SIT: School for International Training Study Abroad

SIT Study Abroad

Why choose SIT Study Abroad?

SIT has been providing immersive, field-based study abroad programs for undergraduates for more than 50 years. SIT offers more than 70 programs in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as comparative programs in multiple locations. In addition to its rich history, SIT Study Abroad has a number of unique qualities that make it an ideal choice for an extraordinary, transformative study abroad experience.

SIT students step beyond the boundaries of a traditional classroom to analyze critical issues shaping local communities around the globe. Students become deeply engaged in a topic and undertake their own research, case studies, in-depth practica, or community projects. SIT Study Abroad is deeply embedded in local communities around the world.

Ready for the next level? Take your graduate studies abroad with SIT Graduate Institute: https://www.gooverseas.com/organization/sit-graduate-institute-reviews

Scholarships

SIT Robert Kantor Memorial Scholarship

Each year one student will be granted $10,000 in scholarship aid to study abroad with a SIT program. Funded by individual donors and foundations, the requirements are tight: seeking first-generation college students who've never traveled abroad before, currently attend an HBCU, and demonstrate strong financial need.

Diversity & Inclusion

Reviews

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Caty
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A beautiful program, but be up for a challenge

I learned a lot about the local culture and life in Samoa. I also learned a lot about the environment, how it has changed, and how this impacts the community and culture. I think it was very worthwhile, especially as someone who is studying the relationship between people and the environment. I loved my experience in this program. I learned a lot and it was fantastically relevant to my educational goals. I would definitely do it again, but it did come with some challenges. This program is not easy when it comes to overcoming struggles and new experiences.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
You have to deal with uncomfortable situations, but it's going to be worth it for the experiences you have.
Pros
  • The People
  • the cultural immersion
  • the environmental significance
Cons
  • Acknowledgement of mental health as a significant issue
  • Vetting of homestay families
  • Samoan language teaching methods
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Iman
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Most Amazing Place

I had such a wonderful time throughout the entirety of this program. The best part was staying with the host family. I went in with some Arabic knowledge but no knowledge of Moroccan Arabic or French, and my host family spoke no English, but by the end of the program we grew quite close and I still speak with them frequently.
I loved walking around the neighborhood where all the students lived, sitting at cafes, exploring other cities in Morocco, and the week excursion to Amsterdam! I also really appreciated that we got the chance to connect with students from the SIT program in Amsterdam. All the staff of SIT as well as at the center where we studied were so kind and helpful. Truly the best time ever.

What would you improve about this program?
In terms of academics, I loved learning Arabic, but would have liked to learn more Moroccan Arabic in the classroom as standard Arabic isn't that helpful outside of the classroom. I appreciated that the lectures included many guest speakers such as professors, local artists, people working in the community; however, I would have enjoyed the lecture class to be more engaging and fruitful. We did many site visits to NGOs and sometimes the people there didn't speak English, and so if you don't know French, there could be a lot of information lost in translation.
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Keegan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Awesome Semester

This program gives an incredible experience taking you through the history, culture, and language of the Tibet and the Himalayas. Kathmandu is a wonderful place to live, and the homestay gives safety and built in family. Courses are experiential: the only way to learn abroad. The Tibetan language course is fun and lively, but it also helps in the smaller commutes in the mountains and in India. Academically, I came home with a vast knowledge of the cultural landscape of Nepal, Tibet, and the Himalayas.

Pros
  • LANGUAGE AQUISITION
  • ACADEMIC FLEXIBILITY
  • SO MUCH FUN (obvious but important)
Cons
  • Only a semester — I wish we could've done the full year
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Léa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My semester in Bali

It was such an amazing experience to go to Bali. The people, nature, and energy can make us put the world on pause and put things in perspective. It was an incredible semester and if you are a student who wants to be challenged and learn how to be comfortable when feeling uncomfortable, this program will give you a safe space to do that. Being away from your culture makes everything a learning experience in which you must keep adjusting yourself to know how to fit into this new and strange environment.

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McKenzie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best people I've ever met!

I had such an extraordinary time in Nepal and India! The people that this program brought together are some of my lifelong friends, not to mention the academics and community members that SIT brings into your orbit are extraordinary. The staff (Isabelle and Patty especially) will help you make this program into exactly what you want it to be. I came to Nepal with the intention of writing my undergraduate honors thesis and had the support and connections to make it happen during the ISP period. I highly recommend this program to anyone and everyone looking to challenge themselves in a new environment, delve into a part of history and geopolitics that is often ignored in US academics, and eat more momos than you thought was possible! I have participated in other study abroad programs in the past and I think this one was the best at creating a safe and productive environment while allowing plenty of autonomy to get the most out of traveling to a new part of the world.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
This program was full of surprises and your ISP period is a month-long opportunity to pursue any experiences you want. For me, that meant traveling through India by myself and spending a few weeks researching and writing from the beach in Goa, an old colonial settlement that also marked one of the ends of the Hippie Trail.
Pros
  • Great Food
  • Killer connections
  • Can really make the program into what you want it to be
Cons
  • Large emphasis on Tibetan

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I knew I wanted to go to Peru for my semester abroad, but also for its theme and academic focus.

