How to Include Study Abroad on Your Resume (With Examples)

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If you’re a student or recent graduate, putting study abroad experience on your resume will help you set yourself apart as an applicant and increase your appeal to employers.

The best way to present your study abroad experience depends on the type of program you completed (e.g., exchange semesters, internships, and informal language learning).

In this article, we’ll cover what you need to know to present your study abroad experience professionally.

Academic programs

List your experience in your education section if you temporarily studied at a foreign university (e.g., for a semester or year).

You should list your study abroad experience after your main degree. Include the following information:

Program name
University name
Location
Dates attended

If relevant, you can also include a brief bullet point to give context to describe the program, highlight any noteworthy achievements, or highlight skills that you developed.

Example academic study abroad entry

Education Abroad Program (EAP) — Peking University
Beijing, China, 20XX

Completed two classes that were taught entirely in Chinese (Cultural Studies and Chinese Art Studies)

Internships and work placements

List internships and work placements in your work experience section, exactly as you would any other job. This approach allows you to highlight the skills and hands-on experience that you developed abroad.

Include the following details:

Your title
Company name
Location
Dates
3–5 bullet points describing relevant accomplishments

Example study abroad internship

Cultural Exchange Research Assistant
Universidad de La Habana, Cuba June–August 20XX

Collaborated with 3 professors to conduct bilingual surveys of 200+ residents, achieving an 85% response rate
Translated research findings from Spanish to English for a joint university publication on food security
Presented findings at a university symposium to 50+ faculty members and students

Language programs and independent study

Mention your study abroad experience in your skills section if you studied abroad to develop a specific skill, like completing a language immersion program.

You don’t need to list independent study abroad experiences as separate entries — just make a note after the relevant skill.

Example of study abroad language programs on a resume

Languages:

Working proficiency in Japanese – 3-month immersion program, Kyoto, 20XX
Professional Spanish fluency – construction internship, Mexico City, 20XX

Years of Experience

118

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Seb is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with 10 years of combined experience in career counseling and editorial work. With a MA in International Communications from National Chengchi University (Taiwan), he helps job seekers translate their experience into employer-ready applications for global job markets.

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Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

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