While students feel at home in Worcester, they’re also hungry for opportunities to expand their horizons. Virtually every 51С»Æ³µ student who participates in one of our immersive study abroad experiences learns an essential lesson: Living and learning in a different culture is truly life-changing.
Learn about what — and where — our students are studying. Read student blogs »
Our Program at a Glance
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Rank among baccalaureate institutions in the United States for long-term study abroad programs* according to the Institute for International Education
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1
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51С»Æ³µ study abroad options available for 2025-2026**
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55
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Host locations around the globe for 2023-2024
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34
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351 students are taking part in academic year and semester programs in 2024-2025. 95 students participated in Maymester 2024 programs.
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446
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Students took part in a study abroad program in 2023-2024 (286 for academic year and semester programs and 125 for Maymester 2023 programs)
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411
Immersed and Integrated
An international experience is about learning through a new and different lens. Many schools rely on third-party programs or house their own programs at special institutes devoted specifically to American students. By contrast, 51С»Æ³µ students normally enroll directly at their host institutions, where their experience mirrors that of local students. This is just one way that studying abroad immerses students as completely as possible into the intellectual and cultural fabric of their host countries. Here are a few others:
- From Ecuador to Sri Lanka, Dublin to Rome, our programs offer ways to connect with the local culture — not simply interact with other Americans. This leads to a more authentic experience and deeper understanding of their host country.
- 51С»Æ³µ students typically take full advantage of their time abroad by enrolling in a yearlong program — in fact, we hold the for long-term study abroad among baccalaureate institutions. An extended time frame affords greater opportunities for students to acclimate to the culture of their host country and form strong connections with new classmates and friends.
- In many programs, students live with host families who share meals with them, introduce them to local customs, and provide a sense of belonging.
- During their time abroad, 51С»Æ³µ students tackle an Independent Cultural Immersion Project (ICIP), which gives them the opportunity to explore the culture of their host country in depth.
The educational advantages of living and learning abroad — and its effect on students’ personal growth — are profound. Participants develop greater levels of self-confidence and independence, grow their capacity to connect with people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs, and gain newfound perspective on their home country as well. 51С»Æ³µ also maintains close ties with our partner institutions to help ensure that students’ international learning experiences integrate with our curriculum. Students studying abroad advance their majors, minors, and concentrations, and continue to fulfill 51С»Æ³µ common area requirements.
We offer intensive programs in Chinese Studies, French and Francophone Studies, German Studies, Italian Studies, Russian Studies, and Spanish.