The Great Debate: Study Abroad Versus Internship

Blog post courtesy of USAC

Often, college students find themselves trying to balance personal, professional, and academic activities to create a fulfilling and well-rounded college experience. When it comes to outside enrichment opportunities, students frequently contemplate whether they should study abroad or participate in an internship. Are you weighing the pros and cons of each option? Keep reading!

When it comes to the study abroad versus internship debate, there are many different opinions to consider when deciding what is best for your personal growth, academics, and professional career. The benefits of studying abroad include personal development, a more worldly perspective, and sometimes, understanding a new language, all of which are attractive to employers. Yet, internships and job experience are notoriously becoming a requirement from employers everywhere. So, should you dedicate a chunk of your academic career to international education or settle into a career-benefiting internship?

A student reviews her work with an internship supervisor. Photo taken before COVID-19.

USAC’s Solution: Participate in an International Internship

That’s right! Thousands of our students have taken advantage of USAC’s unique programs that allow students to continue earning college credit while also having a professional internship that prepares them for the “real world.”

Since 1982, students have taken advantage of USAC’s study abroad programs with most offering internships as an optional add-on. More than 20 USAC program locations allow students to earn college credit while also participating in a professional internship that prepares them for the “real world,” all while living and immersing in a new culture.

While it may seem intimidating to conduct a part-time internship while also studying abroad, our programs are designed to give you an enriching and rewarding experience while also maintaining a very manageable workload. Here’s what Megan had to say about her internship experience with Nectandra Institute in San Ramón, Costa Rica:

"My experience at Nectandra Institute was much different than any other internship I have had. Working with Nectandra increased my Spanish vocabulary knowledge and elevated my speaking skills. In addition, this experience not only led me to create great connections with the knowledgeable leaders of an amazing non-profit organization but also with passionate members of local committees interested in helping with reforestation and land preservation, as well as local farmers working with the institute. Overall, this experience greatly contributed to my understanding of sustainability in the tropics and truly rounded out my undergraduate academic experience."

Intrigued? By studying abroad with USAC, you’ll have the chance to take part in a wide variety of internships. Keep in mind that while some our internships do require proficiency in another language, many of our internships are fully conducted in English and don’t require any previous work or internship experience. Keep reading to learn about the variety of internships offered.

Students conduct research in a lab. Photo taken before COVID-19.

The Two Types of USAC Internships

On-Site Internships

The on-site internship option is USAC’s most common choice for students seeking internships abroad. These three-credit internships offer hands-on experience in the field, and country, of your choice. On-site internships are perfect for students wanting to live, travel, and earn academic credit while also developing their professional skills and subsequently, boosting their resumes. With an on-site internship, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from four options.

1. General Skills Based Internships: This style of our on-site internships is perfect for students who want to receive a broad set of entry-level skills that will help them gain clarity about what they enjoy doing in a particular field, strengthen their intercultural communication abilities, while also making them attractive to potential employers. This option does not require prior knowledge or skills in a particular field, making it ideal for students who want to get their feet wet in a potential career field.
2. Discipline-Specific Internships: This option is perfect for students who know the field they want to enter. With a discipline-specific internship, students will dive deep into their chosen field, develop a strong set of industry knowledge, and gain job-specific skills through their applied practice. These internships are more competitive and often require great GPA standing, specialized skills or academic training, and (sometimes) proficiency in another language.
3. Research Internships: Tailored to students in the STEM field or other research-based fields. Students without prior lab or research experience can secure an entry-level internship that provides mentorship and supervision that introduces students to the essential practices of research theory. Students with prior research and lab experience are eligible for our advanced placement options. Our advanced placement internships still provide supervision and mentorship, but they also give the intern more autonomy and responsibility for their work. The advanced placement internships are both competitive and limited, and therefore, will have higher GPA requirements, specialized skills/academic training, and (sometimes) proficiency in another language.
4. Volunteer Internships and Community Service (Non-Credit): While these types of internships may not be accredited or give students career specific skills, they do still provide students with a life-changing experience. Students will have the opportunity to engage with the local community, develop intercultural communication and language skills, and enhance their overall study abroad experience. There are also no prerequisites for this type of internship.

