This section will give you an overview of the semester- and year-long visiting exchange and study-abroad programs available through Washington College. These programs have been vetted by the Washington College faculty and administration, including an on-site visit (and multiple visits in many cases). Second-semester sophomores and beyond are eligible to study abroad provided they meet the academic requirements of the host institution and are in good academic/disciplinary standing at the College. Students’ acceptance to study abroad and recommendation to a specific institution is based on several factors, including GPA, faculty recommendations, the number of applicants to a particular institution, major of study, and class year. Students interested in studying abroad are encouraged to plan and ensure they have the prerequisites of their anticipated host institution. Most exchange partners require a 3.0 GPA.

All exchange programs include “tuition exchange,” – meaning that students continue to pay their tuition to Washington College and maintain all scholarships, loans, and aid. Some programs are Tuition/Room Exchange, meaning students pay their tuition and room charges to Washington College, and their board (i.e., meal) costs overseas. There are also four Full Exchange programs where students pay their tuition, room, and board fees to Washington College and are not charged directly by the visiting institution for any of these fees. An application fee is charged when students apply to study abroad – usually, the semester before going abroad. However, students may apply earlier via a “priority application” cycle each spring. In addition, a fee is charged for students who choose to attend a semester at one of the nine “Group O” partners (indicated in the short descriptions of each partner below). (See the section on Fees above for details.)

The College reserves the right to withdraw and/or prevent students from attending programs due to any situation that may negatively impact the student’s well-being. All exchange and study abroad programs provide on-site orientations and have an office dedicated to working with visiting Washington College students. All credit earned overseas at one of our partner institutions will transfer back to Washington College as Washington College credit. Students must complete the Course Approval form, consult with their academic advisors, and obtain the proper signatures before departing to earn these credits. For credit and grade transfer policies, please see the Policies Concerning Credit for Study Abroad Programs section.

Argentina: Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires - Tuition Exchange, Group O

One of Argentina's finest and largest private universities, Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA) is in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires. Since its founding in 1958, UCA has been a pioneer in many fields and has attracted leading scholars in each academic discipline to its faculty. The University offers courses and degrees in: Economics, Commerce, Marketing, Business, Political Science, International Relations, Law, Engineering, Computer Science, Philosophy, Literature, History, Music and Musicology, Education, Journalism, Institutional Communications, and Advertising. All courses at UCA are taught in Spanish, so Spanish language skills must be advanced.

Australia: Bond University, Gold Coast - Tuition Exchange, Group O

Bond University’s small size (about 4,000 students) and top ranking among Australian universities make it an excellent fit for Washington College students. Unlike Washington College, BU is one of Australia’s newest universities, founded in 1989 with an innovative year-round academic calendar that allows students to complete an undergraduate degree in just two and a half years. BU is a short bus ride from Australia’s famed Gold Coast beaches, about 500 miles north of Sydney. Bond’s small class sizes and low student/staff ratio distinguish it from most Australian universities. Students can take business, humanities, social sciences, information technology, and language courses. On-campus housing, assistance locating nearby rental apartments, and private student accommodation are offered.

Brazil: Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro - Tuition Exchange, Group E

PUC-Rio is a private non-profit Catholic University created in 1941, now recognized as one of the top five universities in Brazil. Located in the exciting city of Rio de Janeiro, PUC-Rio offers English and Portuguese-language courses for the beginner through advanced levels. Courses in English are offered in the following areas: Art and Design, Business, History, International Relations, Literature, and Sociology. The International Office at PUC-Rio provides a week-long orientation for newly arrived international students and arranges to house them in a family homestay for their study period.

China: Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong - Tuition/Room Exchange, Group E

One of the few liberal arts institutions in Hong Kong, Lingnan University offers a unique combination of Eastern and Western traditions. Located in the New Territories, Lingnan University provides a campus environment that promotes self-learning, maximizes opportunities for social, cultural, and extracurricular activities, and shares the belief of the importance of their bilingual society: English and Chinese. Students can choose from various English courses in the following faculties: contemporary English studies, cultural studies, business administration, social sciences, history, and philosophy. An on-campus residence hall and dining hall are offered to visiting exchange students.

