Study Abroad

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Study Abroad

Discover the World

Welcome to our Study Abroad Program! Discover new cultures, enhance your language skills, and build valuable connections. Our program offers unique opportunities for personal and academic growth, preparing you for a successful career. Join us and explore the world while earning your degree.

There are many benefits to studying abroad such as:

Cultural Immersion: Experience new cultures, traditions, and perspectives.
Language Skills: Improve or learn a new language through daily practice.
Global Network: Build international friendships and professional connections.
Personal Growth: Gain independence, adaptability, and confidence.
Career Opportunities: Enhance your resume with unique experiences and skills.
Academic Excellence: Access diverse educational systems and high-quality programs.

Office of Global and Community Engagement

Office of Global and Community Engagement offers a variety of study abroad options to suit different needs and preferences. Students can choose from varying lengths of stay, locations, costs, and credits.

The office of Global and Community Engagement can help students reach their desired destination by

Assisting students in choosing a study abroad program with courses that best fit their major and graduation plan and reviewing course descriptions to ensure academic equivalency.
Helping students integrate their study abroad semester into their overall academic schedule considering timing and potential course load adjustments.

Study Abroad

Places we've gone

A group of diverse individuals posing together in front of a picturesque mountain landscape and a historic castle.

Germany

A group of four women examining ingredients while shopping at a vibrant market stall.

Guatemala

Group of six friends posing together outdoors, with a historical castle in the background and cloudy skies above.

Ireland

London

A group of tourists walking past ancient Roman ruins under a cloudy sky.

Rome

A group photo featuring a diverse mix of individuals, including monks in white robes, smiling together in a lush outdoor setting.

Senegal

Study Abroad Options

Direct Exchange Programs

A direct exchange study abroad program allows you to study at a foreign institution while paying Saint Vincent College’s tuition fees, making it an affordable way to gain international experience and academic credits. Each program focuses on immersing students in different cultures, enhancing their academic knowledge, and fostering personal development, ensuring a comprehensive international education experience.

Summer Institute in Rome: The Summer Institute in Rome, hosted by Saint Vincent College, offers students a unique opportunity to live and study in the historic Benedictine monastery of Sant'Anselmo. Over five weeks, participants will explore Rome's rich cultural heritage, take core courses tailored to the city's historical and artistic significance, and enjoy excursions to Florence and Assisi.

Fu Jen Summer Exchange: Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan is renowned for its high academic standards and cultural diversity. Established in 1961, the university offers a rich educational experience with a global perspective, making it a top choice for Saint Vincent students seeking to study abroad.

Irish American Scholarship Program: The Irish American Scholars program offers students from Saint Vincent College the chance to study tuition-free at prestigious institutions in Northern Ireland for one or two semesters. This unique opportunity allows SVC students to immerse themselves in a new culture, gain international academic experience, and build global connections.

ISEP: The ISEP Direct Exchange program offers students the opportunity to study at their chosen university abroad, with guaranteed placement for eligible applicants. With options in over 30 countries, students can customize their study abroad experience to match their academic and personal goals.

A woman smiling on a balcony with ancient Roman ruins in the background.

“The Summer Institute in Rome provides a month-long experience of learning, sight-seeing, Italian and Benedictine culture, and of course lots of delicious food and gelato. We stayed at Sant'Anselmo, a beautiful monastery just at the top of the Aventine Hill, a hike up from the Circus Maximus! There, we enjoyed engaging with the monks at dinner and walking everyday by monumental landmarks—the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Keyhole of Malta. My phone storage has still not recovered from the 2,000+ pictures I took!”

Domenica Delaney C25

Partnership Programs

A partnership study abroad program is a collaborative initiative between institutions in different countries, allowing students to study at a partner institution for a semester or year, often paying tuition and fees directly to that institution. These programs may offer more flexibility in terms of course selection and duration. These partnership programs also provide international experiences that may fulfill requirements for a degree in modern languages. All of the programs emphasize cultural immersion, academic enrichment, and personal growth, providing a well-rounded international education experience. We work with the following partners: (Pepper in some pictures- not sure how)

CIEE Study Abroad (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE's college study abroad programs offer students the chance to study in over 30 countries with 150+ programs. These include semester, summer, and January terms, as well as internships. CIEE allows students to customize their experience by studying in up to three different locations within a single semester. Students are supported by comprehensive safety services and significant financial aid.

CIS Abroad (Center for International Studies Abroad): CIS offers a variety of study abroad programs in over 20 countries, including semester, summer, January, and May terms, as well as internships and service-learning opportunities. CIS Abroad is committed to affordability and accessibility, with a high percentage of students receiving scholarships or grants.

