Study Abroad Locations
Find your next global destination by exploring MBU’s international exchange and study abroad partners. From the UK to Costa Rica to Japan, there’s no shortage of exciting cultures to explore!
Quick Links:
Virginia Program at Oxford
The Virginia Program at Oxford is a six-week session held at St. Anne’s College of the University of Oxford. Six Virginia colleges, including MBU, combine to offer a select group of students the opportunity to study the literature and history of late 16th and early 17th century England.
Dates
June 23, 2025–August 2, 2025
Application
All majors are eligible to apply. Open to rising seniors, juniors and sophomores. The total cost is $8,500, which includes:
- full tuition
- room (single) in St. Anne’s College
- board (3 meals/day) in St. Anne’s Commons
- group excursions to London (Hampton Court and Globe) and two trips to Stratford-upon-Avon (Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare Birthplace)
Need-based financial aid may be available.
Application Deadline: February 14, 2025
Course Credit
Lectures and tutorials are conducted by British faculty. Students may earn six semester hours of English and history credit by taking
- HIST 390 Tudor-Stuart History
- ENG 390 Tudor-Stuart Literature and Drama.
Contact
Mary Hill Cole
MBU Sponsor & Director, Virginia Program at Oxford
mhcole@marybaldwin.edu
Autism on the Seas
In partnership with Autism on the Seas, MBU students spend a week at sea on a cruise ship providing support to individuals on the autism spectrum and their families or caregivers. Students assist Autism on the Seas’ trained staff volunteers with client support during all aspects of the cruise experience.
Course Credit
This experience is paired with ASD 360/ 640 Characteristics and Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Students taking the associated course will have additional readings and requirements beyond the voyage itself.
Contact
Rachel Potter
MBU Sponsor, Autism on the Seas
rpotter@marybaldwin.edu
Exchange Schools and Programs
MBU has formed partnerships with prominent international colleges and universities to foster exchange opportunities and intercultural learning. MBU students have the opportunity to study abroad at one of these campuses, and we also welcome students from these institutions to study at MBU each year.
India
Lady Doak College (Madurai)
Offering undergraduate courses in multiple lab sciences and the liberal arts, as well as a women’s corps of cadets, Lady Doak is committed to the empowerment and academic development of women.
Dates
Jun 14, 2025–December 27, 2025
Application Information
Students must have a 2.0 GPA to apply.
MBU students pay MBU tuition, fees, room/board to study at Lady Doak College.
To learn more about Lady Doak College, please review this presentation, watch a promotional video and campus tour and info video, and review the 2022-2023 prospectus.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
Courses & Extracurriculars
Lady Doak College has the most extensive course offerings and laboratories in the sciences of any exchange partner:
- Physics
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Chemistry
- Botany
- Zoology
Lady Doak also has a robust liberal arts program, offering courses in Literature, History, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Math and Business Administration.
This is our only exchange partner that maintains a female corps of cadets that VWIL students can participate in while studying abroad.
Lady Doak also has a Center for Human Rights Education (CHRE) and emphasizes eco-friendly initiatives across the campus.
South Korea
Sungshin Women’s University (Seoul)
At Sungshin Women’s University, MBU students can study Korean language and culture and a range of other courses offered in English. Both men and women are eligible to study abroad at Sungshin.
Dates
September 1, 2025–December 31, 2025
Application Information
Students must have a 2.0 GPA to apply for this program and must be 18 years or older.
Fluency in Korean is encouraged but not required.
MBU students pay MBU tuition and fees, and room/board to Sungshin Women’s University.
Check out this brochure, factsheet and presentation to learn more about why you should study at Sungshin Women’s University this year!
Application Deadline: May 1, 2025
Courses
Sungshin Women’s University offers nearly 50 courses a semester across a variety of disciplines. English-taught courses include classes in the following areas:
- International Studies
- English
- Foreign languages: German, French, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
- Business (including Global Business)
- Communication
- Education
Taiwan
National Chengchi University (Taipei City)
Located in Taiwan’s capital with a lovely view of the Zhinan Mountain and the Jingmei River, NCCU is recognized as one of the best schools for humanities, social sciences, and business in Taiwan.
Dates
February 16, 2026–June 19, 2026
Application Information
Students must have a 2.75 GPA to apply.
MBU students pay MBU tuition and fees and then room/board to NCCU.
To learn move, please review NCCU’s fact sheet, FAQ presentation and detailed campus photos, country photos and city photos. View promotional videos, check out the university’s highlights and visit NCCU’s official Instagram.
Application Deadline: October 10, 2025
Courses
At NCCU you can take a wide variety of courses in English, including but not limited to the following disciplines:
- Political Science and International Studies
- Economics
- Statistics
- Business Administration
- History
- Sociology
- English, Literature
- Education
While you have the opportunity to study Mandarin Chinese, no coursework or previous experience is required. Summer Chinese language study is also available.
