Study Abroad Programs

Bengaluru, India*

May 26–July 8

Selected Courses

• Caste, Class, and Gender in India
• Gandhi and peace Studies
• Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
• Public health in India

More Details

• Bengaluru India Summer Courses through USAC
• Fees and Deadlines
• Calendar
• Apply on USAC website after you discuss your plans with the study abroad office

* Courses offered through our partner USAC

Rome, Italy

June 15–July 5
Rome via Brooklyn

Imagine a course with no classroom. Instead, we explore the ancient ruins, timeless museums, and modern streets of Rome. You don’t just read about the eternal city, but see, taste, smell, feel, and hear it.

More Details

• Course Syllabus
• 3 credits—Classics 1110
• $2,300—includes housing, insurance, three special meals, local transportation, and course-related excursions. Not included: tuition, flight, airport transfers, and personal expenses.

Maastricht, Netherlands*

June 18–July 8

Selected Courses

Students take 2 courses from the list below:

Block 1

• Law and Politics, Current Topics in the European Union
• Global Power Dynamics
• Dutch Art History
• Psychology in Our World
• Digital Mental Health

Block 2

• Economics of European Integration: Challenges, Policies, and Practices in the European Business Environment
• Leadership and Management in a Global World
• Intercultural Communication
• Global Journalism: Searching for Truth in the Age of Fake News
• Evolutionary Psychology

More Details

• Maastricht Summer Courses
• Fees and Deadlines
• Calendar
• Apply on USAC website after you discuss your plans with the study abroad office

* Courses offered through our partner USAC

Taichung City, Taiwan

May 30–July 1
Chinese language courses (all levels)

In addition to the academic courses, students will participate in excursions and cultural activities that will introduce them to life in Taiwan, and more broadly Asian History and culture.

This program is open to undergraduate students from all majors. Taichung is Taiwan’s second largest city. It has a highly developed industrial and commercial base, thriving cultural scene, friendly people, and beautiful scenery, all of which contribute to its status as an international-class city.

Centrally located in the western half of Taiwan, Taichung welcomes visitors with a pleasant climate throughout the year. The city first rose as a major political, economic, transportation, and cultural hub during the Japanese occupation period, due highway, railway, and shipping port development during that time.

* Courses taught by our partner universities—summer schools.

More Details

• Hosted by National Chung Hsing University
• 3 credits—Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department
• $2,300—includes tuition, housing in a hotel with breakfast, insurance, and selected activities and excursions. Not included: flight and personal expenses.

Istanbul, Turkey

May 30–June 20
Turkish History and Society—Past, Present, Erasure, and Construction
This class will take place on-site in Istanbul, a city that spans two continents, Europe and Asia. It aims to teach the history of the late Ottoman period and modern Turkey.

The class will be divided into two components:

• The first part will focus on Turkey’s Ottoman past. It will rethink issues related to Ottoman history, politics and society, and other aspects such as art and architecture. We will visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Churches, and Synagogues during this part. We will also take a boat trip up the Bosphorus straights and end at Mehmet the Conqueror’s Fortress. A day trip to the city of Edirne will show us glimpses of early Ottoman history and serve as a bridge to understanding Turkey today.
• The second part will cover modern history, taught by some of Turkey’s top professors. It will include meetings with journalists, Armenian and Jewish groups, and other groups within the society. This component will allow the students to understand how histories are contested and how competing narratives are shaped.

Throughout the 3 weeks, students will explore the European side of Istanbul as well as the Asian one. They will learn to understand the city, walking its streets and alleyways, and discovering a multitude of neighborhoods. Istanbul will be our classroom in which we will explore parts of the city, discovering monuments, architecture, the old and the new.

This program is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all majors.