ISA by World Strides (International Studies Abroad): ISA provides students with diverse opportunities to study in regions such as Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific. Their programs include semester, summer, and January terms, along with internships and service-learning options.  Programs are designed to fit various budgets and with over 300 staff members worldwide, ISA offers 24/7 emergency support and personalized assistance throughout the study abroad experience.

ISEP (International Student Exchange Programs): ISEP offers study abroad opportunities through a network of over 300 institutions in 50+ countries. Unique features include the choice between exchange and direct programs, affordability, and comprehensive support services, making international education accessible and well-supported.

A person standing on a sandy beach near rocky cliffs, with water reflecting the cloudy sky.

“Being able to study abroad in Spain was life changing. This experience challenged me in different ways and helped me grow as a person. While immersed in another culture, I proved to myself that I was capable of navigating a language barrier and learn more Spanish along the way. It also allowed me to be more independent and confident. Overall, I gained a deep appreciation for Spanish culture while experiencing it first-hand.”

Victoria Sarver, C25

Faculty-led Spring Break Trips

Our spring break trips are integrated with courses, allowing you to earn academic credit. Pre-trip coursework ensures you're well-prepared to fully appreciate and get the most out of the experience. The destinations, courses, and costs vary each year. Here are some of the travel courses we offer:

English Travel Courses:

Literary Dublin: Students study key texts by Irish writers like W.B. Yeats and James Joyce, then travel to Dublin and County Sligo to explore the places that inspired their work. This three-credit course includes lectures, tours, and an online reading blog.
Shakespeare in London: In this three-credit course, students experience Shakespeare's plays in London and Stratford-Upon-Avon, reading and discussing the plays before traveling, then visiting key sites and theaters.
Americans in Paris: Students explore literature by American expatriate writers in Paris, focusing on the Lost Generation, Paris Noir, and the Beat Generation. Students travel to Paris during spring break to visit significant locations, earning three credits.
The Renaissance in Florence: Students study the rich literary and cultural history of Florence from the late medieval to the high renaissance period and travel to Florence during spring break to explore key sites and texts, earning three credits.

Global Experience: The Global Experience course offers students the chance to earn up to 2 credits while exploring various international destinations, with priority registration for McKenna students. These Spring Break trips combine academic activities with cultural immersion, providing a transformative learning experience through guided tours, lectures, and interactions with local businesses. Past destinations have included: Germany, Ireland, Chile, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Peru, South Africa, China, Portugal, Turkey, and Austria among others.

BLS Rome Capstone Seminar: This three credit course for Benedictine Leadership Scholars includes an all-expenses-paid spring break trip to Rome. A Saint Vincent College faculty member leads the course, and students write an academic essay on Roman leadership models for their portfolio.

Folklore in Irish Childhood: This three-credit experiential learning course explores Ireland's rich mythic tradition and its impact on young people's identities. Students travel to Ireland to conduct ethnographic folklore collection, examining sacred geography, deities, fairies, heroes, folk rituals, and traditional songs.

A woman smiling in front of the Eiffel Tower on a sunny day.

“I am beyond grateful to have had the experience of traveling to Paris to learn about some of literature's most prevalent writers who wrote during their time in the city of love. Being able to walk the same routes, eat at the same cafés, see the same sights, not only allowed me to have an authentic-French experience, but also allowed me to connect with the influential authors we had learned so much about in class. We were able to explore Paris both as a class and at our own pace — and I got to stroll down the lively streets of Montmartre and buy local art from vendors, stand in awe of the intricate designs of stained class in Sainte-Chapelle, explore the catacombs, and stand at the very top of the Eiffel Tower and overlook the beautiful city below.”

Angel Scalamogna C’23 G’24

Service Trips

Service and mission trips are organized journeys where students travel to various locations to provide aid, support, and community development. These trips often take participants to places like Senegal, Brazil, and Alaska, where they engage in activities such as building infrastructure, offering medical services, and supporting local education initiatives. These trips are often sponsored by Campus Ministry.

A smiling young man in a green SVC College Tour t-shirt stands outdoors with trees in the background.

“During spring break, I traveled to the country of Senegal and visited the Benedictine monks at the Abbaye de Keur Moussa. Immediately we were greeted with the same hallmarks that I had learned about in my freshman seminar class. We were showered with love and given exceptional hospitality throughout the entire trip. This was all so new to me, that people that I had never met were so loving, kind, and hospitable. Fr. Paul, SVC’s president, explained to me, though, that this is what Benedictines do, no matter who it is. At Saint Vincent, you are interconnected with and accepted by Benedictines across the world regardless of your background.”

Isaiah McElroy, C’24