Study Abroad and Off-Campus Study

When you study abroad, your education accelerates as you live and learn in another culture—every interaction is an opportunity for intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth. You experience a different academic system, the complexity of another culture and language, and you will encounter the world in new ways.

Collage of semester and summer study abroad. From left, Middle East Studies Program student at Petra. Wheaton in England students in a garden. Wheaton in Mexico colorful street scene. IAU Aix-en-Provence study in front of old French bakery.

Why Study Abroad?

Here are a few reasons why you should consider a cross-cultural learning experience:

Increase your understanding of the world and our society
Gain intercultural skills
Build fluency in a foreign language
Gain a new level of confidence
Learn from a new perspective
Meet new people in new places
Enhance future employment opportunities

How Do You Study Off-Campus (Study Abroad)?

Step One: Meet with a member of the GPS Study Abroad Team

Before applying for a study abroad program, make an appointment to meet with a member of the GPS Study Abroad Team.

Step Two: Apply for Off-Campus Study Approval

Students must also apply for Off-Campus Study Approval through Global Programs and Studies (GPS) and receive course approval from academic advisors or departments. Federal, State and Wheaton Financial Aid may apply to programs approved by GPS, except as noted. Students are eligible for one semester of off-campus study on an approved partner program.

Apply for Approval Now >

Application Deadline for academic year 2026-27 programs: February 1, 2026

Late applications will NOT be accepted. Students must meet both Wheaton's application deadline and the program's published application deadline.

The following programs have limited capacity or "slots" for Wheaton College students in the 2026-27 academic year:

CCCU GlobalEd: Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford
DIS: Study Abroad in Scandinavia
WorldStrides Study + Veritas: American University of Rome

Students complete the first part of their Off-campus Study Approval Application AND submit a completed Study Abroad Request for Approval of Transfer Credits Form to the GPS office (gps@wheaton.edu) by the published date to be considered for program participation. (Do not submit the transfer credit approval form to the Academic Advising office—it will be submitted on your behalf if you are granted a "slot" for fall 2026 or spring 2027.)

For programs where participation is limited, the GPS office will review:

Your response to question #18 in the Essential Elements and Application Questionnaire of the Off-campus Study Approval Application regarding why you wish to participate in the program.
The transfer credit approval form to see how program courses are meeting degree or program of study requirements.
GPS may request a copy of your unofficial Wheaton transcript.

Students should not begin an application with the study abroad program until they receive a decision on their "slot" application from the GPS Office.

Step Three: Apply to Your Specific Partner Program

Partner program applications are program-specific. Please review the application instructions and guidelines on the program website for details.

Step Four: Complete Semester Off-Campus Study Requirements

For semester off-campus study in the 2026-27 academic year and beyond, students must declare the Intercultural Engagement Endorsement (IEE) and complete the GPS 233: Preparation for Off-campus Study (1 credit) course in B-quad of the semester prior to off-campus study. Students must complete both requirements to be considered eligible for off-campus study approval.

Semester Programs

Our goal is to place you in a challenging academic environment within cross-cultural settings around the world and throughout the United States.

Explore Semester Programs

Summer Programs

Wheaton College offers summer academic experiences - opportunities to study, travel, and engage with other cultures - led by Wheaton College faculty to many locations abroad.

Find a Summer Program

Meet with a GPS Study Abroad staff member

Do you have questions or need more information? Have you decided on a program? Make an appointment to meet with a GPS study abroad staff member for further information about the application process.

Schedule an appointment