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Cross-Cultural Considerations for Religious Students

For many students, religion is an integral part of daily life. It is important for religious students to carefully think about how important maintaining practice and/or observances is to them personally before venturing off on a study abroad program. If it is important to you, then studying abroad can be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about your religion from another cultural perspective and also a chance for you to look at your religious practice from a new perspective.

For religious students going abroad, the first step is to do some research on the host country and culture you will be living in. This entails not only finding possible places of practice or worship that you can utilize, but also acquiring for yourself a good background on the local religious environment. What religions are widely practiced there? Historically, how have certain religions developed and evolved in your host country? Is it an active part of public life or considered more of an unspoken, private matter? Doing this kind of research and pondering these questions will not only help you directly with pursuing your practice, but will also give you a unique window into your host culture.

Depending on your study abroad program, you should also feel free to inquire with program staff for assistance in finding places of practice or worship abroad. If you are going abroad on an Enclave program, you can contact the Program Director for help and advice. For those going on Partner programs and studying abroad at actual overseas universities, students should research and inquire with the Partner University on what resources are available for religious practice.

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