Why Go Abroad?

Studying abroad allows students the opportunity to gain new perspectives and explore a new academic and cultural environment outside of Princeton. Not only does studying abroad expose students to complex world views and challenge them academically, but it also contributes to students’ individual growth and independence as they learn to navigate the real world. Many Princeton students report that their international experience was one of the most rewarding features of their college career.

There are many benefits to integrating study abroad into your academic path at Princeton. Here are a few: 

  • Special Academic Opportunities: Take courses not offered at Princeton, have access to unique research materials, contact with foreign scholars and researchers in a particular field, conduct original research that can only be conducted on-site, and access other primary resources not available at Princeton. 
  • Foreign Language Competency: Living and studying in another language is one of the best ways to increase language fluency. Developing strong language skills through full language immersion benefits the scholarly work of all students and is a skill that is increasingly valued among all professions.
  • Enhanced Professional and Academic Opportunities: Studying abroad increases your adaptability, resourcefulness, cross-cultural understanding, and many other skills that employers value in an increasingly global workplace. Studying abroad can also set candidates apart who are applying for international and/or post-graduate fellowships, such as the Fulbright Scholarship, Critical Language Scholarship, and more. 
  • Cross-Cultural Competency: Living and studying abroad exposes students to new perspectives that allow for critical reflection and deeper understanding of themselves, their culture, and the world.