Discover the World Through McNeese Study Abroad

McNeese State University senior Jazmin Winford is back on campus this fall after a semester last spring at Tampere University in Finland. 

“I knew before I started college that I wanted to go to Europe, to a place that has a real winter, for a semester,” Winford said. 

The business major from Iowa took classes in urban economics, digital marketing, American gangs, sustainable business practices and introduction to risk management and insurance. She explained that almost everyone in Finland speaks some English and communicating with classmates and professors was not a problem.  

“The class workload was about the same as McNeese,” Winford explained. “We did a lot of research and writing papers to prove we learned the information.” 

Winford said she was not alone. As an international student, she was assigned a tutor, or mentor, who helped with the details of living in a new country. She also met other American and international students who became her close friends.  

“People worry about making friends, but you will make friends because all international students are together and all college students are like-minded,” she said.  

Winford enjoyed the slower pace of life and some of her favorite memories include seeing the Northern Lights and traveling in Germany and Austria. 

“The first couple of months I was there the sun rose around 10 a.m. and set around 2 p.m., and by the time I left, it was daylight almost all the time,” she said. 

Through ISEP Exchange, McNeese students will find the cost of tuition, housing and meals at a university abroad are about the same as McNeese. There are opportunities for every major and students can apply to up to 10 universities all over the world.  

Other McNeese students are studying abroad for the fall 2025 semester.  

Ally McCall, an English literature major from Lake Charles, will be at the University of Sevilla in Spain, where she hopes to learn Spanish and travel around Europe.  

Kennzie Berry, an accounting major from Vinton, is going to Tartu University in Estonia. She is looking forward to learning about the country’s culture and traveling.  

Adrian Snell, an English literature major from Moss Bluff, is going to Leibniz University in Hannover, Germany. She is excited to learn about Germany’s rich culture and travel. 

All the students shared that the application process is not difficult and encouraged other students to apply. 

“Do not ignore your urge to study abroad and travel,” recommended Winford. 

She said that after coming home she has more confidence, has more friends and made excellent connections in Europe. Winford hopes to earn a master’s degree in Europe. 

The deadline to apply to study abroad for the fall 2026 semester is March 15, 2026. For more information, contact Emily Smith in the office of international students at internationaloffice@mcneese.edu.