Study Abroad
Travel expands our understanding of the world and lets us look at our own culture—and ourselves—with a fresh perspective
Success without boundaries
Today's employers are looking for people who have a global understanding and direct experience with other cultures. Studying abroad also helps us appreciate cultures beyond our own, increase proficiency in another language and gain a new sense of self-confidence.
That’s why Simpson offers study abroad scholarships and many opportunities to safely explore based on your personal pursuit of knowledge. Get to know our Simpson Experience abroad, May Term international experiences and affiliated programs.
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Semester abroad programs Simpson offers, from Bolivia to Thailand$500-$4k
Scholarship award amounts available through Simpson’s study abroad programMay Term International Travel Courses
International travel courses allows students to study one topic intensively while traveling with a cohort from Simpson. The courses vary from year to year and all are proposed and led by Simpson faculty. Here is a list of the current offerings.
Bolivia: Eat, Write & Travel is a travel writing course that will be taught at 8,392 feet in the Andes. Located within one of South America's cultural and culinary capitals, the Bolivian city of Cochabamba is renowned for its geography, food, people, and alpacas. This course is inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown on CNN, and students will learn writing techniques that enable them, like Bourdain, to describe their surrounding world through the people and food one encounters during travel. Along the way, students will live with local families, travel to historical destinations, and meet with artists, chefs, activists, and health care professionals, all of whom have strong links to social organizations throughout Cochabamba.
Have you ever dreamed of visiting an island in the Caribbean and living like a marine biologist, at least for a little while? Do you want to get scuba certified and dive to explore life found in coral reefs, sea grass beds, and intertidal environments? Do you want to learn to identify the common fish and other creatures found on healthy coral reefs? Do you want to swim with frolicking sea turtles, watch spotted eagle rays flop on top of the water, and look eye to eye with giant groupers almost as big as you? Do you want to help young staghorn coral grow big and strong by cleaning them of pesky algae in a coral nursery 60 feet underwater? Do you want to dive at night on a reef and see the bioluminescent dinoflagellates light up the water to welcome you to their home? Do you want to participate in research projects that will inform and improve conservation efforts for coral reefs and the wildlife that inhabits them? If you answered YES to these questions, join us for an unforgettable educational experience on Little Cayman Island in May 2024.
Simpson Experience Abroad
Several of these semester-long programs are led by a Simpson faculty member, who also serves as the resident director and teaches one or more of the courses offered.
Study at Simpson’s partner institution, the University of Adelaide, in the state of South Australia. Take classes taught by the Simpson program director as well as a wide range of UA course offerings to fulfill either general education or major/minor requirements. Get to know the local culture by living with a host family or choose to live in an off-campus dorm with international students. Offered fall semester of even-numbered years.
Affiliated Programs
In addition to “Simpson Experience Abroad” semester-long offerings, students can also participate in study abroad and exchange programs operated by other institutions with which Simpson has agreements and have those credits transferred back to their degree at Simpson.
Take courses at the university with Spanish students in a wide-range of topics with support from the university’s Office of International Relations. Live in apartments in town with other international students or host families, depending upon your preference.
Study abroad scholarships
Through a generous bequest by the late Dr. Joseph W. Walt, emeritus professor of history, Simpson College is pleased to offer more than 40 scholarships annually to help cover costs of a Simpson College student’s study abroad experience. These awards are available for students participating in a May Term International Travel Courses as well as for those studying on semester-long overseas programs.
For students who receive a federal Pell Grant as part of their college financial package, the Gilman International Scholarship is another potential funding source. The scholarship is provided by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. It stipulates that students must study abroad for at least 21 days, so those studying on a Simpson May Term International Travel Course unfortunately are not eligible to apply for a Gilman Scholarship, but for those students participating in longer duration programs, the scholarship is a great opportunity to help reduce their costs.
If you are interested in more information, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs.