Have you always dreamed of traveling to faraway places and learning about new countries, cultures and corners of the world? Then spending part of your college years studying abroad may be just the ticket. According to Kathleen Fairfax, director, Office of Study Abroad at Michigan State University (MSU), which sends more students abroad each year than any other public university in America and recently opened a campus in Dubai, there are lots of benefits to studying in a foreign country offers, including:

• intellectual growth

• career enhancement

• personal growth

• development of cross cultural skills and acquisition of new perspectives on world affairs

• enhancing self-awareness of your own culture and country

So how do you know if you have what it takes to study abroad?

“At MSU, we’re firm believers that just about every student should and could study abroad, but the key is determining how big of an adventure the student is ready for or can handle,” explains Fairfax.

The good news is there are a great variety of programs available to students — from one-week spring break excursions to year-long programs and everything in between.

“It really comes down to the comfort level of the individual student. Some students are ready to immerse themselves in a new country and language and spend a year attending a European university, while others would prefer a semester or summer program in a very controlled environment,” says Fairfax.

Recent graduate Matt Paffhouse of McBain, Michigan is an admitted travel junkie after spending six months studying at the University of Melbourne in Australia in the spring of 2003. The experience encouraged him to follow his passion -- studying history -- and helped him grow personally.

“The opportunity to interact with many people from other parts of the world opened my eyes to different perspectives and a more diverse way of thinking,” says Paffhouse. This fall, Matt hopes to travel to Britain for several months on a work visa and he’s also entertaining the idea of teaching in Japan one day.

Finding the right study abroad program should start close to home — your own college campus, Fairfax advises. Check with your school’s Study Abroad office, or if your college doesn’t have one, investigate study abroad opportunities within your degree or field of study through a faculty member or academic advisor.

If you come up short there as well, Fairfax suggests checking out the study abroad programs offered at larger public universities here in Michigan (MSU, University of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Western Michigan University and Grand Valley State University). Fairfax says most colleges will allow students to earn study abroad credit from another college, but be sure to inquire at your home school before packing your bags for your trip.

If you’re still struggling to find that perfect overseas academic program, the following web sites represent well-respected study abroad organizations:

• Study Abroad.com

• IIE Passport.org

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators

Worried you can’t afford all this? Don’t be. Too often, students discount the notion of studying abroad because it sounds so expensive. Some programs are, but not all. If you currently receive financial aid for your college education, in many cases you can use it to study overseas. And students who don’t qualify for financial aid at their home schools may be eligible for financial assistance when they enroll in a study abroad program. In both cases, check with your school’s study abroad or financial aid advisor.

In addition to academic loans, there are lots of scholarships and grants available through colleges and universities, academic institutions, foundations, state and federal government and other private and public sources. Start with your own college first. The web sites listed above are also good sources for scholarships and grants.