Are you interested in studying abroad, but you’re not sure how to choose a trustworthy program? With all the options out there, it can be tough to confidently select one that not only matches your personal and academic preferences but also meets the standards of quality, safety, and support that every student deserves. After all, not every study abroad program is equal, and it often comes down to the reputation and experience of the program provider itself. Below, we’ll cover what to look for when choosing a study abroad program.
Are you interested in studying abroad? Here are some tips to help you choose the right study abroad program.
Home University Approval
When researching study abroad options, it’s a good idea to focus your research on programs that your university partners with, especially if you plan on going abroad during the school year. Use your home university’s website or connect with your study abroad office to learn which programs and providers are approved by your school. They’ll be able to point you in the direction of study abroad providers that your university already works with, making the process of selecting a trusted program much simpler.
Chances are, AIFS Abroad is already on your school’s list—we partner with hundreds of colleges and universities across the U.S. and beyond!
Clear Accreditation
Ensuring a study abroad program has clear accreditation or school-of-record arrangements is essential when making your selection. Accreditation is the process by which educational institutions are evaluated against established standards of quality. When it comes to studying abroad, accreditation guarantees your international coursework will be recognized and accepted for credit transfer back to your home university.
AIFS Abroad partners with respected universities abroad that are officially recognized and accredited in their countries. In addition, Fairfield University serves as our U.S. school-of-record for programs held at our own Global Education Centers, ensuring your credits are backed by American accreditation, as well.
Transparent Credit Transfer
Credit transfer is a vital consideration when choosing a reputable study abroad program. It’s important to ensure the process is clearly outlined, so you can feel confident there won’t be any issues later, which, in some cases, could lead to delayed graduation. Look for study abroad programs that lay out the exact steps for the credit transfer process.
All host universities abroad provide students with a transcript after completing the program. AIFS Abroad programs at our Global Education Centers (GECs) issue credits via our school of record in the U.S., Fairfield University, allowing for even easier transfer back to your home university.
Strong Health, Safety, and Crisis-Response Systems
When you go to a foreign country on a study abroad program, you want to ensure there are established health, safety, and crisis-response systems in place. A reputable program provider should have clear protocols for medical emergencies, natural disasters, and other unexpected situations. Knowing that support is available at all times can make all the difference, both for students and their families back home.
AIFS Abroad provides comprehensive travel and medical insurance, 24/7 emergency support, and crisis response assistance—so you can rest assured you’ll always be in good hands.
Reliable On-site Staffing
When you’re navigating life in a new country, having someone nearby who will always have your back makes all the difference. Whether you’re dealing with a medical emergency or just need a bit of support during your program, having reliable on-site staff is a true gamechanger. They can meet you when you arrive at your destination, help you adjust to the local culture, provide personalized recommendations, answer your questions, and ensure you feel safe and supported at every step.
All AIFS Abroad programs include trusted on-site staff who are there to support you from day one.
Published Policies and Standards
Published policies and standards are a hallmark of a reputable study abroad provider. They set clear expectations for what’s included in your program, how the provider handles everything from housing to health emergencies, and what recourse you have if something doesn’t go as planned. You’re looking for transparency, which signals the provider is confident in what they offer and accountable to the students they serve.
All AIFS Abroad programs have clearly established policies and standards, so you always know exactly what to expect.
Long Operational History
Another mark of a reputable study abroad program is a long operational history. This means the program likely has a track record of success and deep local and international connections that ensure a reliable, safe, and rewarding study abroad experience.
Founded in 1964, AIFS Abroad has been leading educational programs around the world for over 60 years. Since then, over 1.8 million students (and counting!) have gone abroad with AIFS. When it comes to experience, you can’t beat AIFS Abroad.
Verified Third-Party Reviews
Third-party reviews ensure genuine testimony from real-life participants. By reading reviews from past participants, you can gain a better understanding of the quality of a study abroad program and how participants’ expectations aligned with their actual experience. Independent organizations like GoAbroad, GoOverseas, and Trustpilot are a good place to start.
AIFS Abroad is one of the most highly rated study abroad programs in the U.S.—we’re Gold Verified on GoOverseas, have 4.8 stars on Trustpilot, and have even received awards from GoAbroad!
Scholarship Access and Financial Aid
While the costs to enroll in a quality study abroad program can be significant, that doesn’t mean it’s out of reach. Reputable providers typically accept financial aid and may also offer opportunities to apply for scholarships and grants that can meaningfully reduce costs, making international education programs accessible to a much wider range of students. When evaluating programs, it’s worth checking what financial support is available before ruling anything out on price alone.
AIFS Abroad accepts financial aid and offers scholarships and grants to help make more college students’ dreams of studying abroad a reality.
How Does AIFS Abroad Stack Up?
| What to Look For | Does AIFS Abroad have it? |
|---|---|
| Home university approval | For hundreds of colleges and universities |
| Clear accreditation/school-of-record arrangements | We’ve got both! |
| Transparent credit transfer | Through our school-of-record, Fairfield University or host universities abroad |
| Strong health, safety, and crisis-response systems | Comprehensive travel and medical insurance and 24/7 emergency assistance |
| On-site staffing | Trusted local staff in every destination! |
| Published policies and standards | Read our policies and standards |
| Long operational history | 60+ years of experience |
| Verified third-party reviews | Tons of them! Check out GoAbroad, Go Overseas, and Trustpilot |
| Scholarships and financial aid | We offer scholarships/grants and accept financial aid |
Don’t select just any study abroad program. Choose AIFS Abroad and experience why millions of college students have trusted our programs since 1964.
When you’re faced with multiple competing options, it’s not always easy to choose the right study abroad program and provider. Fortunately, AIFS Abroad offers hundreds of study abroad programs in dozens of countries across six continents worldwide.
We have programs for every type of student and traveler, whether you’re interested in pursuing business in the bustling metropolis of Seoul, South Korea, or you want to study literature among the rolling hills of the Irish countryside in Limerick. No matter what program you choose, you’ll always receive the support of trusted on-site staff, 24/7 emergency assistance, comprehensive insurance, enriching activities and excursions, and a study abroad experience that truly goes above and beyond.
Want to learn more about studying abroad? We encourage you to connect with our team and browse our amazing programs around the world.
