA requirement and who is not on academic program or disciplinary sanction, is eligible to apply to study abroad through the Office of Global Programs. Qualifying ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps can apply to study abroad for a full academic year, a single semester, or during the summer. There may be curricular limitations on when ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps can study abroad, and most study abroad programs have a GPA requirement of 2.5 and many require at least a 3.0.
Not only are there programs in locations where English is the primary language, many study abroad programs offer courses taught in English while providing introduction to and support for the development of a second language.
A number of the university's affiliates (i.e. international study abroad programs such as AIFS, Global Experiences, CEA, CIEE etc.) offer programs that facilitate ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps seeking to do community/service learning or completing internships. Students interested in learning more about these opportunities are encouraged to consult with staff in the Office of Global Programs at least one year prior to the targeted study abroad term.
There is no correct time to study abroad, although most ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps study abroad in either their sophomore or junior years. Freshmen are not permitted to study abroad with affiliate programs but may participate in ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp-sponsored programs such as FSAT and Ireland.
Depending on the program and/or study destination, the cost of studying abroad could be similar to tuition fees at ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp, or more expensive. Students need to consider a number of factors when calculating study abroad expenses, including what the program fee does or doesn't include (i.e. airfare, housing, meals), as well as differences in the cost of living in various locations. Programs like AIFS, API, CEA, Athena Abroad, CIEE, CIS, ISA, Semester at Sea, Spanish Studies abroad and many others offer scholarships to ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps studying abroad with their programs.
It depends on how and when a ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp wants to study abroad and on the kinds of financial aid a particular ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp might be eligible for, but typically, some part of a ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp's financial aid may be applied to study abroad.
Students need to begin planning at least two terms before they hope to study abroad! The earlier a ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp starts, the more successful the study abroad experience.
The vast majority of ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps have plenty of room to fit study abroad into their four-year curriculum plans. Moreover, there are ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp sponsored programs, such as FSAT and Ireland, that are designed specifically to meet the needs of ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps who have particularly stringent academic requirements.
Most applications are available online and/or in the Office of Global Programs. Students need to begin by meeting with a study abroad advisor to learn about the application and approval processes. Application submission processes vary widely, but ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapps can expect that they will have to submit general information, possibly an essay, an official university transcript, and one or more letters of recommendation.
Contact Us
You can also stop in to get more information during office hours.
Office Location:ÌýPreston 103 and 105Ìý
Phone:Ìý814-824-2351Ìýand 814-824-3345
Email:Ìýstudyabroad@mercyhurst.edu