Tufts students are continuing to scour the globe despite tough economic times, as the Office of Programs Abroad reported little change in the number of applicants this year compared to figures from years prior.
Though the office braced itself for a possible dip in applicants this year due to financial constraints, administrators said that the economy has not seemed to prevent students from taking advantage of Tufts' study-abroad options and those of other colleges and programs.
"I would guess that everyone's feeling the pinch, but in terms of the number of applications we received, that doesn't seem to have changed," said Melanie Armstrong, program specialist in the Office of Programs Abroad. "By the sheer fact that our application numbers have stayed roughly the same and perhaps increased a bit, there hasn't been a significant impact."
Applications for the majority of Tufts' programs were due Feb. 2, an early deadline compared to other providers. Deadlines for most non-Tufts options are due in March and April.
The prospect of financial aid carrying over to Tufts' study abroad programs makes Tufts' international options somewhat shielded from the effects of the recession.
"My impression is that because students receive the same financial aid package when they go on our program, the downturn in the economy wouldn't make much of a difference," Armstrong said.
Foreign Study Advisor Sally O'Leary, who specializes in non-Tufts programs, agreed that for students who receive sizeable financial aid from Tufts, choosing a Tufts-sponsored program of study may be a better choice.
Still, there has not been a drop-off among students interested in non-Tufts options, she said.
O'Leary has noticed, however, a recent increase in student interest in countries with lower living costs. Last semester, she said, more students studied in Argentina and China than in the past because living in either of those nations is cheaper than traveling in Europe.
Non-Tufts programs can benefit from a rough economy, as they often have lower price tags than do Tufts' options. Some programs also offer merit-based financial aid, which as of late has been in higher demand.
"There are more questions at this point coming from students who want to know about outside assistance," O'Leary said. "Tufts students are very competitive for outside assistance. Providers are very eager to enroll Tufts students."
Though the university's need-based financial aid policy does not transfer over to non-Tufts programs, O'Leary said that students can still generally find suitable options.
Outside providers, she said, are sensitive to current economic conditions and are making an effort to cap or minimize costs. She added that providers may be looking to increase their summer alternatives for international study, which generally are less expensive than semester or full-year options.
And while Tufts' programs abroad have weathered the downturn fairly well, some other schools have not been as fortunate.
Brandeis University, which does not offer its own study-abroad programs, announced in mid-January that merit-based aid would not be transferrable to students studying abroad next year. Amid public outcry, the school announced in an e-mail on Feb. 10 that it had reversed its decision, Brandeis' student paper, The Justice, reported.
"We got quite a reaction from students," Brandeis Dean of Student Financial Services Peter Giumette told the Daily. "Senior administration looked at that and felt that there was either an implied or otherwise responsibility by the institution to continue funding to allow those monies to go abroad."
Brandeis recently adopted a "home-school" policy, Giumette said, in which students pay the university their normal tuition when they study abroad. Brandeis then pays directly for the programs that students choose.
Before, students studying abroad took a leave of absence from the university and were not awarded any of Brandeis' aid. The transition to the home-school approach, Giumette said, was made to expand the accessibility of financial aid to students who relied on institutional support.
In the process of paying for students' international programs, which often are more expensive than the school's tuition, Brandeis' study-abroad program racked up an $800,000 budget gap.
The university is now looking for different ways to cut back costs. They have slightly raised the GPA requirement for students studying abroad and may in the future limit the number of students who choose the most expensive programs, Giumette said.
Brown University recently switched a similar home-school approach in which any student studying abroad -- on a Brown or alternative program -- would have to pay Brown's tuition.
The policy, which was approved in 2005 but first implemented this year, was put in place to make study abroad available to all students, particularly those who rely on the university's financial aid.
"Brown is a need-blind university, so there are students who have considerable aid that makes all the difference in the world," Brown Director of International Programs Kendall Brostuen told the Daily.
Brostuen said that last semester's study-abroad figures were similar to the previous year. Since then, they have fallen by about 10 percent, "likely due to the economy," he said.
