With a rich history of supporting learning and scholarship in programs around the world, Florida State University has earned top rankings in multiple categories in a new report from the Institute of International Education (IIE).
FSU is ranked No. 1 among public universities and No. 4 overall for long-term study abroad enrollments in the IIE Open Doors 2025 Report, with 170 students studying abroad for eight weeks or more during the 2023-2024 academic year. FSU also ranked No. 10 among public universities and No. 12 overall for the total number of students studying abroad, with 2,702 students participating in programs in the 2023-2024 academic year.
“Florida State University’s strong performance in the Open Doors report is continuous and reflects our deep commitment to global engagement and experiential learning,” said Steve McDowell, assistant provost for International Initiatives and interim dean of The Graduate School. “Long-term study abroad experiences provide transformative opportunities for students to immerse themselves in different cultures, broaden their perspectives, and develop skills that prepare them for success in an interconnected world.”
Open Doors has long been regarded as the comprehensive information resource on international students and scholars in the United States and on U.S. students studying abroad. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IIE.
The top three leading destinations for study abroad were identified in the report as Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. FSU’s International Programs maintains a year-round presence in all three countries with study centers in Florence, Valencia and London. FSU also has a branch campus in the Republic of Panama in Panama City.
Other study abroad opportunities offered by FSU International Programs include programs in Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Kosovo, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Romania and Switzerland. This summer, International Programs is partnering for the first time with the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) to administer the CARE Global Learning Community Internship. The program is part of an initiative by FSU First Lady Jai Vartikar to help make transformative experiential learning opportunities available to more students. With support from Dr. Jai’s First-Gen Explorer’s Fund, first-generation students from CARE will travel to Durban, South Africa, to participate in full-time internships with local organizations and institutions as well as group excursions and language study.
“Our programs are designed to give students meaningful, hands-on experiences that go beyond the classroom,” said Louisa Blenman, executive director of International Programs. “These opportunities help students grow academically and personally while building lifelong connections across the globe.”
In addition to opportunities at International Programs, FSU students can also participate in Global Exchanges. Administered through the Center for Global Engagement, FSU’s Global Exchanges provides students the opportunity to attend a university abroad as an exchange student while earning credit and paying FSU tuition and fees. FSU has partnerships with more than 40 universities in 20 countries around the globe. Locations include Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom.
For more information about study abroad opportunities through International Programs, visit international.fsu.edu. To learn more about FSU’s Global Exchanges, visit cge.fsu.edu/fsu-global-exchange-programs.