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You must first define your objectives and goals. Carry out a self-assessment of why you want to study abroad in the first place. Some students study abroad to learn foreign languages or academic subjects of their major. Other students travel overseas to experience other cultures or to connect with the international job market. No matter what your reasons for studying abroad might be, clearly defined objectives will help you tailor a study program to better achieve your goals. There are many opportunities available. The more extensive your research is, the better your chances of finding suitable opportunities will be. You can first start with a list of Saint Mary’s study options. Departmental postings as well as your professors who may have (past) international research experience in the field are also good resources. Once you narrow down your choices, you can view the websites of those universities for detailed information. If you are interested in Saint Mary’s study programs, you can e-mail mobility.international@smu.ca to find out the contact information of past participants who can be another great resource. Your academic advisor can review your academic record and help map out how transfer credits will fit in the course of your study. You must discuss your study plan with the academic advisor who will approve transfer credits via Letter of Permission in consultation with the appropriate academic department. When you meet with your academic advisor, take a plan of study along with detailed course descriptions, contact hours, and any other relevant information. The process could take two weeks to a month or longer. It is your responsibility to research courses offered at the host institution and to arrange the transfer of academic credit back to your Saint Mary’s degree. To find out who your academic advisor is, please visit Advice & Advising of Saint Mary's website. It is important that you plan not only for the duration of your sojourn overseas but also for the rest of your academic career at Saint Mary's. A long-term plan will be helpful in many ways: 1) prior to studying abroad you can try banking elective credits so that you can use them for taking extra courses during study abroad and 2) you can make an informed decision about what courses to take in each semester before and after your semester overseas (i.e. if you need to take extra courses in summer sessions or take courses in different semesters to complete your degree program). Why not plan for your career while thinking about your future? Students who have career goals are generally more motivated to seek out related opportunities and engage in extra curricular activities that will help build a résumé. Knowledge of the language spoken in the host country will be a tremendous help, even if English is the language of instruction at the host university. Saint Mary’s offers language courses in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. If you know the languages it will not only help you with daily communication but also with cultural understanding and with networking. If you plan to take academic courses in the language of the host country, high proficiency may be required by the host university. There is no minimum GPA to be eligible for Saint Mary’s study abroad programs, but normally an average of B- or cumulative GPA of 2.5 is expected. It is normal that students improve their grades from the second year on as the classes become more specialized and smaller in sizes, so don’t be discouraged just because your first year grades are not very good. Maintaining good grades, however, is an important part of your university career. Students who do well academically at the home university usually do well at the host university. Good grades will enhance the chance of receiving scholarships and bursaries. Many students have other commitments which may limit the time for study (i.e. part-time jobs, club activities, family, etc.). You should plan ahead and adjust the course load to a manageable level. 7. Ask for advice from professors Support and advice from your professors are essential in planning study abroad programs. When you apply for Saint Mary’s study program or bursary, letter(s) of support from your professors are imperative. Also, faculty members are often consulted in the process of confirming approval of transfer credits. Once you identify professors in the field of your interest, you should nurture a good relationship with them so that they can be your mentor and advisor throughout your academic career and beyond. Some professors have research interest overseas or are engaged in activities with international colleagues so you may hear about international opportunities for students from them firsthand. 8. Get involved in relevant extra curricular activities Extra-curricular activity is one criterion for the Saint Mary’s study abroad program, which is why a current résumé is one of the supporting documents you need to submit along with your study abroad application. A résumé will show your academic and personal interests by allowing you to showcase the kinds of activities you have been engaged in, as well as other awards and achievements. Any type of work, study, or volunteer experience will contribute to your readiness for tackling many aspects of sojourn overseas. The examples of qualities you may gain from those experiences may be teamwork skills, adaptability, cultural sensitivity, communication skills, and much more. You can view the On-Campus Opportunities for some ideas. 9. Keep up with international news The world is connected, and everything you do will have some implications on the global level. You should make it a custom to review international news on a regular basis. Knowing the world affairs is an essential step to becoming a global citizen. You can access many international newspapers on the internet. Also, some websites offer to send a news digest directly to your e-mail address daily which is a great way to keep informed. Being open-minded will help you to learn and understand other cultures. When interacting with people from different cultures, you often encounter ‘critical incidents’. Attitudes and behaviours are interpreted differently among cultures and you must first understand multi-layers of cultural contexts to make sense of events and experiences. It is not uncommon that your values and beliefs are challenged during the process to understand cultural events. Your open-mindedness will help facilitate the process and learn about other cultures in depth.
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