Directed Research
With IFSA, your options include directed research alongside faculty from partner universities and IFSA-Designed programs that combine academic learning with hands-on, real-world experience in global settings.
Picture yourself investigating how music intersects with behavioral therapy in Argentina, exploring health care on a Sri Lankan tea plantation, or tackling an engineering challenge in Dublin. With IFSA, directed research can help you dig deeper into your field of study while developing skills that support academic and professional growth.
Skills you might develop while researching abroad
Conducting research abroad can help you strengthen skills such as:
- Project management and organization
- Time management
- Critical and creative thinking
- Written and oral communication
- Independent thinking and confidence
- Academic relevance and connection to practical applications and business needs
You will be expected to manage these skills to shape a research question, gather and evaluate information, work through challenges, discuss and defend your findings, and complete a final project, like a research paper or presentation.
How can directed research change your study abroad experience?
Adding directed research to your study abroad experience enriches your focus by adding a meaningful academic dimension, encouraging deeper exploration of topics of interest, and helping you communicate and share knowledge in a clear and impactful manner.
Depending on your program and field of study, you may need to:
- Follow a more structured weekly schedule
- Commit time outside of your regular classes
- Attend and prepare for recurring meetings with your mentor or research advisor
- Learn to observe and adhere to local customs and manners of relating outside of the classroom space
- Travel to research sites, labs or local organizations
- Work independently
- Meet research deadlines or milestones
Before applying, review the format, time commitment, responsibilities, expectations, and prerequisites for your specific research program to be sure you’re choosing an experience that aligns with your study abroad goals and academic interests. Please note that for research opportunities in Latin America, you should have completed at least two semesters of Spanish. Additional language preparation can expand the range of research opportunities that are available to you.
Student experiences
“That night, I had to pinch myself, giddy at the fact that I’m doing research in Australia at one of the most advanced marine research facilities in the world. I smile as I finally start to fall asleep, knowing this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And I’m not going to waste a single second of it.”
—Tallulah S., James Cook University Partnership, Townsville, Australia
“I had the opportunity to perform directed research, studying how positive family dynamics can promote agency in maintaining health. I pursued this question as part of an ongoing project with the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán and Universidad Modelo that aims to create an intervention that will benefit community members in a local high school. I value this experience for allowing me to make a lasting contribution to literature and knowledge, and for the opportunity to do work that helps give people agency to work through community struggles.”
—Marina S., IFSA Mérida Universities Program, Mexico
Are you a STEM student worried about your ability to study abroad? Did you know that you can participate in programs that include research all while being a STEM major and graduate on time? Check out Yes, STEM Students Can Study Abroad: Opportunities, Programs, and Tips, to learn how a study abroad experience might not be far outside of your reach.
Programs with research opportunities
With IFSA, students can conduct research with faculty experts in Argentina, Australia, Chile, England, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and Sri Lanka.
To learn more about what kind of directed research programs are available and how to select the program that is right for you, read our guide, Research-Based Study Abroad Programs: What They Are and How to Choose One.
Frequently asked questions about conducting research abroad
| Questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| What is directed research abroad? | Directed research abroad opens opportunities to conduct research with faculty experts on a wide range of topics. |
| What kinds of topics can students explore through directed research? | Directed research topics may include studying how music intersects with behavioral therapy in Argentina, exploring health care on a Sri Lankan tea plantation, or tackling an engineering challenge in Dublin. |
| Where are directed research opportunities available? | Directed research opportunities are available through IFSA programs in Argentina, Australia, Chile, England, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and Sri Lanka. |
| What skills can directed research help me build? | Directed research can help students sharpen skills in project management, critical and creative thinking, and written and oral communication. |
| Is directed research available in every IFSA program? | Research opportunities vary by program. |