Studying Abroad – Put on hold due to COVID, and everything you need to know

By Alejandro Arcos | Published by November 19, 2020

On Nov. 2, a Zoom meeting was held between members of the Humans Rights Institute and the Center for International Studies, Kean’s own study-abroad program.

In that meeting, vital information was given about what students may do to study abroad when the time comes, and what may await them overseas should they apply for a semester abroad.

Kean University’s Center for International Studies dedicates itself in aiding students who wish to complete part of their semester or their entire semester in Kean campuses located in other countries, such as WKU (Wenzhou Kean University), situated in China, among other locations around the world.

With the current state of society and traveling at the moment, however, preparing to study abroad right this moment is ill-advised and likely impossible for students thanks to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Alexa Marzocca, a staff member of the Center for International Studies, offered clarification on the situation.

“We are not studying abroad next semester,” Marzocca said, “We’re not sure yet in terms with the summer in the fall, it’s a dynamic situation with the virus, and we’re taking it week by week.”

Though the program is temporarily closed until further notice, this offers a long opportunity for students to learn how to prepare for the decision to study overseas.

“Some of the benefits of that program are that it costs the same as going to Kean in the U.S, same tuition meal plan and housing fees as you would pay here.” Marzocca said. “It is also a cohort program, so that means you go with a full group of students.”

Just studying and working overseas in China isn’t all there is to the program however, as fun activities and trips are planned regularly, such as visiting

While China is the program’s most standout example, the question of whether students could look forward to traveling anywhere else remains.

“If you don’t want to go to China, that’s fine. We have programs in over 30 other countries. We work with a lot of different study abroad provider companies and they have companies all over the world.” Marzocca said, “All those programs differ a lot in location, in costs, and in academic offerings. So, if you come in and talk in and talk to our office, that’s something we can try to match you with a program that’s going to fit well with you.”

Kean offers locations such as Dubai, South Korea, Costa Rica, London, Rome, Berlin among several more options for students to study abroad in.

The length of time students may attend college studying abroad will vary depending on what they’ve signed up for, with the time spent varying between one semester, a few weeks or an entire summer.

Marzocca said that students not wanting to spend a whole semester or a whole summer abroad can go for a ‘travel learn’, short-term programs led by Kean faculty members that count as credit that usually happen over spring break and sometimes offered in the summer.

As for the costs of signing up for a study abroad program, the Center for International Studies staff assure that there are convenient and affordable ways to pay for one’s trip to an overseas campus.

“You can use financial aid for study abroad. Financial aid is available. Scholarships are available.” Marzocca said, “We have a scholarship page on our website that has information about different scholarships, and we’re always happy to meet with you and talk to you about different scholarships you can apply.”

With that said, the time between now and the soonest possible opportunity to apply for studying abroad would be a good time to think over the decision.

“If you’re looking to study abroad in the summer, hold off on applying until we are sure we know you can go.” Said Marzocca.

---