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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Study abroad

Overview

  • Influence: Study abroad
  • Domain: Technology, School, and Out-of-School Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Out-of-school
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to considerably accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Study abroad programs are educational initiatives that allow students to travel and study in a foreign country, providing opportunities to immerse themselves in a different culture, language, and educational system

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 5
  • Number of studies: 186
  • Number of students: 7,618
  • Number of effects: 443
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.76
  • Robustness index: 3

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Academy of Management Learning & Education Varela Learning outcomes of study-abroad programs: A meta-analysis.  2017 Study abroad on language 19 2,948 33 0.98
Canadian Modern Language Review Yang The effectiveness of study-abroad on second language learning: A meta-analysis.  2016 Study abroad on language 66 NA 66 0.75
JLTA Journal Hirai The effects of study abroad duration and predeparture proficiency on the L2 proficiency of Japanese university students: A meta-analysis approach. 2024 Study abroad on language 31 NA 31 0.83
Systems Xu, Su, Hu, & Chen Changes in interlanguage complexity during study abroad: A metaanalysis. 2019 Study abroad on language 28 602 30 0.37
Language Teaching Research Tseng, Liu, Hsu, & Chu Revisiting the effectiveness of study abroad language programs: A multi-level meta-analysis.  2024 Study abroad language programs 42 4,068 283 0.87
TOTAL/AVERAGE 186 7,618 443 0.76
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