Though every full-time student at the University of Memphis pays a $15 study abroad fee every semester, only a small fraction of students actually take the opportunity to go overseas.
Volunteers at the Study Abroad fair Wednesday tried to turn that statistic around by promoting the 200 programs in 50 countries the University has to offer.
“I think the awareness of study abroad will raise this year because students are circulating among themselves and talking about the experiences they had in different countries,” political science major Khaliq Muhammad said. “Not only does it help their academic career, but their social lives and skills, too.”
Muhammad studied abroad at a college in Taiwan for a semester and now works at the study abroad office in Brister Hall.
Despite high-profile incidents like the one involving U of M student Adam Hairston, who tragically died while studying abroad in Argentina Muhammad said prospective study abroad students should not be worried about the safety factor when deciding to study in another country.
“It is a risk worth taking,” he said. “We have rules in place and if one follows those, they will be very safe.”
Every student is required to attend a study abroad orientation before they depart. There they learn about the risk factors of the country they are going to and how to eliminate them.
“You will make life-long friendships and encounter people who have interests intertwined with yours so you may advance in your career,” said Muhammad when asked about some of the benefits of going overseas.
In order to make paying for a trip abroad more reasonable, scholarships for all programs are available every term. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, a student must have a 2.75 GPA or higher. If a students GPA falls below the mark, they are still able to submit an application for consideration.
“The higher your GPA is, the higher your scholarship amount is,” Joanna Darden, Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid said.
Students can go online to the study abroad scholarship page to submit their applications.
Not only does the University have programs to send students overseas, but also hosts many international students from all over the world. According to the International Student Office, there are now over 1,000 international students on the U of M campus.
“I have family here and good friends who live in the area who asked me to come and study,” Marina DoValle, an international student from Campinas, Brazil said.
This is DoValle’s first time in the United States. She will be taking grammar and speaking courses at the University.
“I’m really surprised about the number of study abroad programs the University has to offer,” she said. “My school [in Brazil] had a few, but definitely not as many opportunities as students have here.”