Ecuador: Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito - Tuition Exchange, Group E

The Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) is in historic Quito, the capital of Ecuador. USFQ was established in 1988 with 130 students; today, more than 8,400 students are enrolled in USFQ, including over 800 international students from fifty countries. The beautifully landscaped campus includes a library, a computing lab, cafeterias, a theater, an auditorium, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, and a fitness center. Classes are taught in Spanish by USFQ faculty members, requiring Washington College students to have intermediate proficiency in Spanish prior to attending USFQ (the ability to succeed in 300-level Spanish courses at Washington College is a prerequisite). The International Programs Office conducts the exchange student advising. Host family stays offer students a way to directly engage with the Ecuadorian culture and improve their language skills. USFQ’s International Programs Office will assist students with family placements. Students may take courses in art, sciences, economics, business management, mathematics, humanities, music, philosophy, political science, international studies, psychology, and environmental studies.

Egypt: The American University in Cairo, Cairo - Tuition Exchange, Group E

The American University in Cairo (AUC) was founded in 1919 as an English-language-based college that would provide an opportunity for a liberal arts education and develop an awareness of the needs of Egypt and the region. AUC has become a leading institution in the Middle Eastern region by emphasizing the importance of studying humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences in becoming an educated student and future leader. AUC has completed a larger, newly constructed campus located in an area known as New Cairo, located 35 km east of Tahrir Square. All the buildings are beautiful examples of traditional Islamic architecture with the added bonuses of modernity and state-of-the-art educational resources. Students can take courses in various topics, including Arabic Language and Arabic Studies. AUC housing offers air-conditioning, computer labs, cafeterias, study rooms, wireless high-speed internet, satellite TV, and a fitness facility in all the residence facilities.

England: University of Hull, Hull, England - Tuition Exchange, Group E

The University of Hull has a long tradition of enhancing overseas students' education. Located in northeast England, Hull is an attractive city of 350,000 with a rich history and excellent transport links to major cities in the UK. Students can study at the main Hull campus (15,000 students). The teaching staff value and encourage the University’s mix of UK and international students as one that creates a positive and enriching learning environment, and the International Student’s Association is one of the largest and most dynamic of the Students’ Union societies organizing numerous trips and social events. Students may choose classes from a long list of departments: Archaeology, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Coastal Studies, Theatre, Economics, English, History, Languages, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Politics and International Relations, Sociology, and Anthropology. Students are housed in university accommodations adjacent to the campus.

England: Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham - Tuition Exchange, Group E

Royal Holloway is a unique blend of history, tradition, and innovation. Famous for its Founder’s Building, one of the most spectacular university buildings in the world, the College also enjoys an international reputation for the highest quality teaching and research across the sciences, arts, and humanities. Royal Holloway is renowned for having a friendly environment—home to a vibrant community of 6,600 undergraduate and postgraduate students of all ages and backgrounds from more than 120 countries. The spacious 135-acre campus provides an impressive range of modern academic and social facilities in a parkland setting in Surrey, close to London. Students may choose classes from a list of departments: Biology Sciences, Classics, Computer Science, Economics, English, European Studies, French, German, Hispanic Studies, History, Italian, Management, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Politics and International Relations, and Psychology.

Finland: University of Oulu, Oulu - Full Exchange, Group E

Oulu is a modern and rapidly growing university in northern Finland’s cultural and commercial center. Courses offered in English include Scandinavian studies, northern cultures and societies, northern women’s studies, Japanese studies, American studies, and Northern nature and environmental studies. Finland’s relatively remote geographical position in northernmost Europe has helped the country remain rich in vegetation and wildlife.

France: American Business School Paris, Paris – Tuition Exchange, Group E

The American Business School, Paris, was established in 1985 and is one of the first English-speaking business schools in France modeled on American undergraduate business education and has established links with several renowned American universities. A U.S.-accredited Bachelor of Business Administration curriculum is taught entirely in English by American professors who have trained in the United States but who all have unique international experience and career paths that they bring into the classroom. Course offerings include but are not limited to: Accounting, Business, Economics, Finance, Mathematics, and Marketing. French language courses are taught at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

France: Université d’Artois, Arras - Tuition Exchange, Group E

Situated in a small city approximately one hundred miles north of Paris (fifty minutes by high-speed train), the Arras campus of the Université D’Artois is one of France's most recently created centers for studying the liberal arts. An intermediate level of French is required to study at the Université D’Artois (the ability to succeed in 300-level French courses at Washington College is a prerequisite). Students may take classes in foreign languages, history, geography, business, computer science, sociology, and more. The campus received its first students in the early 1990s and has been rapidly growing. Arras itself was famous throughout Europe during the Middle Ages for manufacturing textiles. While little evidence of the medieval city remains, it boasts two of the most beautiful 18th-century public squares in Europe. Both the city and the campus are of a scale that should appeal to students who are hesitant about facing the costs and pressures of big-city and big-university life.

