The International Experience
"Study abroad was more than becoming a part of the Spanish culture, or even a global citizen. It was about becoming me. We all go to college to become something, and in the meantime, we become ourselves."
- Lindsey Armistead, Honors Student,
UNCG Exchange Student in Spain, Spring 2008
The cornerstone of Lloyd International Honors College's International Honors program is an international experience, which empowers you to better understand yourself and others through a comparison of cultural values and ways of life. That's why an international experience is required for Honors students in the International Honors Program and is highly recommended for other Honors students.
From an employer's or graduate school's perspective, a student who has studied abroad is self-motivated, independent, willing to embrace challenges, and able to cope with diverse problems and situations. Your experience living and studying in a foreign country, negotiating another culture, and acquiring another language will make you stand out from your peers.
Honors students at UNCG complete their International Experience in a variety of ways, but most typical - and most cost-effective - is participation on an exchange program with one of UNCG's exchange partners. For these programs (at over 90 locations at last count), the tuition a student pays to UNCG is the tuition that is paid to the host institution abroad. And in most cases, the cost of housing and food is comparable to dormitory and food plan costs at UNCG. So, with careful planning, the cost of study abroad should not differ significantly from the cost of attending UNCG. And Lloyd International Honors College students receive an ADDITIONAL travel grant to defray expenses! The Honors travel grant, available to Honors students in good standing, is currently $1300. Qualified students can also apply for external funding such as the Boren and Gilman Scholarships sponsored by the Institute for International Education.
When to head out for your international experience? Almost any semester or year at UNCG is possible! Honors students go through preparation for study abroad in your first semester at UNCG, since the sooner you begin planning your semester or year abroad, the better the experience can be integrated into your college plans.
From 2006-2009 LIHC students studied abroad in:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, China, The Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, & the United Kingdom
Useful links:
UNCG's International Programs Center
Boren Scholarships
Gilman Scholarships
Fulbright Foundation