From Career Readiness to Personal Growth, Studying Abroad is The Ticket
Grab Your Passport
Here at Bentley, there are many ways to learn: in the library, in the classroom, through sports and extracurriculars. And then of course there’s studying abroad, something that nearly half of Bentley students do. Whether that’s going for a semester or academic year, landing an internship overseas, or participating in a short-term, faculty-led international course during a semester break, it’s clear that Bentley students value the opportunities that put their classroom learning into action in the broader global community.
“Students who study abroad see a wide horizon and build their global networks, expanding the potential ways they can envision building a career path and contributing to solving global problems,” says Natalie Schlegel, MBA ’08, executive director for the Cronin Office of International Education. “Skills from study abroad do more than position students to land first jobs with top salaries. They equip students with the resilience and adaptability for long-term career success.” It’s just one of the reasons that Bentley has been recognized as a leading institution for study abroad programing by the Institute of International Education.
“Growth Happens When You Place Yourself in Unfamiliar Environments”
Destination: Paris, France
Majors: Marketing + Computer Information Systems
Why I wanted to study abroad:
I have always had a strong interest in travel and learning about other cultures. I believe growth happens when you place yourself in unfamiliar environments, and living in another country pushed me outside my normal routines in the best way.
Time for reflection:
Studying abroad helped me feel more prepared for the job market. Being away from the structure of daily life gave me time to reflect on what I want from my career. I used that time to update my resume, organize my portfolio, publish case studies from my marketing experience and take on new design projects. I also applied to internships while in Paris, which led to me securing an internship for the spring semester.
My favorite experience:
My favorite restaurant is in Paris and it’s called Donburi Ramen. I enjoy trying food from different cultures, and it became a place I returned to often after class or during free time. It became part of my routine and my experience in the city.
Destination: Singapore
Major: Marketing
“One morning in Singapore, I went to a café for breakfast with another Bentley student. After we finished, our waiter asked where I was from and that simple question started a friendship. This was the first Singaporean I connected with and he became an important part of my abroad experience. Not only do I have a better understanding of Singapore’s culture because of him, but I also have a reason to go back!”
“Studying Abroad was a Formative First Step in my Desired Career Path”
Destination: Vienna, Austria + Copenhagen, Denmark
Major: Marketing
Why I wanted to study abroad:
When selecting colleges, I knew I wanted the opportunity to study abroad for an entire year. That was in large part why I chose Bentley. I believe that travel is one of the most effective ways to build empathy and form genuine human connections. Staying in one place can be comfortable, but it can also limit your worldview and restrict opportunities for learning and personal growth. Immersing yourself in another country challenges you to move beyond assumptions, step outside familiar routines and reconsider what you value.
Giving back:
I studied at Vienna University of Economics and Business in fall 2024 and at Copenhagen Business School in spring 2025. The experience was so impactful that it persuaded me to become a study abroad intern in Bentley’s Cronin Office of International Education this year, where I absolutely love serving as a mentor to prospective study abroad students.
My favorite moment:
Studying abroad was a formative first step in my desired career path. I am interested in pursuing a career in luxury branding, particularly within the fashion industry, and have always envisioned living and working abroad. During my time abroad, I was able to attend events at Copenhagen Fashion Week, which provided valuable exposure to the global fashion industry and helped me better understand how luxury brands position themselves across markets. These experiences allowed me to connect classroom learning to real-world industry practices and further clarified my professional interests.
Destination: Florence, Italy
Major: Finance and Technology
“I grew up in Indonesia and then moved to the U.S. for college, so I was already technically ‘studying abroad.’ Because of that, I didn’t expect a semester in Europe to teach me anything drastically new. But being in Italy showed me how differently industries evolve depending on regulation, culture and consumer behavior. It also emphasized the versatility of my Bentley coursework. Concepts from finance and technology showed up constantly in my work on open banking and payments. It helped me see my classes not as isolated requirements but as tools I can apply to international roles and broader global systems.”
“I Had Never Left the U.S. Before”
Destination: Gold Coast, Australia
Major: Public Relations
Why I wanted to study abroad:
I had never left the U.S. before — or even been on a plane. The experience pushed me far outside my comfort zone and helped me become more independent. Australia had always been my dream destination, so being able to not only study there but live there for four months was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Studying abroad gave me the chance to truly learn about the people, the environment and the place I would be calling home.
Expanding what a classroom means:
The weather in Australia is very different from Massachusetts, so many of my classes took place outdoors or included hands-on activities. For example, in my Island Class, we traveled to North Stradbroke Island, where we lived for four days while learning about the local culture and environment. Being in Australia has made me appreciate the variety of learning styles and opportunities that exist beyond a traditional classroom.
My favorite moment:
My Island Class professor, Daryl McPhee, had a major impact on me. His work with the indigenous community on North Stradbroke Island was especially meaningful to learn about. He cooked dinner for different groups in the class each night. Sharing that meal allowed my group to reflect on everything we had learned during those four days. His class made me truly appreciative of the world around me and the people who came before me.
While Some Students Study Abroad, Others Pursue International Internships
While some students jet off to study at an overseas university, others grab their passports for internship experiences, coordinated with support from the study abroad office. “An overseas internship truly is the gold standard for career-minded Bentley students to get authentic immersion in a workplace,” Schlegel says. “When students immerse in an organization, the career impact is profound.”
Take Grayson Kuchta-Humphrey ’27, a Finance major who landed an accounting internship in Stockholm last summer with Zimpler, a Swedish fintech startup. “I chose to pursue an internship abroad because I saw it as an opportunity not only to expand my technical skills, but also to enrich my personal and professional identity,” he says. “I knew that my time at Zimpler would expose me to what it’s like to work within a different culture, an experience I hope to continue seeking throughout my future career.”
The experience, he notes, has already set him apart in the professional world. “Completing an internship abroad has helped me stand out among other candidates by giving me a unique experience to discuss with employers,” says Kuchta-Humphrey, who is studying abroad in the traditional sense this spring in Tokyo and already knows he wants to pursue an international career path. “Working in a foreign environment also strengthened my confidence, adaptability and self-reliance skills.”
Do you have a great story from studying abroad while at Bentley? Send us an email at magazine@bentley.edu, we’d love to hear it!