France: Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble - Tuition Exchange, Group E

Students can take courses across all disciplines offered at Washington College at the Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA). However, students must have an intermediate level of French as all classes are taught in French (the ability to succeed in 300-level French courses at Washington College is a prerequisite). Historically, Grenoble is where the French Revolution germinated, and Napoleon returned from exile on the Isle of Elbe. On a lighter side, Grenoble is a beautiful city surrounded by mountain ranges that offer alpine skiing in the winter and over 4000 km of trails for hikers in the summer. With 40,000 inhabitants, Grenoble is the capital of the French Alps. The city is conveniently located 537 km from Paris, 331 km from Nice, 100 km from Lyon, 145 km from Geneva, and 240 km from Turin while also at an important crossroads to Italy and Switzerland.

Germany: Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Tübingen - Tuition Exchange, Group E

The Eberhard Karls Universität is one of the oldest universities in Germany and home to Nobel laureates in Chemistry and Medicine and the poet Friedrich Hölderlin. It offers 330 programs of study covering all subjects taught at Washington College and more. This program suits students who have completed only intermediate German courses at Washington College, though some courses are available in English. The university is a government-recognized German center of excellence and offers innovative, interdisciplinary, and international programs such as Applied and Environmental Geoscience, International Economics, or Business Administration. In addition, the university is recognized for its offerings in science and psychology and is internationally famous for its neuroscience program. The student population 28,000 includes 10% international students, who benefit from an institute dedicated to teaching German as a foreign language and many courses taught in English (especially at the graduate level). With almost a third of its inhabitants being students, Tübingen is a true college town. Rich in history, Tübingen is also a progressive, green town that consistently ranks high among German towns with the best quality of life. About 50 minutes south of Stuttgart, Tübingen is in the Schwäbische Alb highlands, with the romantic Neckar River running through the medieval town center.

Germany: Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz - Tuition Exchange, Group E

Founded in 1477, JGU is a research institution of national and international recognition. With over 32,000 students from 120 countries, it is one of Germany’s largest and most diverse universities. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated and independent students with strong language skills (the ability to succeed in 300-level German courses at Washington College is a prerequisite). JGU offers more than 260 degree programs in 75 departments, many of which are recognized as “centers of excellence” by the German state. JGU features many courses that match and complement Washington College's fields. Particularly renowned programs include a broad variety of science and media studies programs. Students may also choose among courses that include experiential learning experiences such as field trips, visits to public TV stations, or the state government. While most courses are taught in German, the university also offers an increasing number of courses taught in English. JGU is the sole German university of this size to combine almost all departments on one campus, which is in Mainz, a lively state capital, and a German media headquarters near Frankfurt, the banking capital of Germany. It is situated on the Rhine River, in the heart of a wine-growing region, and has a rich history. Mainz is centrally located in the middle of Germany and provides excellent travel links.

Ireland: University College Cork, Cork - Tuition Exchange, Group O

Founded in 1849, University College Cork (UCC) is Ireland’s second-largest city on the south coast, 160 miles southwest of Dublin. It is one of three colleges that constitute the National University of Ireland. Students may take courses ranging from the natural sciences to social sciences and humanities. All the university’s facilities will be available to students from Washington College, including specially designed programs for students from the USA.

Israel: The Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva - Tuition Exchange, Group O

The Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is the only Israeli university created to fulfill a unique nation-building mandate: to develop the Negev Desert region, its land, and its people. As Israel’s fastest-growing institution, it is gaining international repute for its innovative research, dynamic student body, and modern campus. BGU offers courses in anthropology, pre-medicine, international relations, environmental studies, linguistics, and literature, along with many opportunities for experiential learning.

Israel: The Arava Institute, Ben-Gurion University - Tuition Exchange, Group O

The Arava Institute was founded in 1996 and initially partnered with Tel Aviv University, but since 2002 is joined with Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheva (also a Washington College partner). The Institute's academic program focuses on the Middle East's environmental challenges. The program was developed around the idea that the environmental crises in the Middle East are separate from the region's politics. Its student population of around 100 students is roughly one-third Israeli, one-third Palestinian, and one-third international. Focusing on environmental science and peace and conflict resolution courses, the Arava Institute’s mission is to unify and " advance cross-border environmental cooperation in the face of political conflict." The Institute is in the Negev Desert, about 30 minutes north of Eliat, on Kibbutz Ketura, a particularly rural and isolated kibbutz. A Kibbutz, meaning communal settlement in Hebrew, is a settlement where the community shares the same property, production, and education. The Kibbutz Ketura community numbers around 400 people, including the Institute students. All activities at the Institute, including classes, meals, residences, and extracurricular activities, are on the Kibbutz.

