Recession Delays Foreign Study Plans

Two years ago, the number of students going abroad for foreign study surged to an all-time high. But for students this year, the current economic crisis has delayed or cancelled many of those plans, the Associated Press reports.

The AP noted that nearly 60 percent of the schools and study-abroad groups decreased enrollment from a year ago since the recession hit, according to The Forum on Education Abroad report. The article points out that other schools such as Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., and University of South Alabama have seen decreases as students had to cut back on spending or use up all of their financial aid for school.

"My sense is over the last year, there's probably been some very important dinner-table discussions about how to best go about using the resources that a family has," said Kendall Brostuen, director of the Office of International Programs and an associate dean at Brown University. Brown saw a 10 percent drop in the number of junior students studying abroad compared to October 2008. Other schools have seen a 50 percent drop.

Typically, students who travel abroad must pay for tuition and then any additional costs, including airfare and living expenses. Some schools allow students to pay directly to the program instead. The report also said 69 percent of its public institutions surveyed had seen drops in abroad enrollment, compared with 49 percent of private institutions.

"We're seeing an awful lot of students who are very interested in study abroad, but virtually every one of them is asking about funding," Jim Ellis, director of South Alabama's Office of International Education, told the AP.

Four times as many students went abroad in the 2007-2008 academic year as 20 years ago, according to a survey of 985 schools released this week by the nonprofit advocacy group, Institute of International Education.

Although the tough financial times has halted those travel plans for many students, some officials believe the drops will not last long. At a number of colleges, interest is looking strong for the spring program.

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