By: Ella Coleman
Copy Editor
Have you ever wanted to travel overseas, or take a class in another country? Vol State offers plenty of opportunities to study abroad in twenty countries around the world through the Tennessee Board of Regents Global Studies. Whether you want to visit Italy, Greece, Africa, Ireland, etc., there’s an opportunity out there for everyone. Not only will you get credits earned towards your degree, but you’ll get the chance to experience a brand new culture, try new foods, and meet new people. Studying abroad is a life-changing experience I recommend to anyone.
Study abroad programs take place during spring break and over the summer, and usually range from one to three weeks. There are multiple options for classes you can take in your preferred country. Some programs are specific to Vol State, but others include different colleges around Tennessee. Scholarships are also available to those who qualify.
I studied abroad in the summer of 2025 in Japan, and I can say with full confidence that it was some of the best weeks of my life. I made friends with my roommates, visited so many amazing restaurants, attractions, venues, and neighborhoods, and learned a lot about the culture and lifestyle there.
During my time studying abroad, we stayed at a hostel in Tokyo. Our classes were four days a week, and we had planned excursions almost every day after class. We typically stayed within Tokyo in different districts, but there were a few times where we visited other cities around Japan, such as Kamakura and Odaiba. We were given plenty of free time as well, which gave us students the opportunity to explore ourselves and find venues, restaurants, and stores we loved.
Norah Huggins, a Vol State student and my roommate during our time abroad, says in an interview: “I took English 1020 there and I loved it… English 1020 is a research-based curriculum, so I think that having the opportunity to study abroad helped with that research. We were able to independently go and study places that you wanted to research and learn about them instead of just looking online. We were able to see it for ourselves.”
It was such a pleasure being able to explore a different country, in a continent I had never been to, and make new memories with new friends. Thanks to Vol State and the scholarship I received from them, studying abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
“It was an amazing experience, and you get to meet so many people that you never would come across,” Huggins says. “It helped me with my independence, I gained new experience, made really good friends, and it helps people with discovering who they are.”
On November 20 at the Gallatin campus library from 3-4pm, Vol State is hosting an information session about study abroad opportunities. If you have any questions or are interested in studying abroad, this would be a great chance to learn more!
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