Anvay Tewari

Many Yalies will soon be packing their bags, leaving New Haven’s familiar cadence for global experiences and studying abroad across the world. 

With the summer abroad season approaching, the News looked into past study abroad statistics and figures, analyzing the data provided by the Office of International and Summer Programs from 2018 to 2024. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, international travel was suspended from the summer of 2020 until the spring of 2022. These years have been omitted from the graphs below. Data is grouped in terms of academic years, which includes each succeeding summer. 

Ever wonder where Yalies fly off to when they study abroad? Check out the graphs below to check out the top regions they choose for academic adventures:

Europe has consistently been the most popular travel destination, with 72 percent of study abroad experiences taking place across the continent during the 2023-24 academic year. Asia and Latin America were the second and third most visited regions, respectively. 

Assessment and Director of Study Abroad Kelly McLaughlin told the News that the percentages of participation by class year tend to remain relatively stable. 

During the 2023-24 academic year, the majority of participants — approximately 53 percent — were rising sophomores. Rising juniors made up nearly 24 percent of Yale students studying abroad and rising seniors around 23 percent. 

Economics, history, political science, computer science and MCDB — molecular, cellular and developmental biology — were the top five most common majors amongst students who studied abroad last year, while the majority of participants were undeclared. 

Approximately 23 percent of graduating seniors in the class of 2024 studied abroad for credit during their time at Yale, a two point increase from the preceding class year. However, McLaughlin emphasized the impact of the pandemic on these figures.

He suspects that the graduating class’ participation in study abroad will eventually rise towards 50 percent, noting that 47 percent of the pre-COVID-19 class of 2019 studied abroad for credit. However, he acknowledged that there was no “guarantee” that the numbers would increase. 

The majority of study abroad experiences occur over the summer, as opposed to during the academic year or individual semesters. 

The number of students participating in YSS and non-Yale study programs this year has yet to be finalized. However, McLaughlin expects the data from the 2024-25 academic year to be similar to previous years’ statistics, with possibly higher numbers overall. 

He noted that the Office of International and Summer Programs was conscious of the travel bans recently announced by President Donald Trump. The office is working to assess the situation alongside the Office of International Students and Scholars, as well as other colleagues in the field of study abroad. 

“In terms of travel bans, we’re watching this very closely together,” he said. “We aim to provide the best guidance and support possible to students as/if needed. This landscape is still evolving, of course.” 

The United Kingdom was the most visited country throughout all three academic years. 

Cecile Tchano Tchandja ’28 will attend the London School of Economics over the summer. She noted her excitement to experience a new culture alongside other Yale students.

She added, “Personally, I love — not bad weather — but dreary, gloomy weather, and that is what London and the UK is so famous for. So I’m excited to kind of be a part of that and see London’s culture.”

Sofiia Tiapkina ’28 plans to pursue studies in Chinese at the CET Beijing program this summer. She will receive full funding for her trip — including financial coverage of room and board, tuition and transportation — through Yale’s Richard U. Light Fellowship Award. 

Tiapkina emphasized her anticipation for the program. She noted that although she was still in the process of applying for a visa and securing plane tickets, this final preparation was an “exciting challenge.”

“Language learning is really important,” said Tiapkina, referencing the program’s “language pledge,” which encourages students only to speak in Chinese. “I would really like the opportunity to really focus on language … In a way, it’s kind of restricting, but also, liberating.”

Waitlisted Yale Summer Session programs abroad applicants will receive a decision by April 1.