Study Abroad
& Study Away

The Honors Summer Study Abroad Program is required as part of the Residential Honors Program experience, but all students in the Honors College are eligible to participate. The program is held for four to five weeks mid-May to mid-June each year. Destinations are determined by the Director of the Honors College and the honors faculty leading the program for that year and have included England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, and Peru. Though programs are designed to fit the destination and topics of study, every program includes:

  • excursions to important cultural, historical, and natural sites and attendance at special events
  • interaction with local residents, guides, and scholars 
  • honors junior seminar study on selected topics that involve class meetings but also immersive learning 
  • residential life with other students in the program
  • peer guidance from a senior Honors Mentor who has previously participated in the program 
On the benefits of study abroad from honors students in our Summer Study Abroad Programs:
Studying abroad gave me a special sense of independence that I could not have gotten anywhere else. I am so grateful for what it taught me about myself and the world around me.

Emma Gousset Scotland

Getting splashed by the huge waves that came crashing against the rocks from the sea was a thrill. In many of the stories we read, the sea was portrayed as this domineering figure in the lives of the Irish people. Many lost their lives to it as they went out to sea to fish or to find work. This was the first time where I was able to truly see that power and what many Irish people had to learn to tame every day for survival.

John Alex Nunnery Ireland

Study abroad was immersive. There are small things, small habits, from living there day-to-day for a month that I'll probably never quite let go of.

Scott Ackerman Scotland

The Cliffs of Moher and the other places we went . . . were incredible. The cliffs were truly spectacular to see and being able to walk along the paths on the sides was such a unique experience. This day was when I felt I truly strengthened my friendships with the people in the study abroad group and being able to see how powerful the sea was and laugh at people getting wet was a joyful experience I'll never forget.

V Gammel Ireland

Honors-related scholarships help to cover the program fee, and the Coordinator of Study Abroad and the Director of the Honors College are also happy to assist students in applying for scholarships from other sources.

Study Away

The Honors College offers a Spring Break Study Away Program led by honors faculty. Previous Study Away trips have been to the American Southwest and have included excursions to national parks like Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest, archaeological sites like Montezuma Castle and Walnut Canyon, and museum visits and guided tours on the Navajo and Hopi reservations. For more information on this program, contact honors@muw.edu.

Grand Canyon