Students help clean up the wilderness for “Firebreak” in Chiang Mai, Thialand. Photo taken before COVID-19.

Global Perspectives Virtual Internships

USAC's Global Perspectives Program offers virtual internships that give students the opportunity to gain all the benefits of working for an international company with the convenience of working remotely. This internship is best suited for students who want to develop a strong set of professional skills but may not be able to commit to international travel (but you can absolutely participate in a virtual internship while abroad!). Alumni of our Global Perspectives internships have gained job-ready skills that have prepared them for jobs in a variety of fields. Here’s what our alumni Tyler had to say about his experience:

"My virtual internship with USAC gave me the skills and confidence I needed to enter the digital marketing career field. After completing the internship, I found a job in the field of digital marketing, and I’ve never felt more excited or confident about my professional career!"

Students gather around a computer during a co-working session. Photo taken before COVID-19.

Internships For Every Student

By this point, you’re probably wondering if we offer an internship opportunity for your major or industry of choice. Yes, we do! USAC-arranged opportunities are available on the majority of USAC Specialty Programs in a wide range of fields, including:

• Business
• Digital marketing and social media management
• Engineering
• English language instruction
• Health and wellness
• Human resources
• Journalism
• Social welfare and social services

… and more!

Not enrolling in a Specialty Program? That’s okay! Internships arranged by the host university are also offered on the following Partnership Programs:

• Australia: Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool
• Australia: Gold Coast and Brisbane
• England: London
• Israel: Haifa
• Japan: Hiroshima
• New Zealand: Auckland, Palmerston North, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington\



Interns wear hardhats on a job site in Accra, Ghana. Photo taken before COVID-19.

Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity to allows students to develop their confidence, improve their adaptability, and enrich their education. Internships give students the chance to build relevant job skills, improve their employability, and explore a particular career path. At USAC, we have built connections with NGOs and businesses all around the world in order to help you build the foundation for a rewarding and successful career.

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Want to learn more about internship opportunities abroad? Check out our explore page to learn about different program types: https://studyabroad.uark.edu/explore/index.php

3 Skills I Developed During My Internship in Dublin #ISAabroad

Article courtesy of International Studies Abroad (ISA)

Interning in Dublin, Ireland has allowed me to grow personally and professionally while also giving me the opportunity to learn about the local culture and get a glimpse into an international organization. I was able to learn and develop multiple Career Readiness Competencies, as well as gain invaluable relationships and skills for the future.

Critical Thinking

I have developed significant growth in my critical thinking. The biggest task I got assigned to was editing the 2017 annual report. Initially, I did not know what was going to be expected of me for this project, and I was left to figure certain things out for myself (i.e. understanding who the audience was, what sort of content was being used, and how the manuscript was being formatted).

My supervisor left it up to me to fill in the blanks. If I had questions, she was more than willing to guide me, but I was doing research and reading for a good part of my first week. I was able to strengthen my critical thinking skills by using knowledge from my academic classes to work through this task.

Collaboration

I was given the opportunity to work with individuals from numerous departments in both our Ireland and United Kingdom offices. During my internship, we had a week of three different projects going that each involved individual work as well as collaboration with the different departments.

Working with the various team members on the projects taught me more about the company, my writing skills, and how to collaborate with a wide range of colleagues.

Independence

I had the opportunity to create numerous documents and presentations. My supervisor would give me a basic outline of what she was looking for, but she would let me take the reins. Tasks like this helped me to gain confidence in my work and allowed me to work independently more efficiently.

I was debating between a semester or summer abroad, and I know that picking the summer internship in Dublin was the best choice I could have made. My summer internship has taught me so many invaluable things, both personally and professionally, and I hope that others consider the benefits of interning abroad.

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Read the full article article from ISA.

Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Teach in China with CEAIE

IIE is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for Round 2 of the CEAIE Teach in China Program. Program start dates are either February or August 2019. The deadline to apply is November 7, 2018.

