Education Study Abroad Programs

As an Education Major, you study how people learn and how to best teach visual, auditory, experiential, and other types of learners. However, teaching is best learned by practice and exposure. When you study abroad, you'll definitely encounter different types of students, teachers, classroom settings, and teaching methods and this will allow you to undergo cultural, professional, and intellectual development. Want to know how the Finns get such high test scores? Interested in why the Italian education system is such high quality? You'll get to see all of that when you study education abroad in a brand-spankin' new culture.

American classrooms are becoming incredibly diverse, serving students of different nationalities, home languages, and past experiences. Having studied abroad, you will be able to relate better to any students you might encounter, and you will have experience interacting with people from cultures separate from your own. This will surely make you a more sympathetic and open teacher. So why not get out there and learn as much as you can?

Every country has some sort of education system, so it's possible to study education in almost any corner of the world. This opens up a lot of options as you can be an international student and immerse yourself in any culture you'd like to learn more about. However, the quality of the country's education system can be an important factor when deciding your education study abroad program. You can find more information about choosing the right academic program abroad in the next tab, but here are a few popular destinations where students choose to study Education:

In the U.K., the top universities to study Education are the University of Cambridge, King’s College London, University of Edinburgh, and Nottingham. The reputation of these institutions is far-reaching, so pursuing an Education degree or taking Education courses in the U.K. is a popular option.

National University of Singapore has a well respected education department. NUS is dedicated to creating well-rounded, global citizens in the Education industry.

East Asian countries are known for having some of the best education systems in the world, and South Korea consistently tops the list. The country is 100 percent literate. The South Korean educational model is centered around year-round studies and students working hard to achieve future success.

South Africa is home to the best institutions for Education Studies in Africa, including the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. You can learn about creating curriculums, education leadership, education policy, mathematics education, and languages and literature.

If Australia is more appealing to you, check out University of Queensland and Victoria University. UQ is ranked in the top 50 universities in the world and prides itself on teaching the future generation that will affect education policies and applications within local and international populations.

Scandinavia has some of the best schools in the world, and Helsinki, the capital of Finland, often leads the pack. Schools in Finland are state-of-the-art, in large part to the importance the country places on education and the resources the government devotes to schools. Teachers in Finland also take a more rounded approach to education and look at educating the whole student, not just teaching to tests.

Education systems can vary quite a bit from country to country, so you should choose your study abroad location with this in mind. There are many places in which education is highly underdeveloped, so if you are interested in education policy and developing schooling systems, these sorts of places might be most interesting and useful to you.

On the other hand, westernized, more developed countries often have a school system similar to the United States (like Canada, Ireland, U.K.) and can give you a fresh, but still recognizable, perspective on teaching and education. Although, some countries do not really offer early education; so if this is your specialty, make sure to research accordingly.

You should definitely research whether you can do volunteer or internship projects at local schools! This gives you a unique opportunity to step outside of the theoretic realm of education and actually experience the real-world classroom in any location you head off to.

No matter where you end up, you're sure to encounter new challenges and adventures. Overcoming the barriers of language and culture with your students-- and finding ways to reach and teach them despite the obstacles--is a fantastic opportunity to grow as a teacher!

And while you're considering all your study abroad options, don't forget to keep in mind your interests outside of education. Sure, you want to be the best teacher EVER, but study abroad is the perfect time to experiment with your untapped passions. Think about taking that painting class you couldn't fit into your schedule at home, or trying out a new sport to make friends abroad! A well-rounded person makes a well-rounded teacher, so take advantage of all the possibilities study abroad has to offer!

Generally, studying education abroad for a semester or other term will cost similarly to the tuition of your home institution. Other costs will come up such as flights to and from the country, visa fees, vaccines, and other trips while in-country. However, depending on where you decide to study abroad, the cost of living (like housing) may be less than in your home country.

Although studying education abroad can get pricy, thankfully home institutions often offer major-specific scholarships. Check with the Education department at your school first, and move onto other interests, organizations, or membership groups that may offer grants or scholarships for students interested in traveling or studying abroad. Here are a few resources:

• CIEE Global Acess Initiative (GAIN) offers a scholarship for many majors, including education.
• Niche (formerly College Prowler) has a list of many scholarships for education students, and for subdivisions of education (like elementary and special education).
• Go Overseas compiled list of study abroad grants and scholarships