Study Abroad

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Maybe you’re really excited about taking your Johnson University education abroad and learning while surrounded by different people, cultures, and environments. Or maybe that’s a daunting prospect, but one that you’d like to explore. No matter how you’re feeling right now, you may be wondering how to go about this process. Here’s a four-step process that will lead you from this moment right now up until you’re on the way to your study abroad destination.

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As a Johnson student, you have lots of options for where, how, and when you’d like to study abroad. In order to start thinking through those options, here’s a few suggestions
- Think about your goals. What are you hoping to get out of study abroad? Is there a particular part of the world you’d like to spend some time in? Do you want to learn another language as part of your experience?
- Start planning about six months before traveling. When would you like to go abroad? Preparing to study abroad takes a little more time than registering for a new semester of classes. Given registration deadlines and other pre-departure requirements (more information below), you’ll want to start planning to go abroad a full semester before you actually want to go—especially if you don’t already have a passport. In other words, if you hope to study abroad in Fall 2025, you’ll want to start the process by the beginning of Spring 2025.
- Explore our study abroad programs. On the Explore Programs page, you can see an up-to-date listing of all our study abroad opportunities, including costs and important dates. Start investigating to see what’s out there!
Once you’ve begun thinking through some of your options, you’ll need to connect with two key university personnel involved in your academic journey. This may also be a good time to talk with your existing support networks.
- Complete the initial interest form to initiate a conversation with the Study Abroad Coordinator. The Study Abroad Coordinator will work with you on completing all the things you need to do before going abroad.
- Meet with your academic advisor. While the Study Abroad Coordinator will work with you on many of the “big picture” tasks related to studying abroad, your academic advisor knows your program and degree requirements the best. You’ll want to make sure they know about your plans to study abroad so together you can see how it’ll affect your course scheduling. Don’t worry—in most cases, studying abroad does not affect your graduation timeline!
- Consider looping in your existing support network, such as family or close friends. You can check out our Family & Friends page for some information that may be helpful in those conversations, such as answers to common questions like, “Is studying abroad safe?”
In many cases, study abroad costs about the same as studying on campus in Tennessee. Tuition is often comparable (or even cheaper), and you trade on-campus expenses (such as the dining hall and dorms) for overseas food, living, and travel.

Still, different study abroad locations have different costs (which you can find on the Explore Programs page) and every student’s financial aid situation is different. Check out the Financial Aid & Scholarships page for more information.
All students planning to study abroad are required to complete an online Pre-Departure Course the semester before going abroad. Through that course, you’ll begin preparing for your experience of learning in another environment, as well as complete all the necessary logistics like getting a passport and/or visa, immunizations, and registering for your classes.

If you’d like to get a sneak peek at some of what you’ll encounter in the Pre-Departure Course, check out our Pre-Departure Resources.

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