Study Abroad

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.

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!