Study Abroad Guidelines and Scholarships

International Studies encourages all majors to consider study abroad an essential part of their undergraduate program. The Office for Study Abroad staff is available to help students explore the myriad of study abroad programs and choose a program that most suits each student’s academic and personal goals.

To get started visit the International Studies major advising pages (MAPs); here you will find information specific to International Studies students studying abroad.

Earning Credit While Abroad
Study Abroad Student Profiles
Scholarship Information
Scholarship Application

Earning Credit While Abroad

In order to ensure that credit earned while abroad is approved, it is the student’s responsibility to complete a Study Abroad Credit Approval Form, which can be obtained from the student’s Study Abroad Advisor, and should be submitted to the International Studies program office for review.

The student should also make arrangements to submit study abroad transcripts to the Study Abroad office. More information about these procedures can be found in the on-line “Re-entry Handbook” for Study Abroad students on the Study Abroad website.

ISBA Study Abroad Student Profiles

Michelle Gin - Monteverde, Costa Rica

(Plus Pau, France; The Hague, the Netherlands; Tamil Nadu, India; and Fajara, The Gambia)

Michelle Gin in Costa Rica
Michelle Gin in Monteverde, Costa Rica

For Michelle Gin, study abroad was always part of the plan. She decided in middle school that overseas study was for her; by the time she arrived as a first-year student at Iowa, she was determined to start planning right away and not let anything hold up her study abroad dreams. Now a senior International Studies major on her fifth study abroad, Michelle credits her early planning, resolve, strong relationships with professors, and simple good fortune for all the amazing opportunities she’s had. Read more about Michelle...

Deborah Rodriguez - Rome, Italy

Deborah Rodriguez in Venice, Italy

ISBA student Deborah Rodriguez has faced everything from a devastating earthquake to an intense course load while studying abroad in Rome, Italy this semester, but all of it was worth it to gain a better sense of life on her own after college.

Samantha Baker - Christchurch, New Zealand

Samantha Baker on the Otago Peninsula on the South Island

Samantha Baker

Samantha on the Otago Peninsula on the South Island

Samantha Baker’s life changed dramatically after her grandfather’s abrupt death in 2008. “His death changed a lot of things for me and made me realize that I wasn’t fully living my life. I readjusted my own reasons for being in school and rethought the impact I wanted to have.” With a newly declared International Studies major and new resolve, Samantha set off to study abroad in New Zealand for the spring 2009 semester.

Contact Natasha Wilson Boland at natasha-boland@uiowa.edu to share about your study abroad experiences.

Scholarship Information

To provide greater opportunity for our students to study abroad, International Studies supports students with a $1,000 International Studies Study Abroad Scholarship. Students may only receive the scholarship once. In order to qualify for this scholarship, students must:

be a declared International Studies major no later than February 15th to qualify for a scholarship for the summer or fall and no later than September 15th to qualify for a scholarship for the spring semester
have earned 12 semester hours towards the major*
participate in an approved study abroad program or an academically significant internship experience abroad which grants credit towards degree and is at least six weeks in length, and
apply online by the deadline as noted on the scholarship application. Late applications will not be considered.

*If a student applies for the scholarship in the semester in which they are completing the 12 semester hours, they will receive tentative approval pending the successful completion of coursework for that semester.

Scholarship Application

Contact Information

First Name:

Last Name:

UI Email:

University ID#:

Phone:

Academic Information

International Studies Emphasis Area:

Other major(s), minor(s) or certificate(s):

Total semester hours you will have completed toward degree before going abroad:

Study Abroad Information

Study Abroad Program (Including City & Country):

Start Date of Program:

End Date of Program:

Dates of Travel:

Study Abroad Advisor:

How will this study abroad experience relate to your International Studies Major?

List course numbers, course titles and semester when completed, for each course taken for the International Studies major:

Do you plan to conduct research for your International Studies
senior project while Abroad?

Yes No

If Yes, Name of Faculty Mentor:

Will you be willing to share your study abroad experiences
with Iowa school children as part of the International Classroom
Journey (ICJ) program after you return?

Yes No