Studies & Degrees in Study Abroad Programs
Study Abroad Programs Study Programs
A study abroad programme is a period of study in another country that counts towards the degree a student is taking at home. The student stays enrolled at the home university, follows courses abroad for a few weeks, a term or a full year, and brings the credits back.
Programmes are run by universities, by exchange schemes such as Erasmus+, and by independent providers that organise courses, housing and support for students from many universities.
Programme types and duration
Boston University Study Abroad, one of the organisations in this directory, describes several formats in its own offer:
- Study centres. Classes are held at a centre run by the home university, whose staff on site are responsible for the academic programme, housing, internship placements and student services.
- Direct enrolment and exchange. The student enrols at a partner university abroad and takes its regular courses, with support from the host university's staff.
- Partner programmes. A partner organisation delivers the academic and social programme and normally organises the housing.
Length ranges from a short summer term to a full academic year. At ALBA Study Abroad in Barcelona, for example, students enrol for one quarter or semester, or for consecutive quarters up to a full year, and receive US university credit through Portland State University. Hamilton College Academic Year in Spain, in Madrid, combines small classes with the option of enrolling directly in the Madrid university system. Its participants sign a pledge to speak only Spanish, and the programme is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Within Erasmus+, the exchange programme of the European Union, a long-term study period lasts from 2 to 12 months and a short-term mobility between 5 and 30 days. The maximum is 12 months abroad within one study cycle. There is no central application form: students apply through the international or Erasmus+ office of their own university.
Credits, costs and housing
The first thing to check is whether the credits will count at home. Under Erasmus+ the student signs a learning agreement with the sending and the receiving institution before leaving. Afterwards the sending institution must recognise the credits, using ECTS credits or an equivalent system, and count them towards the degree. Erasmus+ students are exempt from fees for tuition, registration and examinations at the receiving institution. The grant is a contribution to travel and daily living costs, not full funding.
On a provider or university-run programme the student pays a programme fee, and the credit is issued by a university that the home institution has to accept. Students should have their courses approved by their own study abroad office before they enrol. Housing is usually arranged by the programme. At Spanish Studies Abroad in Seville, for instance, students choose between a local host family and a student residence.
Where to study
The directory lists 56 schools and organisations for this subject: 42 in the United States, 9 in Spain, 3 in the United Kingdom, and one each in France and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Examples in Spain are the Instituto Franklin-UAH at the Universidad de Alcalá, which reports 600 international students per year, Spanish Studies Abroad and Centro MundoLengua in Seville, and ALBA Study Abroad in Barcelona.
Europe is the main destination for students from the United States. According to NAFSA, 298,180 US students studied abroad for credit in the 2023-24 academic year. Of these, 64.1% went to Europe, and 48.5% studied in just five countries: Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
Programmes in Spain are taught in Spanish, in English or in both. ALBA Study Abroad states that its professors teach in English, while Hamilton College Academic Year in Spain works in Spanish only.
Students from outside the European Union should look at visa rules early. The Consulate General of Spain in Miami states that US citizens, and other nationals who do not need a visa to enter Spain, do not need a study visa for study stays of less than 90 days. Longer programmes require one, and applications are submitted in person. The consular fee listed is $160 for US citizens and $94 for other nationalities (page checked on 8 October 2026).
What it adds to a degree
A study abroad programme is not a qualification in itself, and there are no official employment statistics for it. The European Commission names better communication, language and intercultural skills among the reasons to go, together with soft skills that employers value. Work experience is often part of the programme: Boston University states that 66% of its study abroad students intern while abroad, and an Erasmus+ study period can be combined with a traineeship.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a study abroad programme last?
From a few weeks in summer to a full academic year.
Do the credits count towards my degree?
They do if your home university agrees to it in advance. Erasmus+ uses a learning agreement that obliges the sending institution to recognise the credits.
Do I need a visa to study abroad in Spain?
According to the Consulate General of Spain in Miami, US citizens do not need a study visa for study stays of less than 90 days. Longer stays require a study visa, which is applied for in person before travelling.
Do I have to speak the local language?
Not always. Some programmes in Spain teach in English, while others, such as Hamilton College Academic Year in Spain, require students to speak only Spanish.