Teach in China is looking for recent graduates with an interest in teaching, education and/or China for 12-month teaching placements in China. Successful grantees will be placed at a Chinese school, from elementary to the university level, in locations across China. Benefits for those selected for the program include:

• Flights: Roundtrip international airfare 
• Local transportation: Airport pick-up in Beijing; the first train ticket from Beijing to program school 
• Monthly salary: comparable to Chinese teachers’ salaries 
• Visa: work visa, the visa fee incurred overseas will be reimbursed up to 2,000RMB; the visa fees incurred in China will be covered by the program school 
• Insurance: Comprehensive Medical Insurance for Foreigner and Countryman from Hong Kong and Macao no less than 2,000 RMB 
• Housing: Free accommodation, including private bedroom, living room (shared), kitchen (independent or shared; if no kitchen, then access to canteen), furniture, television, water heater, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioning and internet connection. 
• TESOL Certification: Those without TEFL/TESOL certification will be required to go through a training leading to being certified TESOL/TEFL instructors. 

The program is open to citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia between the ages of 20 and 55. Chinese work permit policy requires that these teachers be native speakers of English. Applicants should have obtained a Bachelor’s degree by the time their program begins; applicants who have TESOL certification or 2 or more years of teaching experience are highly desired.

You can view a recorded information webinar here and interested parties can email us at teachinchina@iie.org.

I'm going to Cape Town! #HogsAbroad in South Africa

Hey everyone!

Some of you know, some of you may not… but yes, you read that right, I’M GOING TO CAPE TOWN!

I started this blog because it’s the easiest way to keep everyone informed at once, so for those of who you wanted to know more information, and have told me you would like to stay informed about my experiences while I’m gone: welcome to my blog, where I will do those things!

I wanted to write this post specifically to explain my decision, why I’m going, what I’l be doing, giving more detail on what time abroad will look like, and answering the questions I’ve gotten about going to Cape Town.

Why Cape Town

Originally, I was thinking I would study abroad in the spring. Due to a random mix of factors, I started to consider that the fall might be a better option. So, one day this past spring, I made an appointment with my study abroad advisor and explained to her that I was considering the fall, but really didn’t know much more. She advised me to come back by the end of the weekend with a decision – semester, place, and program, and sent me off with a huge stack of books from external program providers to look through and decide from.Â

I spent the following weekend flipping through books, marking possibilities with sticky notes, making charts comparing dates and prices (yes everyone make fun of me), and basically pulled my hair out trying to comprehend how in the world I was supposed to decide from the endless realm of possibilities. I also had tests to study for and a big workload that weekend which made things even more exciting – especially for my roommates, God love them, who put up with my fast-paced and chaotic stress mode

One reason the program I chose stuck out to me is because it is actually an internship abroad, as opposed to a typical study abroad program. This means that I receive my school credit through interning rather than courses at a local university. I liked the idea of getting to experience the international work place through an internship.

For a while, I was leaning towards European countries, but the more I read about Cape Town, the more intrigued I was. I decided I wanted to do something a bit different and unfamiliar. Cape Town is developed, but not Westernized, which I liked the idea of. I wanted to take advantage of studying abroad as a time in my life to go somewhere and experience something I probably won’t get the chance to any other time in life. The unique and developed city excited me, and the cultural differences and experience appealed to me.Â

So, I found this program on Sunday night, and decided it could be the one. I spent all day Monday skipping classes (whoops) in order to make the necessary phone calls, get some more information to make my decision, and let my advisor know by the end of the day – Cape Town it was!

About the Program

I am studying abroad through CISAbroad, Center for International Studies (https://www.cisabroad.com). I will still be receiving credit through the University of Arkansas and maintain status as a full-time student. My program is an internship abroad, rather than a typical study abroad program. Rather than enrolling at a university, I will receive credit through my internship. So, I will be spending my days at my internship, and won’t be attending any local university.

What is my internship?
My internship is at a child and youth care center for teens, ages 13-18, that have been separated from their families due to an order mandated by the children’s court. Many of these children come from abusive situations and negative home lives. The children attend school during the day and return to the center in the afternoon. The center enrolls the children in school, provides life coaching workshops, therapy sessions, and a range of activities. The center strives to help these girls find confidence in life and teach them the skills they need to independent.

