Study Abroad

If you’re studying a language, you may be interested in studying abroad! Some degrees in World Languages and Cultures require a study abroad experience while others strongly encourage it. No matter what, we want you to succeed on a global scale. Check out your options with WLC and ISU to see where you can go!

Why study abroad?

• Improve your language skills and interpersonal communication skills. In a global society, learning to communicate effectively with colleagues, customers and clients is as important as ever. Second Language speakers have sharper reasoning skills, are more risk-averse, and they possess greater interpersonal communication skills and problem-solving skills.
• Try something that’s not possible at ISU or in the U.S. Students traveling abroad have the opportunity to work in laboratories, undertake internships in business, engineering, agriculture or education, or work in community service-learning projects abroad. Each of these meaningful experiences “on the job” sets you apart from others and can lead to a meaningful career.
• Challenge yourself! Studying abroad in another country can be difficult, but doing so in another language is even more challenging. Improve your Spanish, understand other cultures and become not only bilingual but bicultural.
• Get some perspective. Learn about traditions, ethics and morals, cultural differences, expectations, and socio-cultural points of view. These are excellent things to know not just for travel but for work abroad, too.
• Gain confidence and independence. Feel confident about traveling across the world, talking with people in different countries, and managing all sorts of situations.
• Make new connections and form lasting relationships. Meet people in your host country, new friends from ISU, connect with your professors—and keep these relationships long after graduation.

Get ahead in the job market

• Increase your paycheck and improve your employment opportunities. Did you know that students who study abroad generally increase their salary by more than 20%? And they generally have more job offers and better job opportunities. Your international experience will help you find a more fulfilling and better paid position!
• Improve your decision-making, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills. Studying abroad improves self-confidence, the ability to resolve problems and helps you think critically about important issues. These skills in turn better prepare you for the classroom or on the job.
• Go for it! Did you know that students who study abroad are better at confronting difficult or challenging situations and more likely to try and excel at new things, including working abroad or starting a business?
• Work abroad. Students who have spent a significant amount of time studying abroad are more likely to be chosen by their employer for both short-term and longer-term international assignments—even in countries whose language is different from the one the student learned!
• Business is not conducted only in English. Studies indicate that speaking a language other than English is critical in business.

Program duration

Research shows that a longer experience abroad (6 weeks or more) is the best way to achieve the aforementioned goals. A longer program abroad provides ample time to improve your language proficiency, increase your vocabulary and perfect grammatical structure. A longer study abroad also will help you get a better and higher paying job, too! At the same time, two weeks is better than nothing. We’ve got an option that will work for you!

Available scholarships

We offer a variety of different scholarships to help you – view our WLC scholarships that can help fund your experience abroad!

Our programs

In Valencia, you can bask in the sun along the Mediterranean coast while delving into Spain’s rich traditions and contemporary life. Meanwhile, Cáceres invites you to walk among ancient Roman walls and experience the unique blend of provincial charm and lively student culture. Rome provides a backdrop for discovering the engineering marvels of the ancient world, as you study at iconic sites like the Colosseum and Pompeii while savoring authentic Italian cuisine. Berlin stands at the forefront of technological innovation and artistic expression, allowing you to engage with the city’s dynamic tech scene and its profound cultural history. Each destination promises not only experiential learning, but also personal growth, creating unforgettable memories and experiences that will shape your global perspective.