Italy: Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Milan - Tuition Exchange, Group E

Since its founding in 1921, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) has become a central point of reference for the Milanese intellectual community. It is a true campus, offering everything that makes this university a unique and unrepeatable experience: study, research, the chance to meet professors and to become part of the dialogue of an academic institution, contact with the outside world, and the opportunity to extend one’s personal development through cultural and recreational extracurricular activities. UCSC is a great program for independent students who can independently navigate new cities and academic systems. The University offers courses and degrees in Communication and Performance Sciences, Economics and Business Administration, Foreign Languages and Literature, History, Humanities, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Approximately twenty-five courses are offered in English each semester in these various faculties, with more added each year. An Intensive Italian Language and Culture course is offered both prior to and during each semester.

Japan: Meiji Gakuin University, Yokohama - Tuition Exchange, Group E

Meiji Gakuin University (MGU), founded in 1877, is one of the oldest private institutions in Japan and has a long history of international cooperation in education. As a liberal arts university, MGU offers undergraduate studies in various areas. MGU offers a program for international students that allows them to take coursework in both Japanese and English. MGU prefers that students have a full academic year of Japanese language instruction. However, studying on the Yokohama campus is not required, as many classes are offered in English. Yokohama, with a student population of approximately 10,000, is in a spacious suburban setting and provides international students with numerous opportunities for participation in the academic and social life of the university as well as easy train access to central Tokyo in under one hour.

Morocco: Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane - Full Exchange, Group E

Located in the resort town of Ifrane, nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountains, Al Akhawayn University (AUI) is in the heart of a region known for its beautiful forests, mountains, lakes, and waterfalls. With around 2,250 students, most of whom live on campus, and the language of instruction in English, AUI provides a similar environment to Washington College, yet half a world away. Al Akhawayn has multiple exchange programs with partner institutions worldwide. AUI has excellent research facilities, particularly for North African and Middle Eastern Studies. Founded in 1993, AUI offers business administration programs, humanities and social science, and science and engineering. Facilities include 16 student residence buildings, a gymnasium, an indoor regulation Olympic swimming pool next to the soccer field and track, and three tennis courts. All classroom buildings are situated next to each other, and faculty offices are distributed throughout the campus.

Netherlands: Leiden University, Leiden - Tuition Exchange, Group E

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is among Europe’s foremost international research universities. Leiden University is home to 25,800 students and over 5,500 faculty and staff members and boasts an alumni network of more than 96,000 strong. The university has two campuses: the original is in the city of Leiden, but in 1998 Leiden University opened another campus, entirely dedicated to studies related to pillars of peace, security, and justice, in The Hague. The Hague campus houses approximately 3,000 students and works closely with the city’s government, ministries, and legal and/or diplomatic institutions. Leiden is a city brimming with cultural exhibitions, galleries, museums, historical monuments, and sites close to other vibrant locations in the Netherlands, such as Amsterdam and The Hague. Leiden University offers classes in seven Faculties: Archaeology, Governance and Global Affairs, Humanities, Law, Medicine/Leiden University Medical Center, Science, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Peru: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, Lima - Tuition Exchange, Group E

The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru (PUCP) is a prestigious, world-renowned academic institution. Founded in 1917, the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru is Peru's oldest-established private higher educational institution. Students must demonstrate a strong intermediate or advanced knowledge of the Spanish language to attend PUCP, as all courses at PUCP are taught in Spanish (the ability to succeed in 300-level Spanish courses at Washington College is a prerequisite). Lima is the cultural center of Peru and offers entertainment for young people in the form of theaters, cinemas, cafes, bars, and discotheques, which are to be found especially in Miraflores and Barranco, the city’s two foremost cultural districts. Exchange students enroll at the School of Special Studies. The University offers courses and degrees in: Fine Arts, Management and Accounting, Science and Engineering, Social Sciences (Anthropology, Sociology, Economics), Law, Arts, and Humanities (Archaeology, Philosophy, Geography, History, Literature, Psychology), Communication Arts and Sciences, Education. Overseas students live with Peruvian families to be immersed in Peru's social and family life and the Spanish language.