What I’ll do at my Internship

My tasks will become more defined as I spend more time there, but based on my current knowledge, my tasks will include a variety of projects. I will help with social media needs, including updates to the website and transforming their social media presence. I will also research policy – analyzing the effects of certain behaviors and what is effective in the organization, and research relevant legislation that affects organizations and NGOs in South Africa.

Living Situation
I’ll be living in an apartment with 10-12 other roommates. I am the only U.S student in the CIS South Africa Internship program, so I will be living with students who aren’t with CIS, but are interning from around the U.S and the world in Cape Town. I do not know who they are and have not met them yet.

How I’m Feeling…

My emotions are obviously a mix of excitement and nerves. As some of you had the pleasure of witnessing ;-), I went through a stage of complete nerves and anxiousness about doing this. There were some legitimate reasons that made me question altogether if I had made the wrong decision, and wondered if I needed to reconsider. I expressed my concerns to my parents and to my advisors, and step by step, after seriously rethinking my decision, I decided to keep moving forward. Everything that I was uneasy about began to come together, and I became more and more sure that I needed to go through with this. Through lots of prayer and God giving me new eyes to look at the situation, I reached a point of genuine excitement where my nerves and uneasiness were subdued. I still have moments where my mind meets reality as I reflect on the fact that I’m jumping into something so unfamiliar, unknown, and completely out of my comfort zone. Safety, not knowing a single person in all of South Africa, not knowing anyone I’m living with obviously all contribute to moments of fear; but, these moments are always followed with a strange peace, a peace that is very much not my own (because it is very much not my personality to not be stressed about this), that brings me back to the knowledge that God is on my side, with me, walking beside me. It’s easy to know that in your head, but another thing to trust in and believe in – and I’m excited that doing this will stretch me to truly walk in that truth. I’m so, so thankful to be able to do this, that God has brought me this far, and for the incredible people that have supported me, encouraged me, and prayed for me.

Side Note: Sitting in the airport right now with my dad, who is flying there with me, getting ready to board the plane. We are arriving a few day early and will have time to travel and spend a few days together before I begin my internship.

With all that being said…Off to Cape Town we go!

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Kendall, a junior Political Science major, spent the fall 2017 semester studying in South Africa through CISabroad.
Kendall is also a recipient of our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.
Read more from Kendall at https://kendallbrannon.wordpress.com/
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

International Opportunities for German Students

German majors and minors interested in working abroad, come to this info session to learn more about international opportunities! Dr. Kathleen Condray, Associate Professor of German, will discuss what you should do now to increase your chances of getting a job later.

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Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/If you need help getting started with study abroad, take a look at the first steps: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/getting-started/index.php

Meet one of our #HogsAbroad Graduate Assistants: Molly Kinder!

Hello everyone!

My name is Molly Kinder, I am a graduate student here at the U of A. I am studying Higher Education with my focus in Student Affairs. I currently work as one of the Graduate Assistants for the Office of Study Abroad and I hope to one day pursue a career in the field of Study Abroad.

I received my bachelor’s degree in Public Communication with a minor in international studies from Truman State University. I studied abroad twice while in college. I did a semester as well as a summer faculty-led program. The first time I went abroad was my sophomore year, spring of 2013. I did a program called Semester at Sea where I lived on a ship and sailed around the world to 11 different countries. That semester I got the chance to explore parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe as well as taking classes for my major and minor. This was a life changing, eye-opening experience for me. I fell in love with travel and knew I had found my passion.

I went abroad again the summer after my junior year in 2014. This time to rural Taiwan with a faculty member and 5 fellow students. I spent the summer traveling around teaching English camps to students K-12. I loved the immersive nature of this program and was able to gain a new understanding of a different country and culture.

After I graduated in 2015 I moved to California and did a year of service with AmeriCorps NCCC. In 2016 I received my TESOL certification (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and moved to Thailand where I worked as a high school English teacher. I worked for a public school in Samut Prakan, Thailand and had about 580 students.