Indigenous people and their cultures are a topic rarely discussed in academia, even though they have made many important contributions to societies all across the globe. I wanted to learn more about indigenous groups in Peru and how they are adapting to a constantly changing world.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The SIT website had several pre-departure documents, checklists, and other prep materials available in order to help me feel more ready for my semester abroad. The program admissions counselor and alumni contact I had were both very helpful in answering all of my questions as well. The syllabi for the academic courses were also clearly outlined on the program site.

On my own, I had to put in the effort to practice my Spanish before leaving. I was also in charge of determining my own flights and how long I would stay after the program ended.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

It's okay to be nervous or anxious! Although adjusting into a new culture and language will be challenging, once you settle down into a routine the city you're in will feel like home in no time. Overcoming any personal obstacles that arise during your time abroad will make you a stronger, more confident person.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

During the week, you'll typically have classes from 8:30 AM to around 12 PM or 12:30. These classes include Spanish language, history, research ethics, and more. After class, you'll eat lunch with your host family.

You can spend your free time in the afternoon doing a number of things. You can relax and study at a cafe, go see a movie, or walk to the Plaza de Armas to do some shopping. There are lots of nice gardens and parks all around the city, too. I took dance classes (hip hop and salsa) at a local dance school, which was super fun!

On the weekends, you can spend a whole day traveling to the mountain outskirts of Cusco and go see some pretty cool sights. My favorites were the famed Rainbow Mountain and the incredible Lake Humantay. Both are great sites for doing some hiking! There are also several Incan ruins close to the city that you can visit, including Saqsaywaman and Puka Pukara.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear going in was feeling isolated or lost. I was worried that I wouldn't make any friends in my program, or that I wouldn't like the feel of Peruvian culture. I was also concerned that I wouldn't feel safe in Cusco.

Contrary to my fears, I made friends quickly. Everyone in my program (a small group of 11 people) was kind, friendly, and easy to get along with. We all became very close after a short period of time. These people became my biggest support in Peru, and we had a lot of fun hanging out at cafes together or going on hiking trips.

Thanks to my new friends, my transition into Peruvian culture was much easier. I also had a lovely host family that made me feel very welcome and accepted. It did take a fair amount of time, but eventually, I became much more comfortable and settled into my life in Cusco. The city was also much safer than I expected, so I felt silly after worrying so much about safety.

The most important thing about adapting to a new culture is to have an open mind. If you don't open yourself up to new opportunities to interact with people and learn about their ways of life, then you aren't taking full advantage of the joys of being abroad. Be accepting of any new chances that come your way!

What was your favorite thing about Peru?

It's hard to pick just one! From the abundance of adorable llamas and alpacas to the delicious variety of maracuya (passionfruit) flavored foods, I loved practically everything about Peru.

I think I felt truly happiest when I hiked to the top of Lake Humantay with my friends. It was a really tough hike and we were all very tired when we reached the top, but the beautiful view made it worth it.

Living with a host family was also a wonderful experience. I became really close with them and we are still in touch today!

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Eric Wirth

Nothing goes better with a cup of morning/afternoon/late night coffee than getting to know Eric Wirth, the director of admissions for SIT Study Abroad, and the culture of SIT Study Abroad a little bit better.
Mountain Watching

Tell me a little about yourself. What has been your career path so far?

My passion for education abroad began after spending a year abroad in Elche, Spain during my junior year of high school. I landed my first job after college as an admissions counselor for a study abroad provider. After several years in the work force, I returned to graduate school at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where I had the opportunity to serve for a year as the resident director to one of the university’s programs in Spain. After finishing my MA, I reentered the world of international education with greater knowledge and an enhanced perspective on higher education and learning abroad.

Did you study abroad after high school?

I’ve studied abroad a total of four times; once in high school, twice in college – one semester and one summer – and then for a year as a graduate student. Each time in Spain. Through each experience, I learned more and was able to take my level of cultural and linguistic understanding to a deeper level. I suspect one day I will work toward a doctorate, and I can guarantee I will study abroad again. My first instinct would be to return to Spain to delve back into the culture and languages I adore.

As for SIT, what are the core principles that you strive to achieve?

At our core, SIT Study Abroad programs foster academic rigor, intensive cultural immersion, substantial community involvement, and an emphasis on field-based research.

What does the future hold for SIT? Any new exciting programs to share?

This spring we are running two new programs in the Middle East: one in Egypt focusing on urban studies and the other in Morocco focused on journalism and new media. We have also launched a new summer program that explores traditional approaches to healthcare in India. We continually strive to provide our students with the most interesting and relevant coursework and locations.

And the future of the industry - how do you think study abroad and international education will change over the next 10 years?

We’ll see the usual demographic shifts in mobility as a response to global politics, world events and markets. What will be interesting to watch is how governments and individual institutions address these shifts to meet demand and capitalize on market share. My hope is that more and more we will learn to become better citizens of the world and will travel abroad because we crave learning and connection with one another. Talking to people around the world is increasingly easier, but meaningful communication and understanding remains a challenge.

I'm continuously impressed with the depth and variety of programs offered by SIT Study Abroad. Their emphasis on field base learning is especially intriguing, as well as their commitment to cultivating relationships locally in host areas. I sincerely admire and hope to echo their attitude for turning every experience into a learning experience!

Over the last 10 years working in the field of international education, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to Cuba, Czech Republic, England, Greece and Serbia. There are many fascinating countries and continents with amazing things to teach us.

Professional Associations

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