Bethel Study Abroad Program

Bethel University was ranked 12th nationally for the 2007-2008 school year in the category of Institutions by Undergraduate Participation in Study Abroad, according to a recent Open Doors Report by the Institute of International Education. Under the category of “Institutions by Total Number of Study Abroad Students: Top 40 Master’s Institutions, Bethel ranked 36th in the nation.

Bethel’s rankings are based on the percentage of students who participate in comparison to percentages at other master’s level intuitions. The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of study abroad students by the number of graduates of that year. Bethel had 402 study abroad participants and 776 graduates, resulting in 51.8 percent of students studying abroad. These numbers do not include students who participated in domestic programs, so the number of students who participated in off-campus learning opportunities is much higher. Bethel’s has moved up in the rankings from 16th and 37th for the 2006-2007 academic year. During the 2006-2007 academic year Bethel’s percentage of students studying abroad was 44 percent.

Bethel has seen an increase in participation in both interim and semester study abroad programs. More students are coming to Bethel already having done things overseas, said Melanie Eslinger, assistant director of international studies. A lot of students chose Bethel, because they know we have a strong study abroad program.Bethel’s study abroad programs primarily collaborate with partners around the world that value higher education and emphasize commitment to Christian living. We want our students to become global citizens, world-changers, with commitment to Christian faith, said Vincent Peters, associate dean for off-campus programs. For that to be successful, we work diligently in finding curricula and study opportunities that are compatible with the academic integrity and standards of Bethel.

Even though regular tuition covers most study abroad options at Bethel, the Office of Off-Campus Programs International Studies assists students in obtaining substantial financial assistance from external sources. There are also scholarships available through various organizations that help students afford the costs of studying abroad. Bethel is one of only a few universities that allow its students to take their institutional gift aid for one semester while studying off campus without any restrictions. This is in addition to the federal, state, and other scholarships available to students.

Bethel students can travel to virtually any country in the world. Unless there is a travel warning in effect, Bethel will arrange for students to spend an interim or semester earning academic credit in a destination of their choice. Some of the countries available for study abroad include Spain, Egypt, Lithuania, Australia, Thailand, Great Britain, and Uganda.