Ireland
Through the Irish American Scholars Program, high performing MBU students can travel to one of four different schools in Belfast, Ireland. Interested students will apply to the program and list their top three school choices, but their placement will be determined by staff.
Dates
September 6, 2025–December 11, 2025
Application Information
3.2 GPA required to apply. Must be a current Sophomore or Junior to apply. Only students 18 years of age or older are eligible to participate.
Students pay MBU tuition and fees, and then room/board to their host institution.
Course Information
- Research-intensive
- Wide variety of course offerings in the liberal arts and sciences
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Dates
September 6, 2025–December 11, 2025
Application Information
3.2 GPA required to apply. Must be a current Sophomore or Junior to apply. Only students 18 years of age or older are eligible to participate.
Students pay MBU tuition and fees, and then room/board to their host institution.
Course Information
- Research-intensive
- Wide variety of course offerings in the liberal arts and sciences
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Dates
September 6, 2025–December 11, 2025
Application Information
3.2 GPA required to apply. Must be a current Sophomore or Junior to apply. Only students 18 years of age or older are eligible to participate.
Students pay MBU tuition and fees, and then room/board to their host institution.
Course Information
- Liberal arts
- Education focused
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Dates
September 6, 2025–December 11, 2025
Application Information
3.2 GPA required to apply. Must be a current Sophomore or Junior to apply. Only students 18 years of age or older are eligible to participate.
Students pay MBU tuition and fees, and then room/board to their host institution.
Course Information
- Teacher Training
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Japan
MBU sponsors exchange partnerships with three different Japanese schools. Explore Kyoto, Hirakata, and Hachioji for a semester with your fellow Fighting Squirrels!
For more information about studying abroad in Japan, review this flyer, booklet, and extensive guide.
About the School
Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts (DWCLA) has been an MBU exchange partner for more than 30 years. The college is located across the street from the legendary Emperor’s Palace in Kyoto, one of Japan’s most beautiful and historic cities. MBU students attending Doshisha immerse themselves in the Japanese language and culture.
Dates
September 24, 2025-December 17, 2025
Application Information
As this is a Japanese studies program, applicants are required to have one year of previous Japanese language study. A 3.0 GPA is preferred.
MBU students are offered a scholarship from DWCLA that covers room/board and food costs at DWCLA. Students must pay the JSP program tuition and fees.
To learn more about DWCLA including program costs and course offerings, please review the 2025 program brochure and flyer.
Course Information
DWCLA offers a Japanese Studies Program each fall from September to December. The program is very small, as a maximum of ten students worldwide can participate each year.
Students participate in small classes with many hands-on learning experiences including field trips to other Japanese cities and club visits. MBU students are expected to take all four culture courses and four Japanese language courses each week. 2025 courses include:
- Zen and the Gardens of Kyoto
- Intercultural skills for living in Japan
- Representation of Nature in Japanese Culture
- Kyoto Culture and History
Application Deadline: April 25, 2025
Decision Deadline: May 30, 2025
About the School
Study abroad for a semester or year at Kansai Gaidai University, a co-ed international university with a study abroad program that focuses on Asian Studies coursework. Kansai Gaidai is located in Hirakata, a city found between Osaka and Kyoto.
Dates
August 19, 2025-December 23, 2025
Application Information
Participants must have a 3.0 GPA to apply for this study abroad program. Preference is given to applicants who have undertaken Japanese study. Japanese language courses must be taken at Kansai Gaidai while the student is abroad.
Students pay tuition, fees and room/board to MBU.
To learn more about Kansai Gaidai, please review this program brochure and cost breakdown.
Course Information
Take a variety of courses across the following disciplines while at Kansai Gaidai:
- Art, including studio art and fashion design
- Music
- Business, marketing and finance
- Gender/sexuality
- History
- Political Science and International Studies
- Religion
It is also possible for students studying at Kansai Gaidai in the spring to apply for summer internships.
Application Deadline: May 12, 2025
About the School
Spend a semester or a year at Soka University studying Japanese and Japanese culture in a unique teaching/learning model designed to quickly and effectively enhance student competency in the Japanese language. Soka is a co-ed university located in a suburb of Tokyo, providing ready access to one of the world’s most exciting cities.
Dates
September 1, 2025-February 7, 2026
Application Information
Students must have a 2.0 GPA to apply for this study abroad program. No previous Japanese language study is required to participate in this exchange program.
MBU students pay MBU tuition and fees, and their room/board to Soka University.
To learn more about Soka, please review this fact sheet.
Course Information
Soka offers a wide variety of courses across disciplines:
- Foreign Languages: German, French, Spanish, Korean.
- Education
- Economics and Finance
- History
- Political Science and International Studies
- English
- Asian Studies
- Communication
- Some basic offerings in Biology, Physics, Earth Science and Engineering.
Students also have the opportunity to apply for work-study positions as English conversation partners while at Soka.
It is also possible for students studying at Kansai Gaidai in the spring to apply for summer internships.
Application Deadline: March 28, 2025