The University of Denver ranks sixth in the nation among doctoral and research institutions in percentage of undergraduate students participating in study-abroad programs, according to the 2012 Open Doors report.
Released Nov. 12 by the Institute of International Education, the report shows that DU sent 64.3 percent of its undergraduates abroad in the 2010-11 academic year. Nationally, around 14 percent of all enrolled undergraduates studied abroad.
The IIE reports that the top destination for students in 2010–11 was the United Kingdom, followed by Italy and Spain. At the University of Denver, Spain is the top destination for students, followed by Italy and the United Kingdom.
DU offers more than 150 study-abroad programs in more than 50 nations. Through DU’s Cherrington Global Scholars program, eligible students have the opportunity to study abroad while paying their tuition and fees to the University. The University also helps students with some additional costs, such as transportation and fees for visa applications and insurance mandated by the host country or university.
“The University of Denver strongly invests in study abroad because we believe that as many students as possible should have the opportunity to discover how education really comes to life in an international context,” says Luc Beaudoin, associate vice provost for internationalization and director of study-abroad programs. “We encourage our students to study and live abroad for at least one quarter because we want our graduates to appreciate and understand the differences and interdependencies that characterize our world.”
According to the 2012 Open Doors report, study abroad by American students has more than tripled over the past two decades. The top three major fields of study for students, according to the report, are the social sciences, business and management, and humanities.