Every time I travel I am continually amazed and awe struck by the wonder of different cultures and places. I have continued to grow, both personally and professionally through each of my trips abroad. Whether you choose to do a short-term program or a whole year abroad you will have a wonderful life changing experience. I encourage everyone to consider studying abroad because it is truly a once in life time opportunity that you will never regret.

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Come meet Molly and our peer advisors at a Hogs Abroad 101 information meeting! These hour-long sessions are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters, from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Center for World Languages, Literatures and Cultures (JBHT 207).

Engineering and German Student Awarded International Fellowship #HogsAbroad

Connor Heo, a senior mechanical engineering and German major, has been awarded a fellowship for study at the Technische Universität Darmstadt from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service) in the amount of 1800 euros.

Heo is a student in the International Engineering Program, which incorporates a year abroad to prepare engineering students for careers in the global economy and is a partnership between the College of Engineering and the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

Through the program, students spend one semester taking regular university engineering courses in German at the Technical University of Darmstadt, an institution recommended by Albert Einstein and located in a major German research and technology hub, and one semester working in a paid internship with a German company.

Please visit the International Engineering Program website for more information.

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To find out more about exchange programs, visit http://studyabroad.uark.edu/programs/exchange.
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
And, be sure to come to the Study Abroad Fair to explore your program options!

Engineering an Internship in Germany #HogsAbroad #WanderlustWednesday

Steven Sonntag outside of the BMW headquarters in Munich, Germany.

Studying abroad in Germany was always part of Steven Sonntag's plan, even before beginning as a freshman in the Honors College in 2013. However, the extent of time he would spend in the country and the varied experiences he would have there were far beyond his imagination.

Sonntag, who started at the University of Arkansas as a mechanical engineering major, has always had an interest in learning the language of his ancestors. He took German classes in high school and continued developing his language skills in German courses in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences' Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures. When he learned about the university's International Engineering Program, which allows students to earn degrees in both engineering and German, he knew it was an opportunity he had to pursue.

As part of the International Engineering Program and with the support of a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Sonntag spent the fall 2016 semester as an exchange student at the Technical University of Darmstadt. Before arriving in Germany, the U of A junior passed the Goethe-Institut B1 exam, certifying him in intermediate to advanced German language proficiency. However, he quickly learned his language ability, especially in relation to engineering terms, wasn't as good as he thought.

"My German has improved exponentially since I've been in Germany, but the first two months at the university were really difficult, because each subject has its own specific vocabulary and way of speaking," Sonntag said. "It wasn't until the third month of engineering classes that I began to feel more comfortable and understand the material being taught."

After passing his final exams, Sonntag began the second half of his experience abroad in the International Engineering Program by earning an internship at BMW's Munich headquarters. As an intern, he has conducted quality analysis of competitor car interiors, created a program that automates data collection and analysis and test driven competitor cars to check suspension, handling and dynamic performance.

"I applied for internships at several automakers, but working at BMW was always my dream," Sonntag said. "This experience has taught me that, as long as you try your hardest and put effort into the things you want, you can make them a reality."

Though being immersed in a new culture and new country has been a life-changing experience for Sonntag, it has also come with some unexpected challenges.

"When I moved from Darmstadt to Munich, I wasn't sure if I had to re-register as a resident of Munich," Sonntag said. "When I received my third pay check from BMW, I noticed I was suddenly being taxed at the country's highest tax rate. I called the tax office to find out what was going on, and they explained I was being taxed at that rate because I had been de-registered in Darmstadt and wasn't a resident of Munich yet. My only options were to pay the taxes or declare myself homeless. So, for a month and a half, I was officially considered homeless in the eyes of the German government."

The honors student is looking forward to telling that story with a laugh for years to come.

Sonntag, a native of Rogers, Arkansas, will return to the United States later this year and will resume classes at the U of A in spring 2018. He expects to graduate with both mechanical engineering and German degrees in December 2018.

