Some U.S. universities let new first-year students begin college overseas: they spend their first semester, or even their whole first year, at a campus or partner university in Europe or Latin America, earn credit toward their degree, and then move to the home campus. These “first-year abroad” programs are often tied to spring admission, when a university admits more students than its home campus can house in the fall. This guide explains how such programs work, using the University of Miami and Florida State University as examples, and what international applicants should check.
University of Miami: Start Abroad
The University of Miami‘s Start Abroad program, launched in 2014, is offered to students admitted for the spring semester. Instead of waiting until January, they spend the fall semester abroad in Rome, Dublin or Barcelona and earn credits that transfer toward their Miami degree. In Rome, students take courses at the American University of Rome, which also organizes field trips to places such as Florence and the Amalfi Coast. According to the university, 75 Miami students took part in the Rome program in one recent fall semester (University of Miami News, March 17, 2025).
Students admitted for spring can apply after receiving their admission decision; in 2025, students admitted for spring 2026 could start their applications in March. Questions about deadlines and requirements go to the program at [email protected] (same source).
Florida State University: First Year Abroad and First Semester Abroad
Florida State University runs one of the largest programs of this kind. Through First Year Abroad (FYA) and First Semester Abroad (FSA), new students take FSU courses taught by on-site faculty at FSU study centers in London, Florence and Valencia, Spain, or at FSU’s branch campus in Panama City, Panama. In fall 2024, 314 students enrolled, the largest class since the programs began in 2005 with 34 students; 2,736 students had completed them by then. Classes are small, and students can complete general education requirements and major prerequisites (FSU News, November 4, 2024).
The programs are offered to incoming first-year students who receive a regular admission decision or a Seminole Pathways offer. Students can use almost all types of financial aid. FSU also offers an incentive: non-Florida residents who complete the First Year Abroad program receive an out-of-state tuition waiver for the rest of their undergraduate degree, and Florida residents receive a $1,000 scholarship (same source). “A sustained study abroad experience has a truly transformative impact on first year college students,” said Louisa Blenman, then interim director of International Programs.
What to Weigh Before Starting Abroad
- Credit and progress. Confirm which courses count toward your intended major. Programs like FSU’s teach the university’s own courses, while partner-university arrangements like Miami’s in Rome rely on transfer credit.
- Cost. Ask whether you pay home-campus tuition or a program fee, and what housing, meals, flights and insurance add. Check which scholarships and aid carry over.
- Belonging on the home campus. Students who start abroad arrive on the main campus after their classmates have formed friend groups and joined clubs. Cohort programs often hold orientation events to ease the transition; ask what is offered.
- Housing on return. Find out whether housing on the home campus is guaranteed for the spring or second year.
Notes for International Students
- Check eligibility first. Neither university’s announcement says whether students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents can join, and FSU’s out-of-state waiver is described for non-Florida residents generally, not specifically for international students. Ask the program office directly before you commit.
- Visas for two countries. You may need a student visa or residence permit for the country where you start (Italy, Ireland, Spain, the U.K. or Panama, depending on the program) and then an F-1 visa and Form I-20 before you move to the U.S. campus. Allow time for both applications.
- Work and training eligibility. F-1 students generally become eligible for Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training only after one full academic year in lawful F-1 status (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)). Ask the international student office how a semester or year spent abroad before you hold F-1 status affects that timeline.
References
- University of Miami News: Global start for University students (March 17, 2025)
- FSU News: FSU’s First Year and First Semester Abroad programs welcome largest class to date (November 4, 2024)
- 8 CFR 214.2(f): F-1 practical training
- Forward Pathway: University of Miami
- Forward Pathway: Florida State University