Illinois Wesleyan University holds a student population of over 1,500, as of 2023 enrollment. But according to Assistant Director of the International Office Fanny Spitsbergen, only 20 students applied for study abroad programs this semester.
Spitsbergen and Spanish Professor Carolyn Nadeau emphasized that there were many untouched opportunities to study abroad.
Lots of students don’t even consider the idea of going abroad because of financial aid concerns. Mia Alvarez ‘25 said, “It just seems too pricey.” But Nadeau said all financial aid students receive can be put towards a study abroad program, except for student-work opportunities.
There are also study abroad-specific scholarships. “One scholarship can fund a student $500 and another funds $1,000,” Nadeau said. “You may be thinking that’s not much, but $500 may cover airfare and $1,000 may cover special trips when you’re there.”
There are two scholarships of note; a $5,000 award to students currently receiving the Pell Grant and another for those looking to study in a Spanish-speaking country.
Another reason many students might not consider studying abroad is fear of cultural differences. “They’re afraid of how they’ll adjust to the culture, especially if the country they are in speaks a different language,”Spitsbergen said.
Both Nadeau and Spitsbergen agreed that you don’t need to be fluent in a second language to study abroad. But, there are also great programs in English-speaking countries like England and Ireland.
A third factor that can keep students from traveling abroad is the time commitment. Some students are busy and can’t go away for more than a month, let alone a semester or whole year. There is an answer for that too; Nadeau said that there are three-week study abroad trips offered in the May term for those students who have limited time.
So what is stopping you from considering it? There are so many possibilities. You could go to Spain, South Africa, Japan or Australia. What about Vienna, our most popular study-abroad trip? The study abroad office is also offering Hawaii as a destination in 2026, it could be so much more than just a vacation.
None of those options pique your interest? You can pick from over 70 countries that have programs IWU is affiliated with. Spitsbergen said that if a student is still having doubts, they shouldn’t hesitate to come see her. “We can discuss the reasons you are worried and I’ll try to alleviate your fears and help you see studying abroad from a new perspective,” Spitsbergen said.
“Study abroad can be transformative,” Nadeau said. “Every student tells me they wouldn’t trade it for anything. They learn so much and I think that is worth something.”
If you have additional questions or want to speak to someone personally, contact Professor Nadeau at cnadeau@iwu.edu or Assistant Director Spitsbergen at fspitsbe@iwu.edu.