Broaden your horizons. Create valuable life memories. Have loads of fun. Those are just a few of the many benefits you can enjoy from joining a study abroad program in college.

The value of a college degree in today’s job market is undeniable when it comes to unlocking career opportunities and earnings potential. And if you want to make your college experience even more life-changing, there’s nothing like spending a semester abroad, earning credit hours as you learn and grow in another country.

From Europe to Africa to Australia, the opportunities are plentiful for art school students looking for an experience of a lifetime, with benefits to carry with you both personally and professionally for the rest of your life. Here’s a closer look at some of the biggest benefits on why you should say “yes” to studying abroad.

Expand your worldview

Open your eyes to different cultures, traditions, politics and policies. It’s one thing to read about them, it’s another to experience them for yourself, which can help you grow as an individual and become wiser.

Explore international career opportunities

The professional benefits of studying abroad are undeniable, and one of them is the potential of even working internationally after earning your fine art degree. Spending a semester in Europe or elsewhere can help add weight to that decision and network for opportunities.

Learn other languages

Studying abroad can be that motivation that you need to learn another language so you’re better adjusted when you arrive. It can also be a great way to interact with the locals and make deeper connections with others. Of course, this is another invaluable skill set that will more likely be rewarded in today’s global economy.

Forge lifelong friendships

You won’t be studying abroad alone — you’ll be with a group of other students from your college, likely students that you didn’t know before. You’ll spend so much time together learning and exploring that you may become like family. You’ll form friendships that will last a lifetime with your fellow cohorts.

Discover yourself

It’s not always easy to uproot yourself from what you know and enter a new, different environment. But this isn’t a bad thing. Studying abroad can take you on a journey of self-discovery that you likely won’t get from just going away to college.

Become a tourist in your down time

Learning abroad isn’t all about studying, books, and writing papers — there’s also a fair amount of down time for you to explore the city or country you’re in. Many programs have a couple of free days within the week, so there’s plenty of time to explore. A short plane ride or train ride can make for a worthwhile adventure.

It’s incredibly fun and exciting

Last but not least, studying abroad is the thrill of a lifetime. You’ll come away with more than just credit hours, but also life lessons, adventure stories, and memories that last forever.

Aside from the above benefits, research shows that studying abroad is often the catalyst behind a successful career, with as much as 97 percent of study abroad students finding employment within a year of graduating. Another 25 percent also tend to earn higher than average entry-level salaries.

Other proven benefits include an ability to adapt to diverse professional environments, and increased maturity and self-confidence.

Popular Study Abroad Destinations

So where are students venturing for study abroad these days? The options are truly limitless, but the most popular countries that students are traveling to for study abroad purposes today would probably be in Europe.

Especially for art and design students, the region is rich with history, culture, and art. Simply going there is an experience altogether already. So how does a7.5-week summer session in Florence, Italy sound to you? It’s just perfect, actually, especially if the curriculum includes museum visits, day excursions to other towns and painting, drawing and printmaking classes.

All in all, a study abroad program is one investment that would definitely enrich you beyond your academics. So if you do get the opportunity to join one, sign right up! And remember, have fun!

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Ready to complement your college education with an experience unlike any other? Academy of Art University offers a Summer Study Abroad Program every year, with various schools participating such as Fine Art, Illustration, and Photography.

The Study Abroad Program isn’t the only cool program offered at the Academy. We have over 40 art and design courses that you can choose from to pursue your creative dreams. The first step is to get in touch with our admissions representatives to request information.

Once you’ve been properly advised, you can send in your application to commit to your decision. Or you can do it right now, too, if you’re ready and decided. We’re looking forward to having you as part of our art school community!