Study Abroad Interest Sessions

The First Step to Education Abroad!

Education Abroad

Application Process

There are five main steps in the study abroad application process. Click each tab below to learn more!

Step 1: Interest Session

Winter Break 2025-2026 Interest Sessions

  • Tuesday, March 4, 2:00pm - 3:00pm, Culp 219 & Zoom - Register here
  • Wednesday, March 26, 11:30am - 12:30pm, Culp 219 & Zoom - Register here
  • Thursday, April 10, 11:30am - 12:30pm, Culp 219 & Zoom - Register here
  • Monday, April 21, 2:00pm - 3:00pm, Culp 219 & Zoom - Register here
  • Thursday, May 22, 11:30am - 12:30pm, Zoom - Register here
  • Wednesday, June 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm, Zoom - Register here
  • Friday, July 18, 11:30am - 12:30pm, Zoom - Register here
  • Tuesday, August 5, 2:00pm - 3:00pm, Zoom - Register here

Spring 2026 Interest Sessions

  • Monday, March 10, 1:00pm - 2:00pm, Culp 303 & Zoom - Register here
  • Wednesday, March 26, 12:30pm - 1:30pm, Culp 303 & Zoom - Register here
  • Thursday, April 10, 2:00pm - 3:00pm, Culp 219 & Zoom - Register here

Financial Aid & Scholarships Info Sessions

Not sure where to start with exploring funding options for studying abroad? Interested in learning more about the ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship? Join one of our Zoom info sessions for an overview of financial aid and scholarships. Sessions are usually recorded for those who cannot attend.

  • More sessions coming soon!

Location- or Program-Specific Interest Sessions

Already know where you want to go but aren't sure about program options in that location? Know which program you're interested in but need to learn how to apply? These interest sessions are catered to specific locations or programs and may feature program representatives.

  • University of the West of Scotland - March 12, 10am - 11am, Zoom - Register here
    • This session will fulfill the interest session requirement. Students who attend this session will not need to attend a general Spring 2026 interest session.
  • University of Agder Digital Open Day - March 25, 9am - 10am, Zoom

ETSU Faculty-Led Info Sessions

ETSU faculty leaders for Spring Break, Summer Break, or Winter Break programs abroad may have their own interest sessions during the preceding semester. Email the program's faculty leader for more information.

Interest Session FAQs

  • What will I learn during an interest session?
    • Eligibility requirements
    • Program options & locations
    • Program cost information
    • Financial aid & scholarships information
    • More details about the application process
    • Meet your study abroad advisor
    • Meet Study Abroad Ambassadors
    • And more!
  • Who needs to attend an interest session?
    • Most students are required to attend an interest session.

    • If you are planning to attend an ETSU faculty-led program, you are not required to attend an interest session and should contact the program's faculty leader for information.
    • Current Study Abroad Ambassadors are not required to attend an interest session if they plan to study abroad again.

  • None of the interest sessions work with my schedule. What should I do?
    • We know you're busy, and that's okay! If you're not able to attend any of our scheduled interest sessions, please email studyabroad@etsu.edu.
    • We can provide alternate instructions for fulfilling the interest session requirement.

Please note: If fewer than 3 students have registered for an interest session, the session may be canceled via email 24 hours in advance.

Step 2: Reflect & Explore

Programs

We offer a wide variety of programs, including semester, short-term, direct enrollment, exchange, and partner organization programs. Click HERE to find out more!

Reflect on your goals

  • Location
    • Where do I want to go? What do I want to see? Are there study abroad programs available in that location?
    • How far do I want to step outside of my comfort zone?
    • What kind of environmental climate am I looking for? (hot, cold, rainy, snowy, etc.)
    • What kind of social & cultural climate and I looking for? (more conservative, more liberal, more religious, more social, more accepting, more diverse, etc.)
    • Would I feel comfortable living in a location where English is not the primary language? Do I want to go somewhere to practice my language and communication skills?
    • Would I rather be in an urban or rural location?
    • What types of transportation options do I feel comfortable taking? What types of transportation options are available in my desired location?
    • Do I want to travel to other locations and countries while abroad, or would I rather stay in one location?
    • What types of housing would I prefer? (single room, private bathroom, dorm-style housing, shared apartment, roommate(s), on-campus, off-campus, LGBTQ+ friendly, single gender, co-ed, international students only, etc.)
    • What kind of independence level would I prefer? (group vs. independent)
    • What kind of campus activities, clubs, and opportunities am I interested in?
    • What are my personal preferences regarding health & safety? (distance to nearest hospital, prevalence of any disease, ease of accessing healthcare, crime rate, laws & law enforcement, risk of natural disasters, social unrest & protests, etc.)
    • Does my desired location require a visa? Am I comfortable going through the visa process?
    • Does my desired location relate to my personal, professional, and academic goals?
  • Courses & Academics

    • What kind of courses do I want to take abroad? (gen-eds, electives, major courses, minor courses, courses outside my program of study)


    • What subject areas do I want to take abroad?
      In what languages would I be able to take courses?


