The idea of studying abroad is alluring to college students, and because you may not be able to take the time or money to spend an entire school year overseas, there are nearly 10,000 short-term study abroad opportunities offered through U.S. institutions annually.

Short-term study abroad, typically two- to eight-weeks long, is the most common program among undergraduate students, representing 56 percent of Americans who studied abroad for 2007-2008, up from 3.3 percent a decade ago, according to the Institute for International Education. Locations range from Antarctica to England to Kenya to Tanzania.

For some, it's a first trial step to a longer study abroad program. It also opens the doors to studying abroad for students in more structured programs like nursing or education by fitting the opportunities into those timetables, according to the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

Here are a few key things to know about a short-term study abroad program you're considering:

The learning format
You'll want to know if you'll travel from site to site for a comparative view or a survey approach, or if it stays in one location, providing in-depth study, said Fred Strickert, co-director of study abroad at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.  You may still be in a classroom or may be in a research setting or heading to different sites with your professors or a guide.

The course topic
Don't be lured just by the location or the idea of an overseas vacation, a perception of short-term study abroad that college and universities are trying to change (by avoiding calling it a trip or a tour), according to the Association of American Colleges and Universities. But consider what you'll be studying. The University of Connecticut's three-week summer Liverpool program, for example, includes a course on the historical and modern effects of the transatlantic slave trade. Strickert points out that Wartburg College's courses include the history of mathematics in Germany, a literary tour in England, and the HIV/AIDS crisis in Tanzania.

The prerequisites
You may be required to take certain courses or read particular materials or papers to get prepared for what you'll be seeing and learning overseas, Strickert says. That also could include foreign language proficiency, such as being fluent in Spanish for students seeking to go on a study abroad in Latin America.

The feedback from past students
Probably the best way to find out whether you'll enjoy the short-term study abroad experience is to talk to students who have recently been in the same spot and can tell you what they enjoyed about it and what they learned. They'll also give you a sense of the workload and the time you have free to see the world.

The outcome
The program can be part of your major, but if not, it still could be beneficial to you. Strickert also suggests considering how the experience will fit in with your career goals and could change you outlook on life, for the better.

Once you determine all of the above factors, you'll be ready to start researching short-term study abroad opportunities. Enjoy your trip!