Department of Political and Global Affairs
Study Abroad
Political & Global Affairs students are highly encouraged to study abroad, and some of them are even required to do so! Studying abroad is a unique experience that allows you to live in another country and immerse yourself into a foreign culture, practice a foreign language (if applicable), and gain valuable intercultural skills.
Fortunately, MTSU has excellent resources to help students study abroad. You can go for short or long term sessions and find single classes abroad for your major/minor areas of interest or do an entire semester or year of academic study. Some students may wish to do work experience abroad or an internship.
Importantly, MTSU has ample study abroad scholarships and help to apply for external funding. Our PGA students have a great track record of winning national scholarships to help fund travels abroad. You can scroll to the bottom of the page to see more of visit Study Abroad’s website.
Are you a MTSU student interested in studying abroad? Great! You can visit MTSU’s Office of Education Abroad to learn about the options open to you. The friendly, helpful staff in Study Abroad can be found Jones Hall, which is near PGA’s home in Peck Hall. The staff – Paige Brake and Megan Richard – can help you with your questions. In the meanwhile, you can visit their Getting Started page or read below for more information.
Study Abroad News & Updates – Spring 2025
What is study abroad?
“Study abroad” can mean several different things depending on what type of program you choose; however, the core mission is the same throughout: study abroad places a student in another country to live and learn. Sometimes for a short term over a holiday break, sometimes for an entire academic year. Some students choose to go with MTSU Faculty-Led Study Abroad, and some will choose external partners for foreign exchange enrollment. It all depends on your personal needs, where you want to go, what you study, and what is open to you!
Types of Programs: You can visit MTSU’s Office of Education Abroad’s program search portal to see what’s open to you. Just a few examples of upcoming programs include exchange programs to Glasgow Caledonian University, Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat Mainz-Germersheim, Northumbria University, Universite de Caen, and University of Salford. There are many more options and locations to choose from!
MTSU Faculty-Led Signature Programs: There are numerous Faculty-Led programs every year. You can find them by going to the Study Abroad portal and selecting Featured Programs, then scroll and look for MTSU Signature Program label.
- Global Studies faculty often take students abroad in faculty-led programs. In Summer 2025, Dr. Francis Koti will take students abroad to Tanzania. This trip will be in May – June 2025. You can find all the information you need about this opportunity on the study abroad program page.
- Scholarships Available
- Commitment Scholarship
- Education Abroad Scholarship
- Media Scholarship
- Africa Education Abroad Scholarship
- Course Credit: Culture, Environment and Globalization in Tanzania. The undergraduate course credit satisfies general elective requirements for Global Studies and Human Geography majors and minors and most majors and minors at MTSU.
- Scholarships Available
How can I fund study abroad?
Great question! You can visit here to learn about MTSU study abroad scholarships and here for financial aid.
MTSU Study Abroad Scholarships include: Office of Education Abroad Scholarship, Commitment Scholarship, Media Scholarship, several Honors College scholarships, and several College of Liberal Arts scholarships. All info can be found here.
Some program partners provide scholarships. All information can be found here.
You can also read below for a listing of PGA Study Abroad funding opportunities with requirements.
External scholarships are also huge for study abroad. Some are entire programs in and of themselves, and some are funding you can use toward a program sourced through MTSU’s office. All are listed here. Some of particular importance to PGA students are as follows:
- Boren Scholarship – up to $20,000, world critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented. Contact laura.clippard@mtsu.edu if you’re interested in applying.
- Bridging Scholarship – Undergraduate students interested in studying abroad in Japan.
- Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship – For undergraduate or graduate students interested in formulating, representing, and implementing U.S. foreign policy. This could be used as education abroad independent study or as a non-affiliated study abroad program. Please ask the Office of Education Abroad for more information.
- Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) – Undergraduate or graduate students. Fully-funded overseas summer language & cultural immersion programs. Not for course credits, but still a great experience.
- Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program – Designed for current students or those who recently graduated, for internships, volunteer work, or teaching abroad after graduation. Students from these backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply: economically disadvantaged, ethnic & racially diverse, first generation, LGBTQ+, students with disabilities, and students of faith.
- First Trip Scholarship – For students who have never been outside the United States for specific locations (listed on their website)
- Freeman-Asia Scholarship – Asian countries only, student must have little to no experience with the country where she/she plans to study
- Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) – Up to $5,000, program must be 4 weeks or longer
- Gilman Scholarship – Federal Pell Grant recipients, up to $5,000, recommended for students who have been historically underrepresented in education abroad
- Critical Need Language Award (CNLA) (up to an additional $3,000) is a supplemental scholarship added onto the Gilman Scholarship if the student completes the CNLA essay.
- Automatic consideration for funding from Gilman’s Global Partners if program selected is in France, New Zealand, Portugal, Wales, or Israel.
- Gilman-McCain Scholarship – $5,000 award, for undergraduate child dependents of active duty service members
- Critical Need Language Award (CNLA) (up to an additional $3,000) is a supplemental scholarship added onto the Gilman-McCain Scholarship if the student completes the CNLA essay.
- Scott’s Cheap Flights Scholarship – $1,000 award
- Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship – GPA minimum 3.75, do not need to be a member of Phi Kappa Phi to apply
- U.S. Department of State, USA Study Abroad – Website lists a variety of study abroad scholarships and related opportunities
Students who study abroad may also be interested in the following opportunity after graduation:
- For students who are graduating (or who have graduated)
- Not study abroad but an opportunity to go abroad post-graduation
- Grants for individually designed study/research or English teaching assistant abroad
- Apply at least one year in advance
- Contact Laura Clippard in the Honors College
Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program (JET)
- Each year, the Japanese government selects over 1,000 recent college graduates for paid positions teaching at schools throughout Japan. Previous Japanese study, while preferred, is not a requirement.
- Need to be a US citizen, have a bachelor’s degree, all majors welcome. Above all, an interest in both teaching and Japan!
How can I apply?
Go visit the MTSU Study Abroad Office in Jones Hall! Click here for info.
Walk-in Advising Hours – No appointment necessary!
Walk-In Advising regarding general study abroad questions and faculty-led short-term programs is available during the semesters with Megan Richard on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
For direct provider program (short-term or semester/year) or exchange programs (semester/year), walk-in advising with Paige Brake is on Tuesdays from 2:00-4:00 pm and Wednesdays 10:00 am-12:00 pm.
It’s very important to start as early as possible to find the right program for you and to make sure that you can fit it into your degree plan, your personal life, and to get all the resources/financial aid available to you.
Scholarship Deadlines
Office of Education Abroad Scholarship deadlines vary.
Please see the individual scholarship application pages for more details.
Contact Us
We can be reached at pga@mtsu.edu or you may visit this page to learn how to apply today!
Our social media accounts are under the handle @mtsupga. You can follow us for daily updates and news.