At home, you may be used to being part of the religious majority and having your beliefs generally accepted. Abroad, however, you may become part of a religious minority and viewed differently than you’re accustomed to. For example, wearing a cross symbol does not draw attention in the U.S. the way it might in some countries. Likewise, while studying abroad your religious beliefs may actually become more accepted than they are in the U.S. Either way, this experience will allow you to learn about other belief systems and perhaps also give you a new perspective on your own.

Prior to going abroad, it is a good idea to research the major religion(s) of your host country and take the time to understand them, at least on a basic level. The Central Intelligence Agency’s website has a World Factbook which breaks down every country’s religious demographics and The Pluralism Project has detailed information on all of the world’s main religions. Knowing a bit about the major religion(s) of your host country will not only help you to understand your host culture better, but also to anticipate how your own religion may be perceived. Depending on where you go, religion may have a much larger or smaller role than it does in the U.S.

On their website, Diversity Abroad provides a list of questions you should ask yourself about religion before studying abroad, such as:

  • What is the dominant religion in my host country?
  • Are there any laws regarding religion? Is there a legal separation of church and state?
  • How tolerant is my host culture of other religions? What about atheists and agnostics?
  • Is it safe for me to wear religious symbols or clothing?

We encourage you to be open-minded as you prepare for your international experience, regardless of your beliefs (or lack thereof). If you are planning to practice your religion while abroad, you may want to find out what resources or places of worship there are in the local community, or even at the university you will attend. If you have religious dietary restrictions, be sure to let your program director or appropriate staff know ahead of time. We also encourage you to review the information in the Dietary Restrictions section of our website.

We hope that some of the below resources may also be helpful or reassuring to you in your pursuit of study abroad. Remember that you can always reach out to our office or Multicultural and Diversity Affairs with questions or concerns.