There are more than 22 countries where students can study and pay UNM tuition rates.
Today a Study Abroad fair will feature UNM-sponsored international exchange and study abroad programs.
The fair will be held in the Dane Smith Hall atrium from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Senior Sean Tollison went on an exchange to England for the 2001-02 school year.
Tollison said his experience in England was beneficial, because it gave him a chance to take sports psychology classes not offered at the University.
He said getting information about the exchange was difficult.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"I had to go to the office often, because there are so many baby steps," he said. "A fair would actually be very helpful."
The fair is sponsored by the Office of International Programs and Studies and the Latin American and Iberian Institute.
Ken Carpenter, adviser for international programs, said options for students to study overseas need to be expanded.
"(The fair) is a chance for students to meet with advisers from UNM programs and outside providers all in one place to be able to compare programs, cost, etc," he said.
UNM joined three new programs to offer students more options, Carpenter said.
Students can study abroad in Chile, Hong Kong, Norway, Japan and Thailand.
Direct exchanges may be more expensive, said Desiree Kosciulek, president of UNM's Study Abroad Association, but they offer more choices.
International studies and the Latin American and Iberian Institute offer intensive language study for students who want a short-term experience.
Robyn Cote, program coordinator for the LAII, which sponsors exchanges to Spanish
and Portuguese-speaking countries, said the fair is a great hands-on way for students to get
information.
"Seeing the people who actually run the programs is really important for students," Cote said. "It is much more hands-on than just going to our Web site or their Web site to find out about the programs."
Carpenter said the fair should help publicize the opportunities of a growing program.
"This fall, we sent out about 50 percent more students on exchange programs than last fall," he said. "I think UNM students are beginning to realize that studying or working in another country is the most effective educational experience they can have."
Kosciulek said her organization wanted to take part in the fair to give interested students an opportunity to talk to international students.
"Studying abroad can only help you," she said. "A person can visit a place all they want, but they will never come close to feeling what it is like to be from there unless they actually live there, study and work there and live like the people do."