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To find out more about exchange programs, visit http://studyabroad.uark.edu/programs/exchange.
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/

Funding for Work, Intern, & Research Abroad #HogsAbroad

Thinking about an internship or work abroad but need some financial help to get there? Check out this list from NAFSA of scholarships and awards for students just like you! 

• Interning abroad
• Working abroad
• Researching abroad
• Service-learning abroad

Interning Abroad

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad. To be eligible for this award, students must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant or provide proof that he/she will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of his/her study abroad program or internship.

Boren Awards, STEM Initiative
Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including countries in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East. The Boren Scholarship offers a special initiative for undergraduate STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors. Some students focus on language study, while also incorporating a STEM-related internship to their overseas plan. As a reminder, all internships should be academic in nature, unpaid, and with a non-governmental organization.

DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service
Funding for participation in summer internships or senior thesis research at German universities.  Long term scholarship are available for semester or year study abroad.

Diversity Abroad: Network Summer Scholarship
The Diversity Abroad Network "Diversity Network" will offer summer scholarships in the amount of $1,000 for full-time undergraduate (both community college and university level) students attending a member institution.

Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program
The Overseas Ambassador Program is an initiative created for current students or recent graduates who are planning to study, intern, volunteer or teach abroad. Overseas Ambassadors earn a stipend in return for representing Diversity Abroad, writing articles, and sharing experiences while abroad. Geared toward economically disadvantaged students, first-generation, students with disabilities and ethnically and racially diverse students.

Intern & Volunteer Abroad Scholarship Essay Contest
Recipients receive a $500 scholarship, which is paid directly toward the selected intern or volunteer abroad program.

Whitaker International Fellows and Scholars Program
This program sends young Biomedical Engineers, anywhere outside the U.S. or Canada for one or more of the following activities: Conducting academic or scientific research in a university or laboratory; pursuing coursework at an academic institution; or interning at a policy institute, or in an industrial or non-profit setting. Must be enrolled in a Master's or PhD program.

 

For internship and study abroad opportunities within Walton College,
visit http://walton.uark.edu/global/index.php

Working Abroad

Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program
The Overseas Ambassador Program is an initiative created for current students ore recent graduates who are planning to study, intern, volunteer or teach abroad. Overseas Ambassadors earn a stipend in return for representing Diversity Abroad, writing articles, and sharing experiences while abroad. Geared toward economically disadvantaged students, first-generation, students with disabilities and ethnically and racially diverse students.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Offers fellowships for U.S. graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad and engage in a research project for one academic year. The program also includes the English Teaching Assistant work abroad component.

For information on international teaching opportunities in Belize, Peru and Sweden, please visit http://teacher-education.uark.edu/internships.php 

 

Researching Abroad

Chateaubriand Fellowship Program
The Chateaubriand Fellowship is a grant offered by the Embassy of France in the United States. It supports outstanding Ph.D. students from American universities who wish to conduct research in France for a period ranging from 4 to 9 months.

Chinese Government Scholarships
Funding to support international students, teachers, and scholars to study and conduct research in China at various universities.

DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service
Funding for participation in summer internships or senior thesis research at German universities. Long term scholarships are available for semester or year study abroad.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Offers fellowships for U.S. graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad and engage in a research project for one academic year. The Program also includes the English Teaching Assistantwork abroad component.

ThinkSwiss Research Scholarships
ThinkSwiss Scholarships support highly motivated and qualified U.S. and Canadian undergraduate and graduate students to get a research experience at a public Swiss university or Swiss research institute for 2 to 3 months.

Whitaker International Fellows and Scholars Program
This program sends young Biomedical Engineers, anywhere outside the U.S. or Canada for one or more of the following activities: Conducting academic or scientific research in a university or laboratory; Pursuing coursework at an academic institution; or Interning at a policy institute, or in an industrial or non-profit setting. Must be enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program.

Learn about our U of A faculty-led community development options to: 

Belize: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/belize

Mozambique: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/mozambique

Vietnam: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/vietnam

Service-Learning Abroad

Boren Awards, STEM Initiative
Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The Boren Scholarships offer a special initiative for undergraduate STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors.Some students focus on language study, while also incorporating a STEM-related internship to their overseas plan. As a reminder, all internships should be academic in nature, unpaid, and with a non-governmental organization.

