Where would you like to study?
St. Olaf has nearly 60 approved semester and full-year destinations for study abroad/away in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and the United States. In addition, each year we offer about 30 January Term programs led by St. Olaf faculty to U.S. and international destinations around the world.
What type of program best fits you?
There are three main types of programs:
- St. Olaf faculty-led programs (this includes January Term)
- Exchange and direct enroll programs to universities in the U.S. and abroad
- Provider programs, such as CIEE or DIS
- Hybrid programs which include providers and direct enroll universities
Do you want to study where you speak the language?
St. Olaf offers programs for students studying Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Norwegian, Russian, and Spanish. An immersion environment fosters improved language proficiency.
When is the best time for you to study abroad/away?
The most common time to study abroad/away for a semester or year is junior year. However, students also participate during second semester of sophomore year or first semester of senior year. Students study abroad/away for January Term during all four years. A few January Term programs are open to first year students. Students should check eligibility requirements for any programs of interest. First year students may apply for open January Term (programs with available space) after arriving on campus in September. About 20% of St. Olaf students study abroad/away more than once.
How much does it cost to study abroad/away?
The semester/year programs average cost is $2000-$5000 (which includes an estimate for room/board/airfare) over the cost of studying on campus. The January Term programs cost $720-$3950 for U.S. programs and $3680-$6900 for international programs. There are no application fees to study abroad/away. Studying abroad/away for a semester is the most cost-effective! Scholarships are available for all St. Olaf study abroad/away programs!
What credits can you bring back from abroad/away?
St. Olaf students who study abroad/away on St. Olaf approved programs stay on track for graduation. General Education credits and major credits from approved abroad/away programs count towards graduation. These credits do not count in the GPA unless taught by St. Olaf faculty, but they do show on the St. Olaf transcript.
When should you apply?
To study abroad/away during January of your first year, it is necessary to complete the application in September. Contact the Smith Center in Tomson 380 for information about the application process.
The application deadline for semester and year programs is typically mid to late February. Online applications are available the beginning of November after the Study Abroad/Away Fair in late October/early November.
Applications for the January Term are available in late March-early April after the Study Abroad/Away January Term Fair. The first deadline for January Term selection is in late April. Programs with available space re-open to applications in early September.
If you have questions
Each approved program has a faculty Program Advisor. The faculty member is a valuable resource about each individual program and is listed on the Smith Center website. You can also meet with a Study Abroad/Away Peer Advisor or our Advising Coordinator in the Smith Center.
The Smith Center is located in Tomson 380. Office staff is available to answer questions and assist you with choosing a program to suit your academic needs.