A UAlbany Student's Guide to Studying Abroad
By Chloe Ciszak | September 21, 2026
A semester at UAlbany does not always have to take place in Albany. With study abroad programs available across the world, students can take their education beyond campus while still working toward their degree.
For students interested in the opportunity, the first step is to know where to begin.
Renee DeCelle, the director of education abroad at the University at Albany, said students should first think about what they want to get out of studying in another country.
"The very first thing is to try to get clear about is their real goals for studying abroad," DeCelle said.
Those goals could include learning a new language, completing an internship, taking courses for a major or minor, or learning a new skill. Knowing what they want from the experience can help students narrow down their options.
DeCelle said students should start planning at least one semester before they want to go overseas but recommends starting sooner. With hundreds of programs throughout SUNY, finding the right program can take time.
UAlbany junior Isabelle Mele, who is double majoring in homeland security and criminal justice, studied abroad in London. She started the process by making an appointment with the Education Abroad office.
"I booked an appointment with Mark Curry in the study abroad office, kind of talked about what I wanted out of this," Mele said. "He showed me how to search programs, look more into them."
Mele eventually found a program through SUNY Cortland and applied.
Students can also start their search through UAlbany's study abroad website, where programs can be searched by subject areas. This will help students find courses that relate to their major or minor. tudents also need to make sure the courses they plan to take abroad will count toward their degree. Courses being used for a major, minor, or general education requirement need approval. One of the biggest questions DeCelle receives from students is about the cost.
"Studying abroad doesn't have to be expensive, but it can be, depending on what program they choose," DeCelle said.
Mele said cost was something she was worried about at first, but meeting with UAlbany's financial aid office helped her understand her options.
"UAlbany financial aid was actually very, very helpful," Mele said. "I had a few meetings with them."
Financial aid and loans can apply to overseas study when students are taking courses that count toward their degree. DeCelle said there are also scholarships available through UAlbany and SUNY.
One option is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a federal scholarship for eligible Pell grant recipients. UAlbany also currently has a grant that can help eligible Pell Grant recipients receive their first adult passport. Students do not need previous international travel experience to overseas study; however, they will need a passport to travel outside the United States.
While Mele said the initial application was fairly easy for her, more of the work came after she was accepted.
"The application itself is very self-explanatory and calm," Mele said. "It's more the onboarding stuff that was pretty difficult." That included completing documents, getting her passport information together, and handling other requirements before leaving.
The Education Abroad office is available to aid students through those steps. Students can also talk to Albany international representatives; a group of students who have returned from studying abroad and can share their own experiences.
For students who are interested but do not know where to start, Mele recommends talking to people who have experience with the process.
"Get your butt into that office right away," Mele said. "Look at your options and you'll see how doable it really is."
For students who are thinking about a semester outside of Albany, getting started can begin right on campus. A visit to the Education Abroad office, some research, and a look at the programs available can be the first steps towards taking their semester somewhere new.
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