Study Abroad

See the world and earn academic credit at the same time? Studying abroad takes 'transforming hearts and minds to serve the world' to the next level.

Take your education for a trip around the world and back again! Have you ever imagined traveling to Ireland, Australia, France, Italy, China, Spain, Costa Rica, or beyond? These days, it is more and more common for students from all majors to spend a semester, or even a year, studying in another country. You can do this!

Expand Your World

Time spent living and studying abroad leads to personal and professional growth. You’ll gain valuable skills like adaptability, self-confidence, patience, cultural awareness, problem-solving, observation, and you’ll make new friends. Expanding your world view and your awareness of global issues enhances your perspective immeasurably. You’ll become more motivated, independent, willing to embrace challenges, and able to handle diverse situations.

Studying abroad with Rivier vastly improved the way I connect with others and understand different perspectives. Plus, I became immersed in the local culture and learned so much about myself along the way. Rivier’s smooth planning process and personal guidance made everything simple. The hardest part was saying goodbye to my host country at the end of the semester.

Let Us Guide You

  • Are you eligible? You must be in good academic and disciplinary standing to participate in study abroad programs. You’ll need at least a GPA of 2.8.
  • How do you get started? Our programs are diverse and distinct; it takes a little time to determine which one is the best fit for you and your goals. Consider these things first:
    • Research different locations. Where do you want to go most?
    • Attend a study abroad information session. Hear from students who have participated already.
    • Talk to your academic advisor, faculty advisor, or a Global Engagement team member.
    • Apply for a passport early. You will need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months with two open pages. Some countries will not allow you to enter the country if your passport is set to expire within 120 days or when you expect to return from abroad. This is something you will want to take care of right away.
  • When should you go? About three-quarters of students who study abroad do so in their junior year. We recommend that you wait until at least your sophomore year so you can fully experience a year at Rivier before leaving to study elsewhere.
  • Can you afford to study abroad? There is financial aid support for study abroad trips. Our Office of Financial Aid can guide you.
  • Will you get academic credit? All Rivier study abroad trips require a full-time credit load. We will help you work through the details, including which degree requirements will be met by credits earned through your study abroad program.
  • Do you have to study a language? While studying a language in the country where it is spoken is the best way to acquire fluency, it is not necessary to learn a new language to study abroad. There are many programs in English-speaking countries, and it is possible to take courses in English in a number of non-English-speaking countries. The important thing is exposure to a new culture. And remember: even if you go to an English-speaking country, you may still have communication challenges due to accents and dialects!

Our Study Abroad Providers

Contact

Office of Global Engagement