According to Dr. Matthew McDonald, Director of Study Abroad since 2021, the most striking change in interest in study abroad has been the declining interest in language acquisition programs.
“In the past, most students saw study abroad exclusively as a way to become proficient in a new language,” McDonald explains. “However, over the past decade, we’ve witnessed a country-wide shift where study abroad is more focused on cultural experiences rather than language immersion.”
This trend is particularly evident in the rising popularity of the “Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford” (SCIO) summer program, which has become the institution’s most sought-after international offering despite having no language component. The surge in summer program participation coincides with a pivotal 2023 policy change that extended the university’s Global Education Opportunity (GEO) scholarship to include summer travel, previously only available for fall and spring semester programs.
“Sometimes students are a little nervous to go to places that are unfamiliar; where they don’t speak the language or where it is culturally different from where they grew up,” said Associate Professor of English and Humanities Dr. Michael Blouin. Blouin is also the Director of Honors Programs, where studying abroad can fulfill one of the two capstones needed for the program.
The shift toward shorter programs appears to be driven by both practical and financial considerations. Summer programs offer greater flexibility, allowing students to study abroad without missing an entire semester at their home institution. This is particularly beneficial for student athletes who need to maintain their scholarship eligibility and students in rigidly-structured majors, like engineering, science, and nursing.
Financial accessibility has also played a crucial role in shaping things. Since 2020, traditional, semester-long study abroad programs at Milligan have averaged $18,000, with the university providing substantial scholarship support averaging $9,125. Summer programs present an even more affordable option, with average costs of $7,700 and institutional scholarships of $5,062 since 2023.
“Federal and state aid eligibility can apply to study abroad credits if those credits apply towards their degree program,” said Director of Financial Aid Gus Morgan.
The university also considers both academic performance and financial need in their funding decisions, making international education accessible to a broader range of students.
“Being able to spend a summer in Europe or elsewhere for about $2,000 while still obtaining coursework credit is a great bargain and can fit into most people’s budget,” McDonald notes.
Despite these changes, some aspects of study abroad participation remain constant. The typical Milligan study abroad student continues to be a sophomore or junior with limited international experience, and participation spans various academic majors. While traditional language programs have declined, they haven’t disappeared entirely. McDonald cites a recent success story where a student completed a full year of French requirements through an intensive summer program, demonstrating how study abroad programs can still serve language learning goals while accommodating students’ scheduling needs.
For more information on study abroad visit:
https://www.milligan.edu/academics/study-abroad-off-campus-programs
About The Author:
Gabrielle Jones is a sophomore from Elizabethton. She is a Multimedia Journalism major and a Filmmaking minor. She is the Social Media Manager for Stampede. She enjoys horror media, reading, and film.
Pic 1: royalty free photo – Photo by Porapak Apichodilok