International Programs at the University of St. Thomas

The University of St. Thomas has made a strong commitment to international education through its Offices of International Programs

Motivated by a mission to provide meaningful international and intercultural experiences for all members of the St. Thomas community, these offices send St. Thomas students and faculty around the world, as well as bring that world to the St. Thomas campuses.

Study Abroad

• St. Thomas is ranked by the Institute of International Education’s most recent survey in the top five nationally for the percent of undergraduates studying abroad (61.1 percent) in the doctoral institutions’ category.
• Nearly 1,000 students participated in more than 100 programs in 35 countries in 2008-2009. Leading destinations were Italy, England, Germany, Spain, Ireland and Australia.

International Students

• With a goal to increase the number of international students on campus, the university has doubled, to 300, the number at St. Thomas in recent years.
• Those students from 60 countries bring an international perspective to St. Thomas. The top five countries are China, India, Saudi Arabia, Uganda and Nepal.

Faculty

• Fifty faculty teach semester-long or short-term courses abroad each year.
• Five to 10 faculty receive International Education grants each year to internationalize their teaching.

Campus programs, including International Education Week, International Dinner Discussions and the Global Citizenship Award, and organizations like the Globally Minded Student Association provide a variety of opportunities to broaden international learning and understanding.

International Education Week (Sept. 28-Oct. 2) celebrated the countries and cultures of the Opus Prize winners – Brazil, Colombia and Morocco – with a series of speakers, films, music and more.