Why Don’t More Black Students Study Abroad?

Destiney Wilson

December 15, 2024

According to experts, overseas study transforms the lives of many college and high school students who participate. In recent years, its popularity has grown among both groups. However, in the U.S., only 16% of college graduates have studied abroad, up from less than 10% in the past five years. The numbers for high school students are even lower, with just 2% studying abroad as of 2024. In higher education, of the number of both undergraduate and graduate students who studied abroad in 2024, only 5% identified as Black.

Grace Sims, a Masters Student and advocate for Black students studying abroad, says there are unique benefits for Black students in particular when they study abroad. Sims says going overseas helps Black students grow personally, opens career opportunities for them, and allows them to view their identity through a new lens. It exposes them to different cultural concepts of race, gender, and sexuality, which can set them up for success by helping them to better understand themselves and others. However, Sims explains that many Black students hesitate to study abroad due to historical and cultural concerns about global travel–many are afraid of experiencing the same type of discrimination abroad that they experience in the US. The United States’ Black population has a complicated history with traversing the world, and this is no secret given the fact that most are descended from enslaved African ancestors who were forced to come to the United States against their wishes. This, compounded with the fact that many Black people who go abroad experience being poked and prodded at, could be a major contributing factor to the deficit of Black students studying abroad.

Both Sims and Weaver agree that IU must better prepare Black students for the challenges they may face abroad. Black students often encounter unique experiences, such as being treated as curiosities, asked personal questions, or even photographed like celebrities. These situations can make students feel out of place or like “museum exhibits,” as many Black travelers have shared on social media platforms like Reddit, Instagram, and Twitter. In fact, there are quite a few spaces online that are specifically made for Black people who study or go abroad to share their experiences. And in these spaces, many of the positive experiences that Black travelers have abroad are outnumbered by the negative ones. But, according to experts, this experience is nothing out of the ordinary–in fact, it is considered to be commonplace.

Despite these challenges, IU is more actively working to make studying abroad more accessible for every student. The university hosts study abroad fairs, information sessions, and panels to educate students several times per school year. Not only this, with more and more students studying abroad every year, the support system for Black students going abroad is growing larger and larger. IU’s website also offers resources specific to students from diverse backgrounds, helping them anticipate what to expect when going to certain regions, or going abroad in general. Sims and Weaver both hope that in the future, these efforts will encourage more Black students to take advantage of the opportunities that overseas study provides.