Students can earn credit abroad

By Kelly Lucas
Summer Reporter

Moving away from home and starting college may be a major step, but every year numerous Purdue students make an even bigger step.

This year over 400 students studied abroad and the number keeps growing each year, according to Kathleen Fairfax, director of the Study Abroad program.

The Study Abroad Office has over 131 study abroad programs in over 40 countries. Programs are offered for every major for the academic year, semester or summer.

"Most students who go abroad say it was an eye opening experience that changed their lives," said Fairfax. "The benefits the students gain on a personal level are tremendous."

Although the Study Abroad office offers a number of fall and spring semester study abroad programs, Fairfax said the summer programs are the most popular. Purdue has summer Study Abroad programs in Oxford, Cambridge, and London, England; Florence, Italy; Galway, Ireland; Madrid, Spain and Martinique, French West Indies.

Fairfax said approximately 55 to 60 percent of all study abroad participants take part in one of the summer programs.

For the summer programs, the student pays Purdue tuition plus a program fee. Fairfax said the program fee covers group excursions to various sights around the country.

Students who participate in the summer program are required to take two courses while abroad. Students are also responsible for buying an airline ticket.

Student exchanges over the semester cost just Purdue tuition. However, tuition for co-sponsored programs are somewhat higher and vary according to which study abroad program the student chooses.

Fairfax said the cost of room, board, and general living expenses are roughly comparable to what a student would pay while living at Purdue.

"There is a study abroad program for every budget," said Fairfax.

Fairfax said students can study abroad at any time in their academic career after they have finished their freshman year at Purdue. All grades and credits earned abroad are transferable, she said.

Fairfax said the benefits of studying abroad are tremendous and encourages all students to study abroad.

"We're hearing more and more that it is making a huge difference if Study Abroad is on a students resume," said Fairfax. "Employers recognize what students gain — intuition, sophistication, open-mindedness — and, therefore, the student becomes more marketable. I don't think students are aware of how Study Abroad can impact them after college.