Students

International academic experiences help students develop the personal and professional skills required to become effective and viable global citizens in a diverse world. EIU recognizes study abroad as a fundamental component of excellence in higher education and encourages all students to take advantage of the fine opportunities available.

Learn more about Study Abroad:

  • Sign-up for an Info Session
  • Come to the Office of Study Abroad in 1207 Blair Hall
  • Call (217) 581-7267 to schedule an appointment with an advisor

Read what your peers have said about their study abroad experiences. Watch videos!

Don't let anything get in your way!

COST. You can study abroad (thru some programs) for less than it costs to live/study at EIU. In other words, you don't have to study abroad in Western Europe where the US dollar has weakened substantially against the Euro. You can use financial aid, and also apply for study abroad scholarships!

CREDIT. You can study abroad for major, minor, or general education credit, in place of academic requirements that you’d normally take on campus. The key is to start planning early enough so you can hold back on certain requirements that you know you can fulfill on your first-choice program abroad. By starting early, you'll have more program options from which to choose and more scholarship opportunities.

MAJOR. You don’t need a major to study abroad. Freshmen and Sophomores usually fulfill general education requirements through their study abroad program. Juniors and Seniors fulfill major and minor requirements. There are lots of programs for general education and some recommendations for your major or minor. Come to the Office of Study Abroad to discuss the many options.

LENGTH. You can study abroad any time from a week, to a summer, to a full semester, year, or longer. The benefit of selecting a longer program is usually the cost per week goes down and there's much more opportunity for scholarships. National scholarships tend to favor non-traditional locations and longer periods of a semester or more.

LANGUAGE. You can study abroad in English, even in countries where English isn’t spoken. You can also fulfill your foreign language requirement in any language you can take abroad (it doesn't have to be Spanish, French, or German); try Chinese, Japanese, or some other language you've always wanted to learn. This is the beauty of study abroad...you get to experience what EIU just can't offer at home.

GRADUATION. You can study abroad and graduate on time, with a richer degree and resume. We work very hard to make sure you don't lose any time towards graduation. We have a solid program advising process that helps you select the right program and stay on track with your academic and career goals. We want to see you succeed, and acquiring a study abroad experience can only help.

LIMITATIONS. You are NOT limited to EIU study abroad programs. If you don’t find something on our list that suits your needs, you can find something else and submit a quick and easy petition to our office for approval.