Program Options FAQs

WorldStrides offers a comprehensive portfolio of education abroad experiences designed to fit a wide range of academic goals, schedules, and budgets. Program types include:

• Study Abroad — Traditional coursework at a host university abroad, available for a semester, academic year, summer, J-term, or Maymester
• Internships — Professionally supervised international work placements with career readiness support
• Community Engagement — Service-learning programs partnering with local nonprofits abroad
• Research — Hands-on lab or field-based research at international institutions (including the EuroScholars program for high-achieving undergraduates)
• Full Degree — Complete a bachelor's, master's, or professional degree at a partner university in Australia or New Zealand
• Hybrid Programs — Combinations such as Study + Internship, Study + Community Engagement, Study + Research, and Study + Veritas (faith-based learning)
• Faculty-Led Custom Programs — Institutional programs built from scratch for university partners

WorldStrides offers programs across five global regions:

• Europe — Including Spain, Italy, France, Ireland, the UK, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Greece, Belgium, Switzerland, and more, with cities ranging from Barcelona and Florence to Prague and Amsterdam
• Latin America — Including Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile
• Asia — Including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and China
• Pacific — Including Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and more), New Zealand, and Fiji
• Africa — Including Morocco and South Africa

With 200+ programs available, students can filter by destination, program type, term length, and area of study through the WorldStrides Program Finder.

According to the Institute of International Education (IIE) Open Doors Report, the most popular study abroad destinations for U.S. students are consistently in Europe, led by the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. WorldStrides offers programs in all of these top destinations, as well as growing interest destinations like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Ireland. Among WorldStrides students specifically, Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Granada), Italy (Florence, Rome), and Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) are among the most frequently chosen destinations.

Semester programs run for a full academic term (fall or spring) and typically range from 12 to 20+ weeks. They offer the deepest cultural immersion and the most credit-earning opportunities, usually 12–18 credits. Summer programs run for 2–10 weeks during the summer break and are ideal for students who can't commit a full semester but still want international credit and experience. J-term (January term) programs are intensive short-term programs that run for 2–4 weeks during winter break in January, allowing students to earn credit without disrupting their regular academic schedule. WorldStrides also offers Maymester programs (late spring, 2–4 weeks) and quarter-based options for schools on the quarter system.

Application deadlines vary by program and term. As a general guideline:

• Fall semester programs: deadlines typically fall in April–May
• Spring semester programs: deadlines typically fall in October–November
• Summer programs: deadlines typically fall in February–March
• J-term programs: deadlines typically fall in October–November

Some high-demand programs fill early, so applying well ahead of the deadline is strongly recommended. Students can view specific deadlines on individual program pages. WorldStrides also encourages early applicants, as spots in popular destinations and programs are limited.

Yes. WorldStrides offers international internship programs that place students in supervised professional roles abroad, combining real-world work experience with academic credit and career readiness support. Internship placements are available across a wide range of industries — including business, healthcare, communications, sports, education, and more — in destinations like Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, and beyond. Students receive pre-departure career coaching, ongoing support from local WorldStrides staff, and resume and interview preparation. Many internship programs are also available in a hybrid format that combines coursework with a part-time placement.

Yes, WorldStrides Custom Programs specializes in designing faculty-led, short-term international programs built from the ground up for university partners. These programs are tailored to a faculty member's specific learning outcomes, course content, and logistical needs, with destinations available in 120+ countries. WorldStrides handles all program logistics — including accommodations, transportation, site visits, cultural activities, and risk management — so faculty can focus on the academic experience. Custom programs are available for undergraduate cohorts, graduate business programs (MBA, EMBA, PMBA), and executive or corporate learners.