Senior builds personalized study abroad program with help from Global Business Studies
Hannah Siegler shares unique exchange program experience with University of Malta
After watching her older sister study abroad in Spain, Hannah Siegler knew she wanted to have a study abroad experience of her own.
A senior marketing major in the KU School of Business from Memphis, Tennessee, Siegler spent the spring of 2024 studying at the University of Malta through the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), where she completed a full semester with a 12-credit-hour course load.
ISEP is a nonprofit organization facilitating international education through a global network of more than 300 colleges and universities in more than 50 countries. They offer study abroad, exchange, and internship opportunities by allowing students to enroll at partner institutions. ISEP supports students with application guidance, housing arrangements, and cultural integration throughout their programs.
Siegler dedicated herself to researching programs. She wanted the support of fellow Americans while also immersing herself in diverse cultures. Her first step was meeting with Ian Adkins, international programs coordinator, in the school’s Global Business Studies office.
She originally wanted to go to southern France, as she had been taking French classes at KU, but was worried about her language proficiency. Siegler knew she planned on studying abroad in the spring, and she did not have any more required French courses to take in the fall. So, she would have had to add a French course to her schedule and drop a marketing class. The other option was to practice the language on her own, which felt overwhelming. Her biggest interest in Malta was the weather and size of the country. She set a goal to see the entire country and become a small expert on Malta.
Since the University of Malta is not affiliated with KU, Adkins helped her determine how to apply for classes and integrate them into her academic plan. According to Adkins, 50 students are participating or have participated in a program that is not at a direct KU partner university for a semester-long program in the 2024–2025 school year.
“He helped me get over the anxiety of starting the process and was able to lay out all of the steps I would need to take to go to the University of Malta,” Siegler said. “He had not worked with the University of Malta before, so they had no previously approved classes, but he was able to help me get the applications for course equivalencies so I would get all my credits during my time abroad.”
Familiarizing herself with the cultural differences was a challenge. Unlike traditional schools in the U.S. with classes five days a week, Siegler only attended courses two or three days a week. The difference was that her classes were two to three hours long. Her semester began in February and went to June for their spring break, with exams lasting the entire month of May. The grading system also came as a shock. She took a management course, two marketing electives and a finance course.
“Instead of having weekly assignments and quizzes, it was more showing up, and at the end of the course, there would be a big paper or exam that counted for almost your whole grade,” Siegler said. “I did not love that because there wasn’t anything else to balance it out.”
Siegler found it less intimidating to communicate with her professors than with her Maltese classmates. Her professors showed genuine interest in her experiences as an American student, often asking about her background and life. Since most of her coursework was independent, she had limited interaction with fellow students, finding it hard to connect. However, because English was widely spoken, she was able to communicate with them when needed.
Toward the end of her semester, Siegler wrote many essays and quickly realized the expectations differed from those at KU. While she was accustomed to prioritizing business writing, which is short and concise pieces, her coursework abroad required essays ranging from five to 10 pages. Though it was challenging at first, she adapted to a new writing style.
“I had not written big research papers since high school and had to relearn how to do the research along with learning how to not just use filler but make my essays interesting and meaningful,” Siegler said. “It took a lot more time as I was doing a lot of research, and I was able to expand on my ideas throughout pages, which really had me work on the specific details and think deeper.”
Balancing academics while studying abroad can be challenging. To keep up with her schoolwork while also completing her goal of exploring the town, Siegler would often study at coffee shops with her friends.
“There were lots of study centers in the dorm I was staying at, so I would go there, or I would go to coffee shops with friends,” Siegler said. “Mostly off-campus studying I found was best for me; it was another reason to look around.”
For students considering studying abroad, Siegler says do it and take advantage of resources like the study abroad office. There are many different time-length programs for students who may feel they are not able to fit it into their schedule.
Studying abroad provided Siegler with a deeper global perspective, allowing her to step outside her comfort zone and gain a broader understanding of the world. The experience helped her develop a greater awareness of global events and diverse perspectives and fueled her confidence in working toward a future career. She has a much greater understanding of balancing school and work life and feels that her time management habits have improved.
“Going abroad is a big jump,” Siegler said. “Coming back, I am able to put myself out there a lot more. I feel like before I was scared to talk to representatives or people on LinkedIn, but now in my job search it is not scary for me. I really grew my confidence.”
Learn more about KU School of Business study abroad programs at business.ku.edu/study-abroad. For more information about specific programs, scholarships or more, contact Ian Adkins, international programs coordinator, at kubusglobal@ku.edu.
By Grace Ludes
