There are many ways to study abroad as a student at Ohio State, and understanding your different options will help you chose the program that meets your needs. Knowing these terms will allow you to easily navigate the myriad of programs Ohio State has to offer.

• On Ohio State sponsored programs, groups of Ohio State students study together with an Ohio State faculty or staff member or graduate teaching assistant serving as resident director. These programs can take place over winter or spring break, or can last a full semester, and Ohio State offers programs for students of all majors.
  
  The Office of International Affairs offers a large number of Ohio State sponsored programs during May session, considered the first part of summer term (not the concluding part of spring semester). These programs depart in the month of May and do not exceed four weeks.
  
  
• Third party provider programs are managed by external organization, and subsequently, Ohio State students will often need to get courses taken on these programs approved for academic credit. Third party providers offer programs over summer session, one semester or a full academic year, and student have the option to participate on Ohio State-approved third party provider programs either as an enrolled Ohio State student or by studying independently.
  
  
• When a student studies abroad on a direct enroll program, he or she enrolls directly in classes at a foreign institution. These programs — also offered for summer session, one semester or a full academic year — require a high level of independence, and students enrolling directly will need to get courses approved for academic credit. Students have the option to participate on Ohio State-approved direct enroll programs either as an enrolled Ohio State student or by studying independently.
  
  
• International exchange programs allow third and fourth year Ohio State students to study at a foreign institution, while a student from that institution comes to study at Ohio State. Students can study abroad for one semester or for a full academic year, earning full time taking courses in either English or the language of the host country. Applicants wishing to participate in these programs are interviewed and selected by a committee, and will need to have courses approved for Ohio State credit.
  
  
• Those interested in pursuing an outside program — a program not approved by Ohio State — may do so as a student studying independently or petition for a one-time program approval in consultation with an Ohio State academic department. Called “Individualized Study Abroad Programs” (ISAPs), these programs may include research, internships and service-learning opportunities in addition to more traditional classroom-based programs. Students are responsible for identifying their own program and making all appropriate arrangements should an ISAP be approved.
  
  
• Students looking to perform research abroad generally do so via the ISAP process or by studying independently on an outside program. While the Office of International Affairs supports a variety of international internship opportunities, volunteer programs and employment overseas are not supported or endorsed by The Ohio State University, but the former are often undertaken as independent programs.