Chinese Government Scholarships
Funding to support international students, teachers, and scholars to study and conduct research in China at various universities.

Critical Language Scholarship Program
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a fully funded summer overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students. With the goal of broadening the base of Americans studying and mastering critical languages and building relationships between the people of the United States and other countries, CLS provides opportunities to a diverse range of students from across the United States at every level of language learning. The CLS Program is a program of the U.S.Department of State.

Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program
The Overseas Ambassador Program is an initiative created for current students or recent graduates who are planning to study, intern, volunteer or teach abroad. Overseas Ambassadors earn a stipend in return for representing Diversity Abroad, writing articles, and sharing experiences while abroad. Geared toward economically disadvantaged students, first-generation, students with disabilities and ethnic and racial diverse students.

The Fund for International Service Learning (FISL)
Scholarships in the amount of $500 to students enrolled in a semester-long international service-learning program.Recipients are selected based on their academic and professional goals and accomplishments, as well as financial need.

ScholarTrips
Six grand prize winners will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship to put towards their study abroad or volunteer program. 30 runners-up will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.

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It's never too early to start planning!

For more scholarships for study abroad, check out http://studyabroad.uark.edu/funding. 

So, What's Engineering in Darmstadt like? #HogsAbroad

The following is an informal tip file for students who are about to study in Darmstadt on the University of Arkansas exchange, written by students who are returning.  Keep in mind that these are student opinions and not endorsed by the university. 

General tips for living in Darmstadt (How to get around, things to see, etc.) 

"The main way students get around in Darmstadt is by bus, tram or walking. Mostly because those are the only modes of transportation available to you as an international student.  I would suggest trying to find a bike, because it offers a lot more freedom and gets you places as quickly as the buses do, if you peddle quickly. The main buses you should know are the H bus, and the K/KU bus, and the Tram 9. There are 2 main campuses, the city center campus and Lichtwiese. The K/KU bus and Tram 9 can get you to Lichtwiese from Luisenplatz. 

Visit and talk to Christian Tischer in Karo 5. He's in charge of American exchange students and can help you with everything. Also, ask your tutor everything. No question is stupid, and they're there to help you. 

When you apply for your visa, go ahead and request a 13-month long visa, just in case. It's the same price. 

Get your international license before coming to Germany, but have it become valid as late as possible, because you can drive with your regular American license for your first 6 months with no problem." 

--Steven Sonntag, 2017  

Taking classes / the uni (Any courses or professors you’d like to recommend?) 

"I would suggest taking multiple Deutsch-als-Fremdsprache courses after your month-long intensive course. The courses are taught similarly to the German courses at the U of A.  Engineering courses that I would suggest are VerbrennuAgskraftmaschinen taught by Dr. Beidl and perhaps Aerodynamik I with Dr. Tropea.  Dr. Beidl will give a summary of the previous lecture in English, at the beginning of the lecture. You can take both final exams in English.  

Lectures will be once a week for 3 hours.  They are hard to pay attention to, especially if they are only in German.  Your first couple months will be hard regarding following along and understand what the professor's talking about, if you take engineering classes that regular German students take. Just stay calm and google translate like crazy.  The American students from Virginia tech are very good to become friends with and take classes with. They have a huge database of stuff for classes, since they've had a partnership with TUD for many years already. " 

--Steven Sonntag, 2017 

Shopping /eating tips (Restaurants?  Handys?  Best super markets?) 

"There's the central mall, Luisencenter, which has some cool stores. The entire Luisenplatz area is full of stores, just walk up the hill towards the dome church and to the left, you gotta explore the city, so I'm not going to tell you everything, but C&A as well as H&M are very cheap stores with decent clothes. Great place to get a cheap pair of tennis shoes  if you need one.  

 You don't have to buy a new cell phone, probably. I just stuck a German SIM card into my phone and it worked. I got a SIM card from Lebara, but most of my friends got ALDI Talk, which seemed pretty good as well. You normally buy the SIM card and the buy your package of data online.  Have your tutor help you set that up.  

