What Does a Study Abroad Director Do?
Sending students to study in another country can be life-changing and, at times, nerve-racking for the college that sends them. Study abroad directors plan the programs, vet overseas partners and spend a lot of time preparing for emergencies they hope never happen. Some run a campus office, while others live abroad and manage a university's own study center.
Also known as: Assistant Director, Costa Rica Study Abroad, Director of Study Abroad, Associate Director, Oxford Residential Center, Assistant Director, Oxford Study Abroad
Study Abroad Director Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a study abroad director include:
- Develop semester, summer and faculty-led programs with academic departments and overseas partners.
- Negotiate agreements with partner universities, housing providers and program vendors abroad.
- Set program budgets and student fees, and track spending in several currencies.
- Write health, safety and emergency plans for each site and test them before departure.
- Monitor State Department travel advisories and decide when a program must change or close.
- Run pre-departure orientation on culture, health, money and local laws.
- Approve course credit plans with the registrar so time abroad counts toward graduation.
- Supervise advisors on campus or local staff at an overseas study center.
- Handle emergencies abroad, from lost passports to hospital stays, often outside business hours.
- Promote programs at fairs and in classes, and manage scholarships for students with financial need.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a study abroad director, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Program management across time zones
- Risk management and emergency planning
- Contract and budget skills, including foreign currency
- Study abroad software such as Terra Dotta or Via TRM
- Fluency in a second language, such as Spanish or French
- Experience living or studying abroad
- Knowledge of the Forum on Education Abroad standards
- Calm leadership in a crisis
Education and Training
Most study abroad directors hold a master's degree, often in international education, higher education or a language, and time spent living or working abroad is close to essential. With experience, you could progress from advisor to assistant director and then director, or run a university's center overseas. You could also move into international admissions or global partnerships.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $80,870 - $144,370 per year, with a median of $104,590.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Education Administrators, Postsecondary.
For postsecondary education administrators as a whole, BLS projects growth of about 2 percent from 2025 to 2035. Director posts in study abroad are few. Hiring often is tied to world events and travel conditions, but colleges that send students overseas always will need someone accountable for their safety.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Education administrators, postsecondary.