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Final Up to date on February 24, 2023 by AIFS Overseas
How lengthy must you research overseas – for a full educational yr, a semester, summer time or only a few weeks? It’s a tricky query. In any case, finding out overseas is an enormous dedication. However worry not! On this weblog put up, we’ll show you how to navigate this difficult query and determine the very best program period in your distinctive wants.
Let’s dive into your program choices and ideas for deciding how lengthy you need to research overseas:
Summer time Examine Overseas
3 weeks – 12 weeks lengthy (varies by program)
Lots of our summer time research overseas packages supply programs over a number of periods, so you may determine while you need to go overseas or mix periods for an extended journey. Plenty of college students who’re tremendous busy with actions or sports activities at their faculty wish to go overseas in the course of the summer time, so that they don’t really feel like they’re lacking out on something in the course of the common faculty yr.
Perks:
- Shorter packages will be budget-friendly
- There are many Examine + Journey packages in the course of the summer time so you may go to a number of worldwide cities over the course of about three weeks
- Customise your time overseas – go for one brief session or mix periods for an extended journey
- You gained’t miss any time on your private home campus
- It’s a terrific time to spice up your resume with a summer time internship
Potential drawbacks:
- Is likely to be vacationer season, relying in your program location

Semester-Lengthy Examine Overseas
3-4 months lengthy on common (varies by program)
Learning overseas for the fall or spring semester is nice since you actually get to sink your enamel into the expertise. You may take a full course load, get to know locals and others in your program, and actually modify to dwelling there. However, longer packages usually value extra, and it’s a must to decide to being away from dwelling for some time.
BONUS: Desire a tremendous immersive expertise? Examine overseas for a full educational yr!
Perks:
- Actually get to know your program location and its tradition
- Presumably extra scholarship and monetary help alternatives
- Extra time for journey and weekend journeys when you’re overseas
- You are able to do a full-time internship overseas or add a part-time internship to your research overseas expertise with a Examine + Internship program.
Potential drawbacks:
- Longer packages = normally costlier
- You would possibly cope with a contact of homesickness

January Time period Examine Overseas
About 2-3 weeks lengthy (varies by program)
In case you’re unsure about being away from dwelling for too lengthy, you need to take into account finding out overseas throughout winter break. January Time period packages (also called J-Time period, winter session, intersession or winter time period packages) are fairly superior as a result of you may discover totally different elements of the world, find out about new cultures, and get a style of the research overseas expertise. It’s like dipping your toes within the water earlier than taking the plunge!
Perks:
- Decrease program value
- Use your winter break to rack up credit
- Much less time to get homesick
- You gained’t miss any time on campus
- (Most likely) keep away from peak vacationer season
Potential drawbacks:
- Much less time to get to know your host metropolis
- Most likely not sufficient time for important language studying

So… how lengthy ought to you research overseas?
The reply finally will depend on your targets and preferences. If you wish to acquire worldwide expertise with out lacking a full semester of lessons at your private home college, a summer time program could also be the very best match for you. If you wish to totally immerse your self in a brand new tradition and acquire a deeper understanding of a topic, a semester or educational yr program would be the method to go. And for those who’re in search of a budget-friendly research overseas program that gained’t disrupt your common schedule, take into account a January time period program.
Issues to think about:
- Monetary scenario: value of program and availability of scholarships/grants.
- Your targets. Are you in search of a extremely immersive expertise? Does a sure program suit your educational or profession targets completely? Do you simply desire a style of what finding out overseas is like?
- Your degree of consolation being away from dwelling.
Right here’s the factor – irrespective of which choice you select, going overseas is usually a life-changing expertise that can broaden your horizons and show you how to develop each personally and professionally. So, take the leap and discover the world!

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