The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks 22nd among all U.S. higher education institutions for the number of students earning credit for study abroad, according to the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) 2015 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.
This is UNC-Chapel Hill’s first ranking on the Open Doors’ top 25 list, which is based on the total number of a higher education institution’s students who study abroad. Open Doors found that the overall number of U.S. students studying abroad increased by 5 percent over the previous year. For Carolina, 1,859 undergraduate, graduate and professional students studied abroad in 2013-14.
“We’re delighted to have ranked in the top 25 for study abroad,” said Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “At the core of our mission is graduating students prepared to work and live in an interconnected, global world. So many students tell me that their study abroad has made a huge, positive impression on them and I want that opportunity for all our students.”
Carolina has a long tradition of robust student participation in study abroad programs. In recent years, nearly a third of UNC-Chapel Hill undergraduates have studied abroad before graduation, one of the highest rates for a public university in the U.S. Nationally, only about 10 percent of undergraduates study abroad before graduation.
“We’re very proud of our ranking in the top 25, and even more proud of the over 30 percent of undergraduate students participating in study abroad before they graduate,” said Ron Strauss, executive vice provost and chief international officer. “That we repeatedly send such a high percentage of our students abroad at a university as large and diverse as Carolina is a real accomplishment. It’s a number that we are always working to increase by expanding access to study abroad for students that typically don’t participate, due to financial and other barriers.”
Open Doors is published annually by IIE in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Founded in 1919, the IIE is a private not-for-profit leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. In collaboration with governments, foundations and other sponsors, IIE creates programs of study and training for students, educators and professionals from all sectors. These programs include the flagship Fulbright Program and Gilman Scholarships administered for the U.S. Department of State. IIE also conducts policy research, provides resources on international exchange opportunities and offers support to scholars in danger.
