Global education at Gettysburg College gives students the chance to learn by doing—both in the classroom and in the world beyond it. By studying in different countries and cultures, students gain new ways of thinking, strengthen practical skills, and build confidence navigating unfamiliar environments. These experiences deepen academic learning while helping students grow as adaptable, curious, and engaged global citizens—qualities that serve them well during college and long after graduation.
Getting started
The Center for Global Education (CGE) will help you plan your global study experience. Start by making a Global Programs Advising Application in the online portal that walks you through the basics of global study like eligibility criteria, applying for a passport, and application instructions.
Next, you can make an appointment with a Global Study Coordinator to ask questions about our programs and to get help picking a program that meets your academic, personal, and professional needs.
- Do you want to enroll in an intensive short-term faculty-led Global Learning Lab or do want to immerse yourself in a culture for a full semester?
- Would you like to include an internship or directed research in your time off-campus?
- Do you want to take classes for your major, explore new disciplines, or both?
After you know where you would like to go, you will complete a CGE global study application and a program specific application. Our pre-departure orientation will prepare you for all aspects of your program including academics, wellness, safety precautions, cultural adjustment, and more. The CGE team is here to help you find the right program, understand the application process, and prepare for departure. Contact us if you'd like to start with a conversation!
Academics
You receive credit toward your undergraduate degree when you study globally through a Center for Global Education program at Gettysburg College. Courses taken in our programs can count for major, minor, general curriculum, or elective credits. You will earn regular in-residence credit; all the courses, credits, and grades you earn will be on your official Gettysburg record and grades are factored into your GPA.
Our course approval process helps you understand how courses abroad can count within your Gettysburg degree. With a bit of careful planning and guidance, you’ll be able to participate in global study, earn credit toward your degree, and stay on track to graduate.
Health and safety
Your health and safety are our number one priority when you participate in global study. We offer programs that have been vetted and reviewed by the Center for Global Education, the Global Study Program Committee, and our Risk Management Office. Travel does bring with it a certain element of risk and we work with you to make plans to mitigate risks you may encounter while studying off campus. We will advise you on what you can do to stay healthy and safe while studying globally.
It is very important that you also have health insurance that covers you adequately while you are abroad. Through our international emergency medical and travel assistance provider, Healix, you will get coverage for emergency medical treatment, transportation and evacuation; emergency family reunion; security evacuation; and repatriation subject to certain exclusions and limitations. You also have access to their Global Oracle App which gives you immediate access to country information, security analyses, local medical resources, and travel alerts.
Costs and funding
Global study is an investment in your education. In an affiliated semester-long CGE program, you pay regular tuition and a global study fee which is similar to the cost of tuition, room, and board at Gettysburg. You will have additional costs like airfare and student visa fees, for example. All financial aid that you normally receive for studies on campus carry over, except for work study, certain tuition exchange scholarships, and some VA benefits.
For short-term Global Learning Labs (1-unit short courses) in the Winter or May terms, students are charged one flat fee that covers all the costs of the program (credit, housing, airfare, etc). We also offer additional scholarships for students who need extra funding and can advise you on other external scholarships that can help support any extra costs you have for your time abroad. For a detailed breakdown of program costs, what’s included, and how funding works, visit our Costs & Funding page.
Coming home
The global study experience does not end when you return home. At Gettysburg College, we value the new perspectives and skills you’ve gained while abroad and we cannot wait to help you learn how to showcase them. Our signature Global Leaders of Gettysburg College (GLGC) program encourages returnees to participate in events that keep them involved with international activities and their global study program. We encourage you to work with the Center for Career Engagement to incorporate pieces of your international experience onto your resume. Your faculty members will be excited to hear your new perspectives in the classroom, and the CGE will always welcome you back to our office to share stories of your time away.
Fall 2026 programs are now accepting applications