The deadline for most fall 2023 study abroad programs has been extended to Wednesday, Feb. 22. The Office of Experiential Learning and Immersion Vanderbilt encourages students to consider the many benefits of studying abroad in the fall—including early registration for the spring semester before their on-campus peers, greater course availability and less competition for popular programs, great weather in international locations, and more.
The advantages of studying abroad during the fall semester are widespread, explained junior Dina Cui, who studied in Japan in fall 2022.
“It was much easier for me to register for spring classes due to the priority for students abroad,” said Cui, a psychology major. “I was also able to get better housing since there are so many openings in the spring.”
According to Vanderbilt study abroad advisers, trends nationwide can mean less competition and increased likelihood that students gain acceptance into their top choice programs in the fall. Spain, Denmark, Italy and Australia are among the most popular program locations for Vanderbilt students.
Cui also noted that the weather is often much more pleasant in the fall, particularly for countries in the northern hemisphere, describing the feeling of “extended summer” during her time in Japan.
For Class of 2024 civil engineering major Megan Higgins, fall courses at University College Dublin fit well with her degree requirements and expanded her academic expertise.
“Most engineering classes in Ireland use the tutorial method, where instead of giving problem sets as homework, you work through problems in groups,” Higgins said. “Adjusting to a different academic system also helped me to come back to Vanderbilt with better time management skills and a new perspective.”
Many students also take the opportunity to study abroad to satisfy the immersive experience component for their Immersion Vanderbilt degree requirement. Cui participated in a service activity through her program in Japan, assisting with private English lessons in the community.
“I want to work with children in the future, possibly as a child psychologist, so I found it fascinating to see some of the differences between Japanese children and Japanese young adults who were close to my own age, as well as between older Japanese adults,” Cui said. “I gained invaluable firsthand experience into some of the ways culture holds influence over human thought and behavior.”
Learn more and apply for fall 2023 study abroad programs by Wednesday, Feb. 22, at vanderbilt.edu/geo