Off-Campus Study

Analyze politics in D.C. Navigate the history of Europe. Reimagine education in Seoul.

When studying off campus, you’ll discover more than just new landscapes. During these transformative journeys, you’ll forge lifelong connections, build life skills, gain independence, and truly learn who you are in a global context.

Colgate offers three distinct ways to expand your education beyond Hamilton. Whether you want to study with fellow Colgate students or discover your own path, there is an option designed for your budget and academic journey.

Study Groups: Faculty-led Experiences

Best for: Students who want to study off campus with a Colgate cohort.
Colgate sponsors up to 20 semester-long programs annually, each led by our own faculty. These groups are linked to the Colgate curriculum, allowing you to study your major in a global context.

Earn Colgate credit.
Study with 12–18 Colgate peers while exploring cultural elements and life as a local student.

Approved Programs: Colgate Partner Program

Best for: Students seeking a more independent experience.
Colgate partners with more than 100 programs worldwide. You can enroll in world-class universities, specialized study centers or field study programs.

Earn transfer credit.
Interact with students from across the globe and other U.S. institutions.

Extended Studies: On- & Off- Campus Experiences

Best for: Students with limited time.
If a full semester off campus doesn't fit your schedule, an extended study offers a best-of-both-worlds solution. These programs combine an on-campus course with a two- to three-week travel component immediately following the semester.

Earn Colgate credit.
Travel with the same classmates and professor from your semester-long course.

See the World

Every year, Colgate students travel the world — from Uganda to Jamaica, Australia to Europe, Washington, D.C. to Santa Fe.

Spain, Carina Cristobal '27

Niamh Fortuna in between three elephants

South Africa, Niamh Fortuna '27

Australia, Owen McCabe '27

Alisha Greenstein rides a camel in the desert

Morocco, Alisha Greenstein '26

Lottie Allen Emerson looks for birds in the mountains

Lottie Allen Emerson '28

Woods Hole, Massachusetts, Jack Suter '27

Iceland, Paxton Hilgendorff '26

Two people stand on a beach near a table

Fiji, Desiree Rigaud '26

Planning is key, and it’s never too early to start. Typically, students go off campus in their junior year. We recommend you begin exploring options in your first year and apply in your sophomore year.

Research

Explore over 120 domestic and international off-campus study programs.

Engage

First- and second-year students should attend an information session at the beginning of the semester for insight into the study abroad process and timeline.
Stop by the Study Group Fair in September to learn about study groups and spring extended studies and to speak with faculty directors and recent participants.
Speak one-on-one with the experts. Our team of student and staff advisors is available to answer all your questions. Drop-in hours are also available.

Affording the Experience

Undergraduate students receiving the Colgate Grant are eligible to receive financial aid toward one semester-long off-campus program (study group or approved program) and one short program (extended study). The additional cost of the program is first met with a $1,500 loan. The remaining additional cost is met with an increase in the Colgate Grant.

More about financial aid