    • What courses are left in my degree works?

    • What courses do I need to take to graduate?

    • Are there any special requirements for the courses in my degree works? (Some courses are required to be taken at ETSU, some courses must be taken during a certain semester/year/sequence, etc.)

    • What kind of experiences do I want to have abroad? (taking courses, internships, field placement, research, clinical rotation, service learning, mission work, etc.)

    • Am I comfortable going through the visa process?

    • Do the courses I want to take abroad lend themselves to any certain location?

    • Do I want to participate in an internship or service-learning program abroad? How does this relate to my personal, professional, and academic goals?

  • Timing
    • When do I want to study abroad? (spring semester, spring break, summer break, fall semester, winter break, academic year, calendar year)
    • How long do I want to be abroad?
    • What obligations do I have at home or on campus that I wouldn't want to miss?
    • When do I plan to graduate? Will that impact when I study abroad?
  • Funding
    • What is the overall cost I would feel comfortable paying for my study abroad program?
    • What is the cost of living in my desired location?
    • What kind of lifestyle do I want to live abroad? (more indulgent than in the US, similar to how I live in the US, less indulgent than in the US)
    • Do I want to use financial aid to help pay for my program abroad? What do I need to do in order to use my financial aid abroad?
    • Do I plan to apply for scholarships to help pay for my program abroad? What are the requirements for these scholarships? When are the deadlines?
    • How much of my personal funds would I feel comfortable using to help pay for my program abroad?
    • Would I feel comfortable fundraising for my study abroad program?
  • Eligibility
    • Does my GPA meet the minimum requirements for this program?
    • Does my class standing meet the minimum requirement for this program?
    • Does my program require any course prerequisites? Have I taken them?
    • Does my program require a certain level of language skills?
    • Does my host country require a visa?

Eligibility Requirements

  • GPA
    The Education Abroad Office does not have a GPA requirement because we don't want to put any unnecessary roadblocks in your way. Instead, we use the GPA requirement determined by each program. We are here to help you, not judge you, and we can help you find a program that will meet your needs even if your GPA is not as high as you would like.
  • Good Academic Standing
    All students must be in good academic standing in order to participate in a study abroad program. During the application process, students give permission to the University to review their disciplinary records and transcript. If you have questions about how this may impact your application, please email studyabroad@etsu.edu. 
  • Semester Requirement

    Short-term programs (summer break, winter break, and spring break)

    • You must attend at least 1 semester at ETSU before participating in a short-term study abroad program. This semester must be immediately prior to studying abroad.
    • You do not have to have completed 1 semester at the time of application as long as you will have completed 1 semester at ETSU before studying abroad.

    Long-term programs (fall or spring semester, academic or calendar year)

    • You must attend at least 2 semesters at ETSU before participating in a long-term study abroad program. These semesters must be immediately prior to studying abroad.
    • You do not have to have completed 2 semesters at the time of application as long as you will have completed 2 semesters at ETSU before studying abroad.
  • Language Requirements
    Most programs have no minimum language requirements, although language classes may be required while abroad. Speakers of all proficiency levels are welcome to apply!
  • ETSU Faculty-Led Programs
    Eligibility requirements may vary for ETSU faculty-led programs. Please contact the program's faculty leader for more information.

 

Advising

We recommend meeting with your academic advisor, financial aid advisor, and a study abroad advisor before applying.

  • Academic Advisor
    Your academic advisor can help you look at classes you need to take for your major/minor and which class subjects/levels would be ideal to take abroad.
  • Financial Aid Advisor

    Lisa Baumer is the study abroad financial aid advisor. She can help you determine which financial aid and scholarships can be used to help pay for your study abroad program. You can schedule a meeting with Lisa by selecting "Study Abroad Appt" from the drop-down box HERE.

    Find out more information about financial aid HERE.

  • Study Abroad Advisor

    Courtney Lucas is the advisor for short-term study abroad programs that take place during summer break, winter break, and spring break.

    Kamala Frazier is the advisor for long-term study abroad programs that take place during the spring or fall semester and for year-long programs.

    To schedule a meeting with a study abroad advisor, please email Courtney or Kamala directly, or email studyabroad@etsu.edu.

