Give More Students a Reason to Join Your Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs

Strengthen recruitment by connecting student interests and academic needs with practical ways to participate.

Faculty-led study abroad recruitment takes more than generating interest. Students may want to go, but the coursework, timing, or financial commitment can put participation out of reach.

What would make your program more compelling to students, and what would enable them to participate?

Study abroad offices can help faculty explore that question while preserving their academic vision. From course options and destination choices to scheduling and predictable pricing, thoughtful decisions made during planning can give more students a meaningful reason and a realistic way to join.

Ask Recruitment Questions During Program Planning

Before dates, courses, and destinations are settled, explore what would make the proposed program relevant and achievable for students. Conversations with prospective participants, academic advisors, and campus partners can reveal opportunities to strengthen the design.

Ask:

• Will the coursework fulfill requirements students need?
• Will the dates conflict with clinical placements, athletic commitments, or other essential responsibilities?
• What full financial commitment will students need to make, and how much planning time will they have?
• What makes the destination and experience compelling?
• Will this program compete with another campus offering for the same students?

Avoid assuming that everyone in a particular student population has the same needs. Use these conversations to guide decisions while the program is still taking shape.

Give Students Compelling Reasons to Participate

Students may find it easier to justify the investment when a program supports academic progress and something they already value.

At one institution, the study abroad coordinator wanted to engage more student athletes. For the wrestling team, the obstacle was clear: students could not miss practice and matches.

We designed a history of athletics program in Greece that incorporated training and matches against local athletes. A history core course helped students fulfill a graduation requirement, while a meeting with a gold medalist in their sport added a distinctive encounter.

The program connected academic progress with athletic interests and commitments rather than asking students to choose between them.

Other students may respond to different connections. A locally directed service project could provide hands-on experience relevant to their career goals and résumés, provided the work addresses host-identified needs and matches students’ skills.

Course flexibility can also broaden academic relevance, particularly for students whose degree plans leave little room for extra electives. Our related article, Strengthen Faculty-Led Study Abroad Recruitment with More Academic Pathways, explores how contrasting disciplines and different course levels can give students more ways to fit a shared program into their studies.

Choose a Destination That Strengthens the Program

A destination can deepen learning and offer experiences students might not easily arrange independently, giving them something distinctive to work toward.

Look beyond where students might want to travel; consider what they could learn and experience that they could not easily arrange on their own. Specialist encounters, local exchanges, and field experiences can strengthen the coursework and help students see greater value in participating.

Consider campus offerings together. Will a similar destination, academic focus, or travel period divide interest among the same students? Programs can share a country and still offer clearly different experiences, but those distinctions should be intentional and easy to understand.

Give Students a New Reason to Participate Each Year

Running the same program annually can limit its appeal to previous participants. A program enrolling 17 students each year will have served about 50 students before its fourth offering begins. Those students may welcome another international experience, but not necessarily the same one.

A four-program rotation gives students a different opportunity each year throughout a typical four-year degree. Varying destinations, academic themes, and experiences can attract first-time participants while giving past travelers a reason to return.

Share the sequence early so students can plan academically and financially.

Make Participation Practical

A short program is not automatically easy to attend. Consult relevant campus partners before fixing dates, and publish the complete schedule, including required activities before and after travel. Early confirmation helps students request leave, arrange care, and assess other commitments.

Students also need to understand what the trip will involve physically. Provide concrete information about walking distances, terrain, transportation, accommodations, and activities. Work through the appropriate campus accommodation process to explore individual needs and academically equivalent alternatives where appropriate.

Make the Full Cost Clear and Predictable

Compare the complete student cost when evaluating destinations. Higher airfare may be offset by lower accommodation, meal, transportation, and activity expenses. Staying closer to home is not automatically less expensive.

Including group flights can help establish a locked-in package price for the agreed program, rather than leaving students exposed to rising airfare later.

Clearly explain inclusions, excluded expenses, payment deadlines, and financial commitment dates. Provide a financial aid contact so students know where to discuss their circumstances.

Explore Your Program’s Possibilities With FTI

Stronger recruitment starts with addressing what keeps interested students from enrolling. Thoughtful program design gives promotion a stronger foundation.

Whether you have a developed concept or are still exploring ideas, FTI can help you consider destinations, local experiences, routing, and travel arrangements that support your academic goals and students’ needs. We can also compare travel options and build a package around your program.

Browse our Faculty-Led programs for inspiration. Our sample program itineraries can be fully customized.

Schedule a meeting with FTI to brainstorm possibilities or discuss ideas for your program.