Studying away has many benefits, whether it is for a students’ future career like networking, or simply appealing to the students’ general interest. Fashion students specifically are required to study away to enhance their careers and develop their skills by getting an internship and gaining experience.
For students to participate in the New York City study away program, the university requires students to be enrolled in 12-18 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Students who are participating in the summer program must be enrolled in 6 credit hours. Students must also pay a Study Away program deposit, which is $500. The program asks students to fill out a form that provides qualifying students with additional financial aid to help with NYC housing, which is called NYC Housing Addendum. More information on this can be found on the New York City Study Away Program’s website.
Kent State University’s New York program is located in Manhattan’s Garment District. There, fashion students can learn from instructors who are industry-based instructors, which means the professors are bringing their professional experience into the classroom to teach students.
Students participate in internships to jumpstart their careers, which gives students hands-on experience to add on their resumes. They can also participate in New York Fashion Week and networking events.
Wani Hamuli, an office assistant working in the fashion department here at Kent State University, weighed in on the study away program’s financial aid offers for students wanting to experience these opportunities but in need of additional support.
“We have scholarships dedicated specifically to study away programs, and students can also use financial aid,” Hamuli says.
Students may also want to study away for their personal interests and reasons, but Kent State requires fashion students to study away.
“The mission of the study program is to allow students to learn from other professionals to give students global awareness, cultural exposure, creative inspiration, personal growth and career preparation,” Hamuli says.
Senior fashion design major Katherine McClure discussed her study away tours, which included New York in the fall of 2024 and Paris in the spring of 2025. She recounted memories that had a positive impact on her study away experience as a fashion student and how she navigated through study away financially.
“In New York, I formed really strong bonds in the studio during junior studio. We bonded a lot over finishing by the due date but also buying fabric in the garment district and what we could eat on a budget that was yummy,” McClure says.
McClure also spoke about her study away in Paris and how her core memories were traveling all over Europe, from Germany to Italy to Ibiza, Spain and more. They also discussed how they loved all the architecture and culture. McClure says she would recommend traveling around Europe if you go away.
“I am very fortunate, as I had my parents help with the cost of living and tuition, and I paid for food and extra shopping like clothes, souvenirs, etc. I have worked since I was 15, so I had a lot in my savings,” McClure says. “I would say I spent the same amount in both New York and Paris, in different ways.”
Leila Clemmons is a writer. Contact her [email protected]
