Information in this article, originally published Jan. 14, 2024, has been corrected. The name and nature of the NC State European Center in Prague were initially incorrect.
In the 2022-23 school year, 1,577 students went abroad, the most popular destinations being Prague, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and France. The Study Abroad office at NC State hopes to send nearly 2,000 students abroad by the 2030-31 year with the goal of empowering students and giving them a broad view of the world.
With over $500,000 offered in scholarships and expert advising, studying abroad is now more accessible to students than ever.
However, studying abroad can still be intimidating, especially for those unsure of pricing, where to go or how long to go for. The Study Abroad office provides a step-by-step guide on its website, giving students access to resources and information on passports, program types and transfer credit guides. Students can start the process by talking with their academic advisor early on — planning ahead is key.
Mansir Petrie is the assistant director of Study Abroad Advising and directs exchange and abroad programs with the University. He has a passion for travel and is a strong advocate for studying abroad.
“There’s a lot of personal growth that happens, you know, the cliche, ‘Go outside of your comfort zone,’” Petrie said. “There’s a wide variety of programs, and each of those programs offer different benefits.”
NC State offers short-term group programs, such as spring break or summer sessions, which are led by a professor. Semester-long programs are more student-oriented. What students choose depends on what they want out of the program, whether it is a focus on academics, destination or cost.
Because the financial aspect of studying abroad is a common concern among students, the program has advisors dedicated to walking students through the process of paying for their time abroad.
“Essentially, our office is all about making sure that study abroad is seen as a part of one’s experience,” Petrie said. “I think in the 21st century, it’s so clear that that just needs to be a part of the experience. So we try to demystify it, clarify it and make sure it works with the individual academic plans for each student.”
NC State has an overseas facility called the NC State European Center in Prague, which students pay tuition and receive credits for the same as they would for a semester in Raleigh. Other programs may be direct enrollment, meaning students pay tuition directly to the institution they are studying with.
The transfer credit database is a key resource when deciding where to travel because certain universities have a more applicable course catalog for particular paths of study. The database allows those considering studying abroad to see classes students have taken before that they were able to transfer over.
Additionally, if there are courses that students are unsure about, academic advisors are able to look over the syllabus and confirm if they will transfer. Some classes are pre-approved by the University, while others may need to go through an approval process within the student’s individual college.
Tessa Bowers, a second-year studying political science, studied abroad at Oxford in England this past summer.
“It was the first time crossing the pond, if you will, and I mean, I did it [the] summer after my freshman year, so I still felt pretty young and like I’ve never done a huge trip by myself,” Bowers said. “For me, it was more comfortable to be able to make friends. You have aspects and chances of doing things by yourself, but also if you want to do things with friends, there’s that support system and structure.”
The study abroad program’s mission is for students to view the world through a global lens by having a wide range of experiences. Studying abroad is linked to higher academic success during and after the experience and encourages students to interact with people of different backgrounds and cultures.
“I would encourage people to think a little bit beyond just their major, just their professional goals and think of study abroad as, really, an opportunity, maybe the best opportunity you’ll have,” Petrie said. “You know, you’re personally more flexible, and you don’t have family ties as much. This is the time to really explore yourself and possibly develop new interests.”
The Study Abroad office is located on the third floor of Holmes Hall and offers walk-in advising Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m.
