Foreign Study
Commitment to international education is part of the liberal arts philosophy of St. John Fisher College. The Foreign Study program extends the campus curriculum to include offerings at 100 programs around the world. Official affiliation arrangements provide our students the opportunity of an academic experience in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. English or foreign language programs are available for a semester, full year or summer study. SJFC financial aid applies to all affiliate programs.
Important Information/Documents
Blogs from Abroad!
Follow Fisher students as they experience life in another country!
Caitie Antaya, Salamanca, Spain
Olivia Gosdeck, Limerick, Ireland
Daniel Kelley, London, England
Melody Li, Costa Rica
Janina Vore, London, England
Where Do Fisher Students Study?
Check out the map below to see some of the many cities and countries that Fisher students have studied in.
View Study Abroad Sites in a larger map
Study Abroad Profiles
Alexis Pellerin
International Studies/ Spanish Major, Alicante, Spain
Why did you decide to study abroad?
I was encouraged to for both my majors of Spanish and International Studies. I also wanted to study abroad to improve my Spanish and to travel.
If you could tell someone one reason why they should go, what would you say?
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Once you finish college, traveling abroad is more expensive and you won’t get the experience of living with a family and getting to know the culture.
What was your most memorable experience while studying abroad?
My most memorable experience was that being there for a year I had the unique opportunity of actually becoming part of my Spanish family and forming relationships with them for life. Visiting is encouraged and I miss them and we write and talk via Skype.
What was your first week like abroad?
It was tough and I had a headache for two weeks straight. Adjusting to a different lifestyle and another language was hard, but I got used to it and now that I'm back, I miss it.
What was the biggest obstacle you had to face while studying abroad?
I was homesick. The reason it was so bad for me was because I got sick on the plane over and was sick for two weeks. I even had to go to the hospital three times. Thankfully, I went over early with my mom and I wasn’t alone in a foreign country. Also, the CIEE Alicante staff are the best people to have in a study abroad program.
Tell us two or three things that help us understand how you felt living in the city where you chose to study.
Alicante, Spain is on the Mediterranean Coast. There is a unique combination of beach, desert and mountains there. You don’t hear much English in Spain because they don’t learn much of it and they have pride for their language. But the people are friendly and there is a lot of people watching. It’s not like American cities with tall buildings everywhere and lots of cars. In fact, there aren’t that many cars on the road. The bus system is cheap and is the main mode of transportation.
What advice would you give to students who are about to participate in this program?
Don’t take the time for granted because it goes by faster than you could ever imagine. If you are learning a new language, go full into learning it because you won’t get the opportunity again. Even if you miss English, don’t let it be your primary language because you won’t learn anything.