Scotland: St. Andrews University, St. Andrews - Tuition Exchange, Group O

Founded in 1411, St. Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland. With 8,200 undergraduate students and another 2,000 graduate students, the university comprises approximately one-third of the total population of the city of St. Andrews, located about 50 miles northeast of Edinburgh. Local and university events in the town blend to offer a rich cultural and social life for students and townspeople alike. Washington College sends students to St. Andrews University to study a broad range of subjects, including philosophy, sociology, psychology, mathematics, and the natural sciences. A minimum GPA of 3.2 and demonstrated ability to work independently and creatively in a tutorial educational system are prerequisites to nomination to the program.

South Africa: Rhodes University, Grahamstown - Full Exchange, Group E

Located in Grahamstown's beautiful and historic city, Rhodes University is nestled in the city's hills, just 45 minutes from unspoiled beaches. Rhodes University is one of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious institutions. Students participating in this program are housed on campus in single rooms in residence halls equipped with a dining hall, washer/dryer, TV, and lounge area. During the spring semester at Rhodes, Washington College students may choose to attend a special interdisciplinary course on South Africa and the Eastern Cape Region. All students attending Rhodes may choose from a wide range of humanities, sciences, and social sciences courses.

South Korea: Yonsei University, Seoul - Tuition/Room Exchange, Group E

The oldest university in Korea, Yonsei celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2010. Yonsei sits quietly in a well-wooded district of Seoul, South Korea’s capital of 11 million people. The University is recognized in Korea, Asia-Pacific, and the international community as the most forward-looking, internationalized, and comprehensive university in Korea. Courses offered in English fall under three main areas of study: East Asian Studies, International Relations, and International Business. The Korean language is also taught. Dormitory housing is available for students accepted to the program, and there is 100+ student clubs and organizations, all covering a variety of interests.

Senegal: University of Minnesota Learning Abroad Center - Tuition Exchange, Group O

This program is made possible through a partnership Washington College developed with the Minnesota Studies in International Development (MSID), an institute connected to the University of Minnesota. Washington College students will travel with a small group of students, about half of whom will be students at the University of Minnesota, and the other half will be students from other universities across the United States. The MSID Senegal program is based in Dakar. It is a dual study-intern program in which the students take four courses focused on development, language, and Senegalese society and then to spend 6 weeks in an internship getting hands-on experience working for a grassroots agency. During both phases of the program, students will live with a local family to gain deeper cultural insight into life in Senegal, first in Dakar, and then wherever their internship placement is located. This program is geared toward students interested in arts and cultural studies; development; education and literacy; entrepreneurship and alternative economies; public health; social services; and sustainability and the environment. An intermediate French language level is required to study at MSID Senegal (the ability to succeed in 300-level French courses at Washington College is a prerequisite).

Spain: Universidad De Nebrija, Madrid - Tuition Exchange, Group E

Nebrija University (UN, in Spanish) is in the university district of Madrid. The Hispanic Studies Program at UN offers exchange students various cultural activities such as lectures, films, and guided visits to major museums, monuments, and other sites of interest. With the assistance of the International Office, students are placed in homestay living arrangements or may rent an apartment. Students who have an elementary Spanish level take courses in the Spanish Studies program. Those proficient in Spanish may also enroll in courses that are part of the normal curriculum for Spanish students. Although students choose courses in consultation with their advisor at WC pre-departure, they may be assigned to a different and more appropriate level of coursework after taking a Spanish-language placement test in Spain. Students choose courses from the following disciplines: Spanish studies, business administration and economics, advertising and journalism, computer science, modern languages, political science and international studies, history, and English.

Turkey: Bogazici University, Istanbul - Tuition Exchange, Group E

Bogazici University grew out of the long history of Robert College, the first American college to be established outside the United States, and today is considered Turkey’s most prestigious university, enrolling roughly 12,500 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate students. With a distinguished academic tradition, Bogazici maintains at its core its historic liberal arts campus, supplemented by a newer modern campus across the street. An international student dormitory is located next door. Multiple dining halls and cafes are located on the campuses and dormitories. The university is in a leafy, residential district of Istanbul along the Bosphorus strait, next to a metro station that connects the university area conveniently to anywhere in this large and historic city of approximately 14 million residents. Students may take courses in most of the majors available at Washington College, with especially strong programs in biology, computer science, education, history, international studies, psychology, and sociology. All classes are taught in English, apart from optional language classes.