DU ranks fourth in the nation among doctoral and research institutions in its percentage of undergraduate students who study abroad, according to the 2010 Open Doors report released Nov. 15 by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
The report, which reflects data from the 2008–09 academic year, shows DU sent 61.4 percent of its undergraduates abroad. Pepperdine University, University of San Diego and Wake Forest University finished ahead of DU.
“We are pleased with the continued strong interest in study abroad by DU students. We have several study abroad programs, including the Cherrington Global Scholars Program, that allow students the option of study, service and cultural immersion in many countries abroad,” says Eric Gould, vice provost for Internationalization at DU. “All this is a terrific enhancement to an undergraduate education at DU.”
Gould notes there is a campus-wide commitment — through curriculum development, financing and academic programming — in fostering international study, research and outreach.
The percentage of DU students studying abroad has held steady, but that number across all U.S. colleges and universities dropped slightly by 0.8 percent this year after nearly two decades of growth.
According to the report, 260,327 students studied abroad this past year. According to the IIE, the global financial crisis, rising fuel costs and the H1N1 outbreak in Mexico contributed to the decrease.
The top study destination for students was the United Kingdom. At DU, the most popular destination was Spain, followed by Italy and the U.K.
Additionally, the report found that new international student enrollment in the U.S. increased 1.3 percent from the previous year. Students from China, India, South Korea, Canada and Taiwan accounted for 52 percent of all international students at U.S. higher education institutions.
At DU, the number of international students increased from 6 to 7 percent. International students hail from 89 different countries and make up approximately 9.5 percent of the total student population at DU. China is the top country represented at DU, followed by Norway, Canada, Netherlands, Singapore and United Arab Emirates.
DU offers more than 150 study-abroad programs in 58 nations. Through DU’s Cherrington Global Scholars program, eligible students have the opportunity to study abroad while only paying the same tuition and fees they would while on the DU campus. The University helps students pay some additional costs such as transportation and fees for visa applications and insurance mandated by the host country or university.
For additional statistics and analysis from the Open Doors 2010 report, see www.opendoors.iienetwork.org. For additional information on DU programs, visit www.du.edu/intl/abroad/.