CHESTER, PA--(Marketwire - November 16, 2009) - StudyAbroad.com, a leading EducationDynamics web resource and the Internet's premier study abroad directory, today announced website statistics that indicate compelling parallels with data released today by Open Doors regarding demand for programs in non-traditional destinations in the 2007-2008 academic year. The trend toward heightened student interest in non-traditional countries is due not only to the authentic global experiences afforded by study abroad destinations off the beaten path, but also the friendlier price tag accompanying such programs that make international education a reality even in a strained global economy.

For the second consecutive year, StudyAbroad.com site traffic and the Open Doors 2009 findings support this trend toward non-traditional study abroad locations, particularly Switzerland, Russia and Israel. Additionally, interest in Argentina, South Africa, Ecuador, and India -- which emerged as popular non-traditional destinations in 2008 -- continue to command heightened student interest. While the Open Doors 2009 data predates the economic downturn, that of StudyAbroad.com reflects demand in the 2008-2009 academic year and demonstrates how the recession has impacted study abroad.

Among other Open Doors 2009 trends corroborated by StudyAbroad.com site traffic is the fact that students are showing increasing interest in programs with curricular rooted in the social sciences fields, representing the field of study of 21.5 percent of U.S. students electing to study abroad. Among social sciences disciplines, StudyAbroad.com reports that psychology has emerged as a hot area of study in international education, growing significantly in demand from the previous academic year.

Additionally, StudyAbroad.com website statistics reflecting the 10 most popular study abroad destinations largely mirror those reported Open Doors 2009 data:

  1.   United Kingdom (#1 Open Doors)       6.   Australia (#6 Open Doors)
  2.   Spain (#3 Open Doors)                7.   China (#5 Open Doors)
  3.   Italy (#2 Open Doors)                8.   Ireland (#9 Open Doors)
  4.   Japan (#11 Open Doors)               9.   Germany (#8 Open Doors)
  5.   France (#4 Open Doors)               10.  Greece (#13 Open Doors)
  

The StudyAbroad.com directory lists over 17,500 study abroad programs in more than 130 countries. In addition to its directory of study abroad programs, StudyAbroad.com also provides study abroad scholarship, financial aid, and health and safety information. Traffic generated by StudyAbroad.com is a result of both organic and sponsored web searches.

The annual Open Doors report, published by the Institute of International Education, the leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States, compiles comprehensive data on international students, scholars in the U.S. and American students who study abroad.

About StudyAbroad.com

StudyAbroad.com, part of the Prospecting Services Division of EducationDynamics, is the Internet's leading source of information on educational opportunities for students to study in other countries. It is a comprehensive directory of study abroad and intensive language programs organized by subject and destination. StudyAbroad.com also offers Destination Portal Pages, a handbook serving as a guide to traveling abroad, and financial aid information. To learn more, visit http://www.StudyAbroad.com.