Top Study Abroad Locations
by Ela Rybak ‘25
When asked, “What was your favorite part of college?” many tend to say study abroad. In general, travel is a learning experience, but when mixed with studying, it offers even more enrichment opportunities. While not everyone is able to study abroad in college, I highly recommend looking into Maymester options that allow you to travel to another country for one to two weeks with your USC peers while focusing on a specific aspect of your educational journey. Studying abroad and Maymester options range across most continenst and often are linked to USC’s partner universities. Here are some of USC’s best and most popular study abroad programs.
Bocconi University – Milan, Italy
Majors: USC Marshall majors & USC Price majors
Location/University Atmosphere: Milan is known as one of the fashion capitals of the world and, therefore, hosts many fashion and design events throughout the year. Additionally, with the Lake District an hour north and the clear blue waters of Cinque Terre an hour and a half south, Milan is a perfect home base for studying abroad. Bocconi University is also an international student hub and offers many different events for international students near campus.
University Specialties: Fashion, International Finance, Public Policy, Economics
USC Madrid – Madrid, Spain
Majors: All majors with completion of Spanish 3 (spring semester only)
Location/University Atmosphere: Madrid is extremely easy to get around and is full of history, including multiple palaces, museums, and historical parks. It is also an especially good place to study abroad if you are looking to improve your Spanish-speaking skills. This program is one of the most special study abroad programs that USC offers as you are expected to communicate only in Spanish over the course of the program, so make sure your language skills are strong.
University Specialties: Aerospace Engineering, Anthropology, Art History, Comparative Literature, Computer Science, Economics, Global Studies, History, International Relations, Latin, Latin American Studies, Law, Mechanical Engineering, Narrative Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Spanish
Thammasat University – Bangkok, Thailand
Majors: USC Marshall majors
Location/University Atmosphere: Thammasat University stands out, given how much it cares for its students, especially exchange students. The university offers airport shuttles for students and a campus buddy to show exchange students around. Additionally, unlike some other study-abroad options, Thammasat University helps all exchange students find living accommodations. Ultimately, Bangkok is an amazing city to call home, from exotic street foods to its deep culture rooted in Buddhist traditions and natural wonders.
University Specialties: Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Information Systems
Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) – Sha Tin, Hong Kong
Majors: USC Dornsife majors
Location/University Atmosphere: CUHK is a stunning university located on the top of a hillside but also not far from a major city, Kowloon. Hong Kong is known for its multicultural elements, “Where the East meets the West,” as well as its superior education. As an exchange student at CUHK, you will find yourself creating an international network since Hong Kong is a hub for increased employment opportunities for many types of jobs. Hong Kong also offers some of the most beautiful sights, including Victoria Peak and Nan Lian Garden.
University Specialties: Linguistics, Philosophy, History, Biology, Chinese Studies
The University of Cape Town – Cape Town, South Africa
Majors: All majors
Location/University Atmosphere: Cape Town is a beautiful coastal town surrounded by mountains, and it is an ever growing city grappling with the socioeconomic inequalities that are the legacy of the apartheid era. The University of Cape Town is a research-focused university that welcomes students from all over the world and prides itself on offering good support systems for exchange students as well as African-based solutions to global problems.
University Specialties: Health Sciences, Humanities, Engineering, Environmental Studies
University del Desarrollo – Santiago, Chile
Majors: USC Marshall majors
Location/University Atmosphere: Santiago, Chile, is one of the best cities to study abroad in if you are looking to travel around Latin America! The city offers a perfect mix of modernity and history and is right near the remarkable Andes Mountains. Specifically, University del Desarrollo is known for its emphasis on entrepreneurship and new ideas. There are many different student clubs that offer exchange students the opportunity to explore the world of entrepreneurship. University del Desarrollo is also the only Latin American university that USC offers for studying abroad, where you can study abroad without having taken Spanish classes.
University Specialties: Consulting, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Management
Australia National University (ANU) – Canberra, Australia
Majors: All majors
Location/University Atmosphere: Australia National University is made up of a quarter international students and is one of the top universities in the world. ANU also offers a summer internship program to which USC students with a GPA higher than 3.3 can apply. Canberra, Australia’s capital city offers the country’s lowest unemployment rate as well as many nature reserves and lakes nearby.
University Specialties: Accounting, Computer Science, Marketing, Arts and Humanities, Political Science, Visual and Performing Arts
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