Off-Campus Study

Colgate classrooms are everywhere.

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.

By the Numbers

63%
of Colgate students participate in an off-campus study program
50+
countries to study in and explore across the globe
#1
U.S. baccalaureate institution for semester-long off-campus study

Explore Your Options

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

Study Groups: Professor-led Experiences

Best for: Students who want to study and travel 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.
  • Travel and study with a small group of 12–18 Colgate peers.
     
Approved Programs: Global Network

Best for: Students seeking niche locations and direct enrollment.
Colgate partners with more than 100 study-abroad and away programs worldwide. You can enroll directly in world-class universities or join specialized study centers, all vetted by Colgate.

  • Earn transfer credit.
  • Interact with students from across the globe and other U.S. institutions for a more independent experience.
     
Extended Studies: Short-term Intensive

Best for: Students with busy schedules.
If a full semester away 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.

An arched doorway
Spain, Carina Cristobal '27
Niamh Fortuna in between three elephants
South Africa, Niamh Fortuna '27
Pathway leading to rock formations
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
Jack Suter in a pool
Woods Hole, Massachusetts, Jack Suter '27
A black and white painted building
Iceland, Paxton Hilgendorff '26
Two people stand on a beach near a table
Fiji, Desiree Rigaud '26

Get Ready for the Experience of a Lifetime

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.
Students walk on the University of Manchester campus
Student stands on grassy mountaintop

Apply

  • Study groups: October 1 – October 28, 2026
  • Spring 2026 extended studies: October 1 – October 23, 2026
  • Approved programs: October 29, 2026 – February 3, 2027
  • Fall 2026 extended studies: No programs are being offered this semester
Apply to a program
A tree in the middle of a lake
A student poses for a photo

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

I studied abroad in London through the history study group, which was an incredible experience. I was able to write my senior thesis and got the real experience of being a researcher while visiting the London School of Economics Women's Library archives.

Katie Nettles
Katie Nettles Educational studies and history major