More Details

• 3 credits—Hist 3590
• $2,300—includes housing with daily breakfast, insurance, some group meals, and course-related excursions. Not included: tuition, flight, and personal expenses.
• Contact: Associate Professor Louis Fishman, History Department

Alicante, Spain*

July 6–August 31

Selected Courses

• Spain Today: Politics, Government, and Society
• Sustainable Development: Principals and Policies
• Spanish Language – All levels
• Twentieth Century and Contemporary Spanish Short Story

More Details

• Alicante Spain Summer Courses – Session 2
• Fees and Deadlines
• Calendar
• Apply on USAC website after you discuss your plans with the study abroad office

* Courses offered through our partner USAC

Barcelona, Spain*

June 22–July 10 (summer session 1, tentative dates)
July 13–July 30 (summer session 2, tentative dates)
Various courses, including Spanish language classes

More Details

• Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona
• Courses: various courses including Spanish language classes

* Courses taught by our partner universities—summer schools.

Seoul, South Korea

July 13–August 3
Media Production and Cultural Studies in South Korea

The Media Production in South Korea program will provide students with the opportunity to on a great range of production techniques and tools of the medium, including electronic media production theory, shooting on-location, graphics, audio and post-production. Students will not only explore the diversity of South Korea, but also be able to document and create a story of their personal experience there.

Dongguk University, located in the heart of Seoul, will provide an ideal setting for studying media production and cultural studies within a South Korean environment.

Participants will work collaboratively with Dongguk University students on the pre-production, production, and post-production of short video projects. Students will also take a work streetwise course on Korean language and culture that will facilitate their understanding of traditional culture while they are shooting.

The first week of the course will focus on an introduction to pre-production and production. During the second week, participants will shoot on-location in different parts of Seoul. In the third week, students will learn and apply the post-production process to their product.

Additionally, we will visit popular Korean TV networks and experience live concerts. The group will also get a chance to visit the city of Busan. Housing will be at Dongguk University on-campus residence hall.

This program is open to undergraduate students from all majors.

More Details

• 3 credits—TREM 4849 International Documentary Production
• Course Syllabus (PDF)
• $2,300—includes housing, insurance, some meals, and course-related excursions. Not included: tuition, flight, and personal expenses.
• Contact: Professor Young Cheong, Television, Radio & Emerging Media Department

Busan, South Korea*

July 6 – August 1
Korean Language and Culture

Hosted by our exchange partner, Pusan National University (PNU) short-term Summer School. The program provides 4-week Korean language course with authentic cultural activities and exciting field trips.

• Field Trips: Explore famous Busan sites including Gamcheon Culture Village, Temple Visit, and Haeundae Beach for an immersive cultural experience
• Cultural Activities: Experience Korean culture through hands-on activities like Traditional Calligraphy, K-Pop dance, Taekwondo, K-Beauty, and more, immersing you in Korea’s heritage.

This program is conducted entirely in English, except for the Korean language classes. The language classes range from basic to advanced levels, focusing on reading, speaking, and listening skills in Korean for everyday conversations.

More Details

• Pusan National University Summer School
• 3 credits—Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department
• Approximately $2,000—includes the academic course, accommodation, some meals, and field trips and cultural activities.
  Not included: CUNY tuition for 3 credits, international airfare, insurance, and personal expenses.
• Deadline to apply: March 17 for Brooklyn College application and April 30 for PNU application.

* Courses taught by our partner universities—summer schools.

Chiang Mai City, Thailand*

July 2–August 8

Selected Courses

• Thai Society and Culture
• Healthcare in Thailand
• Intercultural Communication
• International Business Management

More Details

• Chiang Mai Summer Courses
• Fees and Deadlines
• Calendar
• Apply on USAC website after you discuss your plans with the study abroad office

* Courses offered through our partner USAC

How to Apply

Submit your study abroad application here. 

Deadlines

• March 1 for fall semester
• October 1 for spring semester

Due to limited spaces, interested students should submit their applications as early as possible.

If accepted and nominated by International Programs and Study Abroad (IPSA) office, students will need to submit another online application directly to the host university.  IPSA will contact accepted students about their next steps.

Academic Credits

Students receive credit and grades for the courses taken abroad on our programs.

