Explore

Explore more than 300 off-campus study programs around the world.

North and Central America: Our off-campus study programs include those in neighboring countries, as well as in our own! We offer programs in seven different countries throughout North and Central America, from tropical Central America to here in the United States. Explore North America and Central America.
DOMESTIC PROGRAMS: We have many opportunities to study within the United States, from our long-established Philadelphia Center to a bilingual, multicultural border studies program. Explore Domestic Programs.
LATIN AND CENTRAL AMERICA: Our Latin and Central American programs offer a wide variety of studies in biodiversity, history and art — true to the region’s wide range of influences and backgrounds. Explore Latin and Central America.
EUROPE: Hosting one of our oldest off-campus study programs, the Vienna Summer School, these European opportunities are strong in politics, theatre, history and communications — the programs are as varied as the continent itself. Explore Europe.
AFRICA: Opportunities abound in our programs based in Africa, whether it’s in economic development, government policies or food production. Explore Africa.
THE MIDDLE EAST: Our programs in the Middle East give a glimpse into ancient history, religion and rich culture. Explore the Middle East.
ASIA: Covering an expansive area like Asia means a large variety of programs and opportunities for our students to choose from. Explore Asia.
AUSTRALIA, PACIFIC ISLANDS: Have the chance to study geological landscape or migration patterns with conservationists while exploring life in the Southern Hemisphere. Explore Australia and the Pacific Islands.
WEST INDIES: Visit the island nations surrounding three major archipelagoes in the West Indies. Explore the West Indies.
MAY/JUNE/JULY TERMS: Our May/June terms are designed for students interested in spending part of their summer overseas, earning academic credit. For many years, Hope College has offered these shortened programs in places like Austria, England, India and Japan. More recently, additional programs were added in Italy, Spain and Uganda. Each program is designed within a four-week program and led by Hope’s faculty. These programs — which take place in four-week segments through May, June and July — are announced during the fall semester.

Hope student looking at the pyramids

Choosing A Program

As you look for the right off-campus programs for you, consider the following:

How will this experience enhance my major/minor?
What course requirements do I need to fulfill while being off-campus?
What semester/academic year works best into my four-year plan?
What is the educational system like in the host country?
Will I be living with a host family or in student housing? Will I be in an apartment with local and/or American students?
What are the program dates and the length of the program?
What are the program requirements and do I meet them?
What are my language skills? Is this program appropriate for my language abilities?
Can I afford to live in this country for five to six months or for a full academic year?
What scholarship opportunities are available for off-campus study?
Should I consider an internship?
What extracurricular activities and travel does the program offer?
Do I prefer taking courses with other American students or do I prefer to directly enroll in a local university course?

Whether you’ve decided you’re definitely going off-campus or are still thinking about it, it’s best to come into the Center for Global Engagement to explore your options. There are over 300 off-campus options for Hope students in over 60 countries on six continents. You can review program brochures, videos, books and other resources to help you narrow down your search.

You can also check out the programs at travel.hope.edu for a full list of Hope’s official off-campus opportunities. To help you focus your search, look for programs that specialize in your major or a region of the world in which you are interested. If you are a language student, consider lesser-known areas for a more unique study abroad experience. As always, when making academic decisions, be sure to discuss your options with your advisor.

And you don’t necessarily have to speak a second language. Some programs in non-English-speaking countries offer courses in English. These programs offer at least an introduction to the region’s language; most offer a semester-long language course that can count toward the language component of Hope’s general education requirement. Of course, there are study options in English-speaking places like England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Need Help?

Stop by the Center for Global Engagement any time to chat with a study abroad peer advisor or a staff member. Ask your academic advisor to help you map out your four-year plan to include a semester or two off campus. We can help you determine which programs might be the best fit.