UNH Athletes Abroad

Timing

picture of passports and small suitcases

The table below provides general guidelines, by sport, about the best time for Athletes to have an education abroad experience.  It is essential to connect early with your coach and academic counselor from the Watkins Center for Student-Athlete Excellence to determine the most appropriate times for your specific case.  The times listed will only work if you are able to find sufficient training facilities to train while doing your education abroad experience; consult early with your coach.

Women's

Sport Fall Semester January Term Spring Semester Summer

Basketball

      Y

Cross Country

  Y Y Y

Field Hockey

  M M Y

Gymnastics

      Y

Ice Hockey

      Y

Lacrosse

Y M   Y

Skiing

Y     Y

Soccer

  M M Y

Swimming & Diving

      Y

Track & Field

M M   Y

Volleyball

  M Y (senior year) M

Men's

Sport Fall Semester January Term Spring Semester Summer

Basketball

      Y

Cross Country

  Y Y Y

Football

  Y Y (senior year) Y

Ice Hockey

      Y

Skiing

Y     Y

Soccer

    Y (senior year) Y

Track & Field

M M   Y

Key:
Y - Yes. This time generally works for students to go abroad.
- Maybe. This time is less optimal but could work in discussing with advisor and coach.
Blank - Students should not consider going abroad except possibly during a redshirt year.

 


Alumni Profiles

Matthew Adams

Matthew Adams '20

Mechanical Engineering
Studied Abroad at Universidad Carlos III, Madrid, Spain in Fall 2018 on the UNH Exchange Program

Why did you want to study abroad as an undergraduate?
I wanted to study abroad for a couple of reasons: firstly, I have always loved traveling near and far and secondly, I wanted to return to Europe after having spent time there before.  Also, I noticed that in some job descriptions that study abroad is an added bonus when making applications and would look good on my resume.

How did you overcome any challenges presented to you as a student athlete?
These go together – self motivation and training accountability are very important for student athletes.  My sport is running, so it was very important to maintain my running schedule, not just the easy runs, but working out so that I remained in good shape.  The school system in Spain gave me the flexibility to balance my sport and school work because there isn’t as much homework or quizzes, mainly exams.  It’s important to hold yourself accountable when studying to make sure you learn the material for the test at the end.

What skills did you gain from study abroad?
The skills I gained were that I am now much better at setting out and finishing a task, in other words my personal accountability has improved.  Also, I became stronger at studying for exams, which was one of my weaker areas.

How has study abroad impacted you?
I definitely became more independent.  I was quite independent before leaving for the exchange, but, I found that most of the things I do at home are with other people.  Whilst abroad, at least in the first couple of weeks, I started to make new friends and have new experiences with them.  I have kept in touch with them even now!

Cassidy Croci

Cassidy Croci '16

Business Administration, International Affairs and History
Studied Abroad in Belgium Summer 2015

Why did you want to study abroad as an undergraduate?
It was important to study abroad as an undergraduate at UNH to apply classroom learning in an international environment. As a Business major, I interned at a Fortune 500 company whilst abroad and learned how to work in a multicultural setting as well as put my marketing skills developed at UNH to the test. Additionally, I was able to take an Art History course and view paintings and sculptures that have historical impact as I traveled rather than in textbooks.

How did you overcome any challenges presented to you as a student athlete?
Overcoming challenges as a student athlete comes down to personal responsibility and adaptability. For instance, I did not have access to a gym while in Brussels and had to modify my workouts to be more cardio and pylometric-based. If you have any obstacles or concerns before heading over regarding athletics make sure to talk with your strength trainer and coach to feel more comfortable.

What skills did you gain from study abroad?
I learned how to be more independent as well as more confident in my decision making. 

How has study abroad impacted your life after graduation?
After graduating from UNH, I decided to continue studying abroad by attending the University of Nottingham in England for my Master’s and PhD studies.