As part of your study abroad post-acceptance requirements, you will need to complete a signed Study Abroad Course Equivalency Form (PDF). This helps guarantee that the coursework for which you register abroad will apply to the coursework you need at Brooklyn College. Changes can be made to the course equivalency form once you arrive on site if you find other classes of interest.

Participants who are not Brooklyn College students should confer with their home campus study abroad office for instructions on attaining equivalencies.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial aid and most scholarships that a student receives for semester study at Brooklyn College can be applied on semester abroad exchange programs. Students should consult the financial aid office about specifics on how their financial aid applies.

• Financial aid
• Study abroad scholarships
• Brooklyn College’s Scholarship Office

Health Insurance

Students are required to purchase CUNY CISI Health/Travel Insurance for their entire time abroad (approximately $65/month). Instructions will be sent as part of the acceptance email.

Visa

Please check with individual exchange programs for visa information.

Other CUNY Study Abroad Programs

• CUNY/Italy Student Exchange (administered by Queens College)
• CUNY–Paris Exchange (administered by Queens College)

Visit the CUNY Global Directory of Study Abroad Programs for a full searchable database of CUNY programs that are available.

Non-CUNY Study Abroad Resources

Students may also choose to participate in programs through other accredited non-CUNY colleges and organizations:

• Check out programs offered by CIEE.
• Check out winter programs offered by USAC.

Viña Del Mar, Chile

January 2–24, 2026 

Immigrant Communities in Latin America: Diaspora in Chile

• 3 credits—PRLS 4635: Study—Travel Seminar
• Cost: $2200: includes housing in hotel, insurance, few group meals, and course-related excursions. Not included: tuition, flight, and personal expenses.
• Contact: Professor Carla España, Department of Puerto Rican and Latinx Studies.
• Application Deadline: October 17, 2025

Course Overview

Immigrant Communities in Latin America: Diaspora in Chile is a study abroad course that promotes diaspora studies, youth literature, and translanguaging pedagogy by cultivating an awareness of and connection to the diverse diasporas in Chile.

It consists of culturally immersive experiences and experiential learning. Students learn about history, diaspora, culture, language, and immigrant experiences. Students will grow their understanding of diasporas through lectures, workshops, and cultural activities. Students spend one part of the day in their course at the local university (9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for ten class sessions) and another (2:30-4 p.m.) connecting with local organizations or exploring their local community. They study diverse groups’ history, cultural expressions, and immigrant matters. The course culminates in student presentations on their advocacy projects.

Student Learning Objectives

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of Chilean history and diasporas, including creative expressions (storytelling, arts, cuisine).
2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of translanguaging pedagogy and community organizing.
3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the rhetoric, practices, and policies surrounding immigration across the hemispheres, with a comparative analysis of Chile and the United States.

Nairobi, Kenya

January 1–22, 2026 

Ecology, Economy and Culture in Kenya

• 3 credits—ANTH 3015
• Cost: $2200: includes housing in hotel, insurance, few group meals, and course-related excursions. Not included: tuition, flight, and personal expenses.
• Contact: Professor Meghan Ference, Department of Anthropology
• Application Deadline: October 17, 2025

Course Overview

This course provides a rare opportunity to Brooklyn College students to travel to East Africa for three weeks during the winter period and embark on a life-changing, hands-on field experience exploring the economy, culture and ecology in Kenya. Students will experience things that are often out of reach for students at Brooklyn College. Nairobi, Kenya is a profoundly rich location through which to experience all the different subfields of the anthropological discipline. As the birthplace of humankind there are elements of biological and archaeological research at every turn. With over 45 official languages and ethnic groups recognized by the Kenyan constitution it is an area rich in cultural and linguistic diversity. As a postcolonial state with one of the most progressive constitutions in the world it is a vibrant location for postcolonial history and politics. As the only city on earth with a national park within the city limits, students can experience seeing a variety of animals they may have only encountered before in zoos. They will see lions, zebras, giraffes and elephants in addition to the largest array of birdlife in the world.

