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

Studying abroad demonstrates independence and open-mindedness, two soft skills employers value because they make you easier to work with.

You should include study abroad experience on your resume if you’re a recent college graduate entering the workforce for the first time or if your experience is highly relevant to the position.

Reflect on the experience you gained

Take a moment to reflect on your experience studying abroad. Take note of the courses you took, the people you met, the places you visited, the work you did, and consider how these experiences impacted you.

Compile a list of all the experiences you gained. You may have:

• learned a language
• explored new subjects in your academic courses
• adapted to different exams and grading systems
• earned academic honors or maintained a high GPA
• completed an internship
• participated in a research program
• shadowed an experienced professional
• done volunteer work
• developed your cross-cultural competence
• honed your interpersonal skills
• given presentations or spoken publicly

Link your experience to the job post

Many experiences during your study abroad program can be relevant to a job. You want to highlight the exact skills that hiring managers are looking for.

Analyze the job description and take note of all the skills, experience, and qualifications the employer is looking for.

Does the job posting ask for applicants who display strong leadership skills and familiarity with project management? Consider if you displayed these skills during your study abroad experience and then use those exact keywords in your resume.
Only include details from your study abroad program if they demonstrate skills described in the job posting.

Choose where to put it

Now that you know how to add a study abroad experience to your resume, put it the best resume section based on your situation.

Option 1: Put it in your education section

The easiest way to list your study abroad experience on your resume is to include the school you attended in your education section.

Even if you didn’t graduate from the school, list the university you attended while abroad, the program you joined, and the dates you attended. This lets employers know when you were abroad and why.

Option 2: Add it to your experience section

Your experience section is where you can highlight specific accomplishments from your time abroad.

This could be a scholarly or volunteer opportunity, work you did at a think tank, or a research project you completed for your program. If you completed an internship, or just a regular job during your time abroad, list it in your resume’s experience section.

Here are two examples of how to showcase the experience you gained during your study abroad:

Option 3: List it in your skills section

If you gained any concrete skills during your semester abroad, list them in your resume’s skills section. For instance, if you improved your Spanish while completing an intensive language program in Mexico, mention that in your skills section.

If you gained any hard or soft skills while abroad, list them in your skills section. In most cases, this applies to any language skills you gained during your program. However, any specific job skills you picked up are also great additions to your resume.

Just remember to target your skills to the specific job you’re applying for.

Here are two examples of how to add a study abroad to your skills section: