Why Study Abroad
Studying abroad can be an exciting and life-changing experience! You’ll have the chance to explore different cultures, deepen your learning, and make new friends, giving you a fresh perspective on the world and yourself. At Webster, education abroad is key to who we are; we help you build the intercultural communication skills essential in an increasingly connected world. Our campuses around the globe, exchange partnerships, and faculty-led programs promote ethical international engagement while enhancing your employment opportunities. Webster’s goal is to make engaged, transformative global education a meaningful and accessible option for every student. Click here to take your first steps.
Benefits of Study Abroad
Build professional skills
Studying abroad serves as a “career catalyst,” helping you develop skills that employers value such as intercultural awareness, teamwork, adaptability, independence, and problem-solving. Studying abroad might open up career options you never even considered, and you'll develop transferable skills that can enhance career progression in a wide range of fields.
Complete your degree
When you study abroad with us, you earn credits that count toward your degree. With instruction in English and consistent academic calendars, Webster University makes it especially easy to seamlessly incorporate courses from all our campuses, providing options for major, minor, and Global Citizenship requirements at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Enhance your confidence
Studying abroad can change your perspective, not just of those around you, but also of yourself! Navigating the joys and challenges of living abroad can help you become more independent, adaptable, self-reliant, and able to handle complex and ambiguous situations. Nudging yourself to get out of your comfort zone can have positive life-long effects.
Develop your worldview
Studying abroad isn’t just an opportunity to travel, it’s also an opportunity to shape how you view your place in the world. Living in another country can challenge your assumptions, and practices that once felt “normal” are suddenly viewable through new historical, political, and cultural lenses. At the end of your time abroad, you’re likely to return home not only with fond memories but also a whole new academic and personal outlook.
Learn (about) languages
Learning another language (even if you’re not very good at it!) builds empathy, patience, and respect. There are few things as empowering and rewarding as learning to communicate in a second or third language, providing insights into how idioms and everyday expressions shape how we understand one other. Even struggling to express yourself in a new language has benefits, such as fostering creative expression, cultivating humility, and enhancing respect for immigrant experiences. The joy and pride that can come from finding the right word—even just to say “hello” or “thank you”—is priceless.
Study Abroad Myths
Understanding the benefits also requires dispelling the myths. Here are a few:
Myth: Only wealthy students study abroad
Fact: Because Webster applies your home campus tuition to our other campuses and faculty-led programs, the financial aid you receive is likely to apply to your program abroad. Webster offers many ways to cut costs, from our Webster World Traveler Program covering $500-$1000 toward your flight, to our Passport Program covering application costs for first-time passport holders. There are a wide range of scholarships available through Webster dedicated just to study abroad. Don’t assume you can’t afford it; ask us for help!
Myth: You have to speak a language other than English.
Fact: While we encourage you to learn as many languages as you can, all of Webster’s campuses and faculty-led programs conduct courses in English.
Myth: Study abroad delays graduation.
Fact: Webster students who study abroad can graduate in 4 years, and some can even graduate early! Since our course catalog is the same for every Webster campus, and we have long-standing relationship with multiple international partners through our WINS program, study abroad courses can transfer with ease. In fact, many students study abroad more than once and still graduate in four years.
Myth: Students in my major cannot go abroad
Fact: Webster has a wide range of programs with various academic offerings. Even if all the classes for your major are not available outside of your home campus, every campus has courses that count toward the Global Citizenship Program (Webster's core general education program) required for your degree.
Myth: Transfer students don't have time to study abroad
Fact: As a transfer student, there are many options. You can go on short-term programs over fall or spring break, or you can do a summer abroad. With careful planning, you can even put together a term or semester that covers some requirements for your major, for your Global Citizenship Keystone class, or for a minor.
Benefits of Study Abroad
Build professional skills
Studying abroad serves as a “career catalyst,” helping you develop skills that employers value such as intercultural awareness, teamwork, adaptability, independence, and problem-solving. Studying abroad might open up career options you never even considered, and you'll develop transferable skills that can enhance career progression in a wide range of fields.
Complete your degree
When you study abroad with us, you earn credits that count toward your degree. With instruction in English and consistent academic calendars, Webster University makes it especially easy to seamlessly incorporate courses from all our campuses, providing options for major, minor, and Global Citizenship requirements at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Enhance your confidence
Studying abroad can change your perspective, not just of those around you, but also of yourself! Navigating the joys and challenges of living abroad can help you become more independent, adaptable, self-reliant, and able to handle complex and ambiguous situations. Nudging yourself to get out of your comfort zone can have positive life-long effects.
Develop your worldview
Studying abroad isn’t just an opportunity to travel, it’s also an opportunity to shape how you view your place in the world. Living in another country can challenge your assumptions, and practices that once felt “normal” are suddenly viewable through new historical, political, and cultural lenses. At the end of your time abroad, you’re likely to return home not only with fond memories but also a whole new academic and personal outlook.
Learn (about) languages
Learning another language (even if you’re not very good at it!) builds empathy, patience, and respect. There are few things as empowering and rewarding as learning to communicate in a second or third language, providing insights into how idioms and everyday expressions shape how we understand one other. Even struggling to express yourself in a new language has benefits, such as fostering creative expression, cultivating humility, and enhancing respect for immigrant experiences. The joy and pride that can come from finding the right word—even just to say “hello” or “thank you”—is priceless.
Study Abroad Myths
Understanding the benefits also requires dispelling the myths. Here are a few:
Myth: Only wealthy students study abroad
Fact: Because Webster applies your home campus tuition to our other campuses and faculty-led programs, the financial aid you receive is likely to apply to your program abroad. Webster offers many ways to cut costs, from our Webster World Traveler Program covering $500-$1000 toward your flight, to our Passport Program covering application costs for first-time passport holders. There are a wide range of scholarships available through Webster dedicated just to study abroad. Don’t assume you can’t afford it; ask us for help!
Myth: You have to speak a language other than English.
Fact: While we encourage you to learn as many languages as you can, all of Webster’s campuses and faculty-led programs conduct courses in English.
Myth: Study abroad delays graduation.
Fact: Webster students who study abroad can graduate in 4 years, and some can even graduate early! Since our course catalog is the same for every Webster campus, and we have long-standing relationship with multiple international partners through our WINS program, study abroad courses can transfer with ease. In fact, many students study abroad more than once and still graduate in four years.
Myth: Students in my major cannot go abroad
Fact: Webster has a wide range of programs with various academic offerings. Even if all the classes for your major are not available outside of your home campus, every campus has courses that count toward the Global Citizenship Program (Webster's core general education program) required for your degree.
Myth: Transfer students don't have time to study abroad
Fact: As a transfer student, there are many options. You can go on short-term programs over fall or spring break, or you can do a summer abroad. With careful planning, you can even put together a term or semester that covers some requirements for your major, for your Global Citizenship Keystone class, or for a minor.