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Going into the summer, it is easy to not even want to think about working and only absorbing the sunny rays of the warmer months. Some students stay in Ann Arbor and take summer classes while others go home and work or get internships. Another common option is taking a study abroad course through the university. It is an option that may get overlooked, but is an incredible opportunity for students to experience a new culture as well as learn from other institutions.

In each college at the University of Michigan, there are multiple abroad options that one can apply to. Most commonly, students pick programs from the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) because of the vast amount of destinations they offer. The LSA courses are much easier to match with one's schedule due to the fact that you can complete some of your core requirements, including courses that work with your language requirement. In general, taking summer courses is also a great opportunity to create more room in your schedule so that you don’t have to take 18 credits every fall and winter semester. An additional perk of going abroad is that you get a totally new experience in a setting outside of Ann Arbor.

Different schools and colleges also offer courses that focus more on specific areas of study as well as majors. For example, the School of Nursing offers programs that go to Copenhagen, Denmark and India, Ghana, and Liberia. These opportunities give nursing students a chance to learn more about how to care for people and health and nursing as a whole. This experience gives nursing students a great opportunity to go abroad because they do not have the room in their schedules to go abroad during the school year like most students. Similarly, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning provides opportunities with their spring semester travel courses that give students in every grade level the opportunity to go abroad. These courses vary depending on the instructor and how they plan the course layout. This spring 2024 semester, there were options like going to Rome to learn about fascist architecture or participating in community engagement in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

As you can see, there are many incredible opportunities for students to learn abroad in the summer, but of course this does come at a cost. The university recognizes this and with that, each school and college provides multiple scholarships that can help aid in one's travel. Some of these scholarships require students to apply while others do not. Scholarships vary from college to college within the University of Michigan.

U-M has a multitude of opportunities abroad that can help students expand their horizons. I know many people who have said that their summer abroad experience with the university and their respective college gave them a new aspect of their education and a greater understanding of the culture and area they were immersed in. These programs are very well recognized and are highly recommended for students. I hope this post helps you decide what you would like to do for your summers after your first year.