Athens, Ga. – UGA remained a national leader in study abroad, ranked 9th among the top 40 doctoral/research institutions with 1,916 total study abroad participants in 2005-2006 according to a recently released national “Open Doors” report.

“UGA students understand that citizenship in the 21st century requires an understanding of and appreciation for people, places and cultures different from ours,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “I am proud of the commitment UGA has made to internationalizing the curriculum.”

UGA is ranked second in the nation in the number of students who participate in summer and other short-term programs, while at the same time, over 400 UGA students annually choose a full semester or academic year abroad.

“The fact that the percentage of students studying abroad at UGA continues to increase every year is something that the University can justly be proud of,” said Judith Shaw, associate provost of international affairs. “Equally important is the increasing diversity in the location of UGA’s faculty-led programs and in the student population choosing to study abroad.”

Close to 170 different study abroad and exchange programs in dozens of countries are currently offered by UGA, including an ever-expanding array of opportunities outside of western Europe. For the last three years, Asia has been the fastest-growing region for student interest, according to Kasee Clifton Laster, director of study abroad.

The fastest-growing group of study abroad participants at UGA is one that, nationally, has not traditionally studied abroad in high numbers: graduate and professional students. Encouraged by several new program offerings and funding initiatives within the Graduate School, Law School, and the Terry College of Business, UGA study abroad participation in this group jumped 50% in the past year. Graduate students now account for over 10% of all UGA study abroad participants.

UGA also continues to see a significant increase in the number of freshmen studying abroad, due largely to programs such as UGA Costa Rica’s fall and spring semesters, which offer full schedules of core classes that students may apply towards any degree program on campus.

Hundreds of non-UGA students are applying for transient admission to the university just to attend its faculty-led study abroad programs. “Again this year, over 10% of participants in UGA study abroad programs were individuals getting their degrees elsewhere, testifying to the quality, variety, and reputation of the study abroad programs developed by UGA faculty,” said Laster.

Reflecting 2005-2006 enrollment data, the “Open Doors” report is published each November by the Institute of International Education with funding from the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

For more information on study abroad opportunities at UGA, please see http://www.uga.edu/oie/studyabroad.htm.

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