About 12 percent more students will study abroad next fall compared to fall 2008, the Office of Study Abroad reported Tuesday.

The number of study abroad participants from the fall rose from about 350 students to more than 390 students. Rob Hallworth, director of the Study Abroad office, said the increase is “a return to normalcy” after the election and inauguration fervor that deterred students from studying abroad this year.

“Last year we had the drop off because of the elections,” Hallworth said, adding that the number of fall abroad participants is now on par with normal years without major events going on in the District.

Hallworth said since the Focus on Fall Abroad Community program was created four years ago, numbers of fall abroad participants have increased.

The Focus on Fall Abroad Community gives perks to students – like scholarship money, guaranteed housing upon their return in the spring and priority class registration.