Study Abroad as an Online Student

As an online student at Drexel University, Kevin Hannon knew traveling abroad was expensive and didn't consider the option a realistic goal.

"I didn't think it would be possible," says Hannon, who graduated with a bachelor's of nursing degree from the school in 2013. "I was always jealous of students who got to do it."

Then Hannon received an email from the university asking if he was interested in taking a community health course that culminated in an 11-day trip to Paraguay. During the trip, Hannon had a chance to teach illness prevention in schools and visit local health care facilities while traveling more than 1,000 miles on a bus that eventually got stuck in the mud and had to be pulled out by a tractor.

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"It gave me a completely broader perspective on how health care delivery works outside the U.S.," says Hannon, a nursing supervisor at the Brattleboro Retreat, a mental health and addiction treatment center in Vermont. "It was an amazing experience."

Studying abroad may seem like an elusive goal to online students, many of whom are already balancing work, school and family commitments. But it doesn't have to be an impossibility. Many universities, like the University of Illinois and Arizona State University, are seeing a rise in online students who are studying or traveling abroad.

Jonathan GoldbergBelle, senior director for international programs and internships at the University of Illinois, has been advising students how to study abroad for the past 30 years. He says in the past six or seven years, he's seen a definite increase in online students wanting to study abroad before they start a career.

"I'm getting more inquires year by year from online students," says GoldbergBelle. "Their first question is always, 'Can I do it?' because there is a feeling they can't do it. But there's no special hoops you've got to jump through as online students."

Studying abroad can expand an online student's horizons and help their job prospects in an increasingly global workforce, GoldbergBelle says. Unfortunately, many online students initially assume they can't afford to study abroad or that it won't fit into their academic program, but that's not the case -- at least if students work with an adviser and plan ahead, GoldbergBelle says.

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Online students worried about funding a trip overseas should understand they qualify for the same study abroad scholarships available to their on-campus counterparts. Students who are receiving a federal Pell Grant, for example, can apply for the Gilman Scholarship, a program offered through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which offers grants to undergraduate students of limited financial means for study or interning abroad. Students should also explore scholarships and financial aid for study abroad at their schools.

One of the most economical options, GoldbergBelle says, is for students to participate in an exchange program, where the tuition is the same as taking a class online. That way, the only change is the cost of living.

Many online students opt to travel during the summer, when they can take a few extra credits and study abroad, says Adam Henry, director of Arizona State University's Study Abroad Office, which saw the number of online students taking summer programs jump from 32 students in 2013 to 45 in 2014.

"What we are finding, based on feedback back from the online students, is that they are so excited to engage with other students," Henry says. "This may be the only time they have face-to-face dialogue with other students."

While many students prefer to travel during the summer, Henry cautions that if students are receiving financial assistance, it might be better to travel during the semester when their financial aid or scholarship can be used toward their study abroad program.

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"Most students don't have much left over after the fall and spring semesters, so it's harder to travel during the summer," he says.

Regardless of the type of study abroad program chosen, experts says having international travel experience can be a great career enhancer and help students build their resumes and find jobs.

"Many companies are looking for students who are creative, curious, independent thinkers who can engage in intercultural communication," Henry says. "That definitely increases when you travel and study abroad."

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Dawn Reiss is a Chicago-based freelance education reporter for U.S. News, covering online education. You can follow her on Twitter.