Beginning Tuesday, students wishing to be international scholars will have the opportunity to explore overseas study and internship programs as well as to listen to past participants share their experiencesCari Vanderkar, associate director of the Overseas Study Program, said it is not too late for students to apply for study abroad programs that commence this winter — the Canberra, Australia program has a deadline in November. Also, Australia’s winter is our summer, she said.
Due to student requests, the University is now offering an overseas program in Ireland. Also new this year are study opportunities at universities in Taiwan and Singapore.
University senior and Overseas Study Program peer assistant Krystal Murphy spent the 2003-04 academic year studying abroad in Tampere, Finland. She lived in a renovated hotel with students whose points of origin spanned the world.
“It was fun to be around so many international students,” Murphy said. “The Finnish lifestyle is very healthy, and Finnish food is very healthy.”
In Finland, Murphy enjoyed pulla, a sweet bun; Karelian pies, a rye crust with a rice porridge inside; and glogi, a spiced warm drink similar to cider.
Murphy said she was exposed to Finland’s sauna culture. Most of the homes and the building she lived in had saunas. One Finnish winter ritual is to go from sitting in a sauna to diving into a near-frozen lake, she said.
“Any issue that you have, whether it is financial or whatever, can be worked out when it comes to study abroad,” Murphy said. “Especially for Americans, it is important to get an idea of how the rest of the world operates.”
While Murphy spent an entire year abroad, the length of overseas programs varies. Students can earn credits that apply to their major in programs as short as one month.
Students may also apply for a number of professional internships offered overseas. IE3 — international education, experience, employment — internships allow students to gain credits and professional
experience.
These internships are available in different private-sector companies, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions around the world,
according to Oregon’s IE3 Web site, ie3global.oregonstate.edu.
As for costs, Vanderkar said most forms of financial aid apply to study abroad. Students who pay out-of-state tuition may even pay less during their time overseas.
“Students who plan ahead can apply for several scholarships,” said Vanderkar.
To qualify for overseas education, students must turn in applications on time, meet grade point average requirements and fulfill requirements specific to the program, such as language proficiency. Students who satisfy these requirements then undergo a personal interview with a program coordinator.
While certain programs require fluency in a foreign language, there are programs in non-English speaking countries that require no foreign-language experience because the classes are taught in English. Some of these programs are in countries that speak languages not offered at the University.
“You can always study the language when you get there,” said Vanderkar. “You don’t have to have language to go overseas.”
“In terms of global understanding, it is so important to study overseas,” Vanderkar said. “What better time than when you are a student?”
Study abroad information sessions end Oct. 18 with a session on politics, policy and development studies abroad.
For a complete schedule of study abroad
information sessions, visit studyabroad.uoregon.edu/dates/dates.htm

Jesse Dungan is a freelance reporter
for the Daily Emerald