Regarding food, there are lots of options.  To save money, buy groceries and learn to cook.  The main grocery stores are called Rewe and ALDI; you'll probably shop at Rewe a lot more if you live in Karlshof. Aldi is the cheaper of the two, but there's always Penny and Lidl, but they're not as good. If you buy at Rewe, you save a lot of money if you buy everything JA brand. JA is like Walmart's GreatValue, but cheaper.   The Mensa (Cafeteria) at TUD is pretty good for the price. I ate there almost every day for lunch (a plate of food is about 2.50 to 4 Euros, depending on what you get. For restaurants, you also have a ton of options. 

• There's a Turkish Döner place you can eat every street corner in Darmstadt. The best one is a small hole in the wall, close to the Roßdörfer Platz stop on Tram 9.   
• Vapiano is a good Italian restaurant. 
• There are tons of good asian places and burger places. For a huge plate of Asian noodles for super cheap, go to Asia Express.  
• For pizza, go to the Hobbit. The Hobbit and Hotzenplotz are two bars that serve pizza; the pizza at Hobbit is better, but I preffered Hotzenplotz because it was a lot more comfortable, spacious, and more size options for drinks.  Those two places are also the only place you can order a Laternchen in Darmstadt, a famous drink with Apfelwein, the regional drink of Hessen. " 

--Steven Sonntag, 2017 

Bloß nicht (Things to avoid) 

"Avoid paying more than 5 euros for  Döner.  Avoid going overboard with drinking, especially when you first get here; moderation is always a good thing. " --Steven Sonntag, 2017 

Random other tips

• "Travel as much as you can during your first couple months, on the weekends, because it's the best and easiest time.  Oktoberfest starts on the 16th of September. Use goeuro.com and busradar.com.  Also, Ryanair has random super cheap flights, so keep an eye on that.   
• Go to all the events during the X-weeks, if possible; you'll make your closest friends in your first month through the x-weeks. 
• Make friends with Brazilians. I'm somewhat biased, but they were the best people to hang out with.  And the Spanish, they know how to party, but it's a little hard to infiltrate their group. 
• Explore all the cities around Hessen with castles, when you're not travelling to other countries and partying with the other international students. Your student pass allows you to travel all around Hessen for free, excluding ICE trains. Always carry a photo ID along with your student pass.  
• If you go to the sauna, know that they do full nude, mixed gender saunas in Europe. If you go to one with a group of friends without knowing, it could be a weird experience.  
• Soak up the sun at the Hochschulstadion and the Woog, before the weather gets cold.    
• The weather gets cold late September and doesn't warm up until the mid April or so.  In Darmstadt, the temperature during winter is constantly around –3C, and it drizzles a lot, so bring a good rain coat that you can wear over your sweaters and such.   
• Go to a Darmstadt 98 game.  They'll be in the 2nd division, unfortunately, but they'll still be fun to watch. 
• Go to all the little festivals around the town.  This year is going to be the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, so there will be a lot of festivals at the end of October.   
• Go to the Landesmuseum next to Karo 5.   
• Germans tend to be a little harder to become close friends with, so if you make a small handful of German friends, that aren't involved with the international student groups, you're doing pretty well. 
• There are a lot of sports and extra-curricular activities that you can get involved in. You just have to really pay attention to when you can sign up for teams and groups, because they tend to fill up pretty quickly.

There's so much to tell you, but it's better that your find out the rest for yourself.  Darmstadt is a great city, despite what all the German people say about it, and it'll become comfortable after a short time."

--Steven Sonntag, 2017

Students with an interest in expanding their international career options can enroll in the International Engineering Program — a multidisciplinary initiative between the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, through a partnership between the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures and the College of Engineering. The International Engineering Program allows students to earn both a German and an engineering or computer science degree in five years including a year spent in Germany.

Interested? Read more about the dual degree program. 

For more information about the exchange year in Germany, visit http://studyabroad.uark.edu/exchange/darmstadt