    Please attend an interest session prior to scheduling a meeting with a study abroad advisor.

Step 3: Apply

Bucs Abroad Application

ALL students planning to study abroad are required to submit an application in the Bucs Abroad portal. This includes faculty-led programs, exchange programs, and direct enrollment programs. 

You must apply through the Bucs Abroad portal before applying on your program or university website. You can complete the secondary application after your Bucs Abroad application has been approved.

Bucs Abroad Login

Using the Bucs Abroad portal

  1. Click the link above and click "Go to Portal"
  2. Use your ETSU email & password to log in
    1. You may be prompted to take a program matching quiz - this is optional and can be skipped.
  3. Click "Explore Programs" to view all program offerings
  4. Click on the program you're interested in and click "Apply Now"
  5. Submit the application before the deadline

Deadlines

  • Winter Break 2025-2026
    • Application Deadline: August 15, 2025, 11:59pm
    • ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship Deadline: October 1, 2025, 11:59pm
      • The scholarship application is slated to open in September 2025.
    • Please note: These deadlines apply only to the Bucs Abroad application and the ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship application. Your program/university and other scholarships may have additional deadlines.
  • Spring Semester 2026
    • Application Deadline: April 15, 2025, 11:59pm
    • ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship Deadline: October 1, 2025, 11:59pm
      • The scholarships application is slated to open in September 2025.
    • Please note: These deadlines apply only to the Bucs Abroad application and the ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship application. Your program/university and other scholarships may have additional deadlines.
  • Spring Break 2026
    • Application Deadline: TBD
    • ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship Deadline: TBD
      • The scholarship application is slated to open approximately 1 month prior to the deadline.
    • Please note: These deadlines apply only to the Bucs Abroad application and the ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship application. Your program/university and other scholarships may have additional deadlines.
  • Summer Break 2026
    • Application Deadline: January 15, 2026, 11:59pm
    • ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship Deadline: January 15, 2026, 11:59pm
      • The scholarship application is slated to open in November 2025.
    • Please note: These deadlines apply only to the Bucs Abroad application and the ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship application. Your program/university and other scholarships may have additional deadlines.
  • Fall Semester 2026
    • Application Deadline: January 15, 2026, 11:59pm
    • ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship Deadline: April 15, 2026, 11:59pm
      • The scholarship application is slated to open in November 2025.
    • Please note: These deadlines apply only to the Bucs Abroad application and the ETSU Study Abroad Scholarship application. Your program/university and other scholarships may have additional deadlines.

Note: Deadlines for ETSU faculty-led programs may vary. Please contact your program's faculty leader for more information.

Scholarships & Funding

There are many scholarships available to help fund your study abroad experience! Many of these scholarships can stack. Most scholarships will require a separate application. You can learn more about scholarships HERE.

Many types of financial aid that you already receive can be used to help fund your study abroad experience. To schedule a meeting with Lisa Baumer, the study abroad financial aid advisor, please select "Study Abroad Appt" from the drop-down box HERE.

Step 4: Interview

ETSU Faculty-Led Programs

An interview may be required before or after applying. Please contact your program's faculty leader for more information.

Exchange & Direct Enrollment Programs

An interview is required for all exchange & direct enrollment programs. Your study abroad advisor will email you to schedule your interview after you have completed your application in the Bucs Abroad portal.

After the interview, you will be informed of either ETSU acceptance or rejection. If your application is rejected, your ETSU study abroad advisor will provide an explanation and alternate options, if available. Rejected applications are possible but rare. To give your application the best chance of approval, please follow all instructions outlined here.

Additional interviews or meetings may be required depending on your program.

Step 5: Program Requirements

Nomination

A nomination is required for all exchange programs and some direct enrollment programs. Your study abroad advisor will complete your nomination and will provide more information. You should wait to be nominated before completing the application on your program or university website. Nomination is not required for students participating in ETSU faculty-led programs.

Program Application

Most exchange and direct enrollment programs will require you to complete an application on the program's website. If you are participating in an exchange program, you should wait to apply until after you have been nominated by your ETSU study abroad advisor. A secondary application is not required for students participating in ETSU faculty-led programs.

Program Requirements

After you have applied through your study abroad university or provider, they will communicate with you directly regarding their deadlines and requirements. Your ETSU study abroad advisor will continue to communicate with you regarding ETSU deadlines and requirements. It is your responsibility to keep up with deadlines for your program, university, or provider.

 

PLEASE NOTE: ETSU may reject or withdraw applications under certain circumstances. Please click HERE for more information.