This course will provide students, from all majors, with lectures and hands-on experiences in Swahili culture, ecology in Kenya, learning about conservation, human-wildlife interaction, politics and globalization as well as exploring the informal economy, in which nearly 80% of the population is engaged. Students will learn through lectures and hands-on fieldwork experiences. This program is run in partnership with the British Institute in East Africa and the National Museums of Kenya, where students can interact with Kenyan students at the same level and where they can experience important cultural exchange. Simultaneously, we will be thinking about how Nairobi, the economic, cultural and political hub of East Africa compares with New York City, the cultural and economic hub of the United States.

Porto, Portugal

January 1–21

Portugal: History, People, and Culture

• 3 credits HIST 3290: Special Topics in European History
• Cost: $2200: includes housing in hotel, insurance, few group meals, and course-related excursions. Not included: tuition, flight, and personal expenses.
• Contact: Professor Christopher Ebert, History
• Application Deadline: October 17, 2025

Course Description

Portugal: History, People, and Culture is an overview of the history of Portugal from its founding monarchies during the Middle Ages through its integration in the European Union in the present day.

Classes and field trips will introduce students to the history of the country through the lens of politics, society, religion, food, culture and film. It also explores Portugal’s extensive empire in Africa, Asia and South America. Along with the instructor, who is a historian of early-modern Portuguese imperial expansion, students will interact with period specialists to understand Portuguese history through the present day. Other experts will present on Portuguese culture and society in an interactive way. Students will also choose aspects of contemporary Portuguese history or culture and make brief presentations. Students will also go to a soccer match at the Dragão Stadium (optional) to see FC Porto play another Portuguese premier league team (to be scheduled when the dates are released).

Objectives of Course

• Introduce students to the history and culture of Portugal.
• Enable students to articulate the major socio-political trends which have characterized Portugal over many centuries.
• Develop in students the analytical skills needed to critique and employ written sources in their argumentation.
• Enable students to articulate their interpretation of primary and secondary sources in class discussions.
• Offer students a hands-on, interactive experience of contemporary Portuguese society, including meeting local people and experiencing culture and foodways.

Outcomes Anticipated for Course

By the end of this course students will have:

• Mastered at an appropriate level the historical content relevant to the topic.
• Demonstrated in discussion and short writing assignments knowledge of how Portugal has developed over time.
• Evaluated critically the assigned texts in discussion and writing.

Taipei and Taichung, Taiwan

December 31, 2025–January 21, 2026

Introduction to Zen Meditation

Complete details.

• 3 credits—CHIN / MVMT 2080 Zen Meditation
• Cost: $2200: includes housing in hotel, insurance, few group meals, and course-related excursions. Not included: tuition, flight, and personal expenses.
• Contact: Professor Chia-Ju Chang, Department of Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
• Application Deadline: October 17, 2025

Course Information

This three-week immersive winter study abroad program in Taiwan introduces students to Chan (Zen in Japanese) meditation through direct engagement with Buddhist practice, philosophy, and culture.

Participants will be based primarily in Taipei and Taichung, taking part in a range of classes that include lectures, seated meditation (zazen), eight-movement meditation, and other contemplative activities such as Tai Chi, walking, photography, farming, and the tea ceremony.

In addition to lectures and intensive meditation practice, students will join a half-day meditation retreat. You will also have the opportunity to take part in a “Farm-to-Table” activity—traditionally called farming chan (nongchan)—to experience Zen practice beyond the cushion, including fieldwork, meal preparation, mindful eating, and more. The program also includes outdoor excursions to Yangmingshan National Park, the Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, the Apricot Blossom Water Buffalo School, and the Lin Family Garden.

Taught in English. No prior experience in meditation is required—only an openness to explore and engage deeply with the rich culture of Chan Buddhism in Taiwan.

Other Winter Programs

Check out winter programs offered by:

• Other CUNY Campuses, via Global CUNY website (Brooklyn College students are eligible to go abroad with other CUNY programs)
• CIEE
• USAC