Kent State University Study Abroad

This summer, students accompanied professors Eriko Tanaka and Yumei Song to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka on the Journey to Japan: Past and Present program. Check out these photos to see what they experienced!

We’re officially unveiling this year’s Global Block Party t-shirts! Let us know which shirt you’ll be grabbing in the comments!

We are so excited to welcome students back to campus with the Global Block Party:

Date: August 16
Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Location: Van Campen Hall

There will be tie-dye for the first 600 students, snacks, a DJ, and games!

Ready to get lost in the splendor of Florence? 🇮🇹 🍝🌹 Applications for the Spring 2025 semester in Florence are open until October 1st!

📅 Mark your calendar! One of our biggest events of the year is back!
 
Attend the Global Block Party during KSU Kickoff for your chance to tie-dye an exclusive Education Abroad or Block Party t-shirt! Supplies available for the first 600 students!
 
August 16, 2- 4pm
Van Campen Hall Lawn

Our final winner of the Photo & Video Contest is Emily O'Connor! Emily submitted this photo for the Scenic Highlights category from her time on the Yonsei University program in South Korea.

"This is my favorite photo I've taken on the trip. I got to see a beautiful pink sunset on the East Sea, showing the iconic Busan Bridge and many boats. What I think is crazy is there are zero edits to the photo, it was genuinely the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen."

Our third Photo & Video Contest category is Cultural Connections, and Jada Corey won with this photo from the Rwanda After Genocide program.

"As we visited a reconciliation village in Rwanda, we were greeted with traditional Rwandan dance and song, I believe the photo captured true Rwandan culture and their welcoming nature to us as students."

Our next category for the Photo & Video Contest is the Classroom Expanded. Entries highlighted activities outside the traditional classroom, and Kathryn Burns won with her photo from the Critical Social Research: Small Scale Food Production in Italy program!

"I selected this photo because it shows one of our classes activities which was a cheese and wine tasting. I liked the framing of this photo, and it shows the branding of where we were located, so it is taking me back to such a fun experience that I had abroad!"

We celebrated the end of the summer term with a Photo & Video Contest, and the winner of our first category, , is Ariane Robinson!

Ariane showed her Kent State spirit by posing with Flash in front of Big Ben in London during the Regent's University program.

"I was gifted this plushie of Flash before the end of last semester and I thought it would be fun to bring it abroad with me! For a while, I forgot I had packed it until one day I found him in my suitcase and decided to bring me along with me for the day! While visiting Big Ben, I decided to snap a photo of me and Flash in front of the memorable landmark!"

Next up in the series is a fan favorite… 3️⃣ Visit Piazzale Michelangelo for panoramic views of Florence 🤩

You won’t want to miss the chance to appreciate the splendor of the city of Florence from this famous observation point. To reach the Piazzale, you can take a steep footpath up from the banks of the Arno River or public buses 12 or 13 will drop you right in the square. Upon arrival you can enjoy the views, check out replicas of Michaelangelo’s famous sculptures, and take some amazing photos. Tip: Check out this view during sunset! 🌅

This summer, Sophia traveled to Japan on the Journey to Japan: Past and Present faculty-led program. She spent eleven days exploring the history of Japan in three of the country’s major cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. After her return, we asked her a few questions about her experience.

What made you choose this program?
"As I started taking Japanese language classes during the spring semester of my freshman year, it has now been a little over two years that I have been studying. I have since discovered my genuine passion for learning the language and hope to work in the field of translation someday. Prior to this trip, I had never been out of the country or ridden a plane. When I found out that my Japanese professor whom I’ve had for all but two Japanese courses, Eriko Tanaka, would be leading a short trip to Japan, I just felt that I needed to do whatever I could to go. Having her as an instructor has meant everything within my experience thus far in learning Japanese; she has been nothing but encouraging and supportive, allowing my curiosity and love for the language to grow more than I ever would’ve thought was possible. As soon as I knew taking a trip with her to her hometown of Osaka, Japan was a possibility, I had really hoped to go!"

What was your favorite thing you learned as part of this course?
"In taking this course, I was able to gain insight into both Japanese history and modern culture. I just enjoyed getting to experience the cultural differences that exist in Japan in comparison to the United States, especially through seemingly simple things like riding the subway and visiting convenience stores. It was interesting to see what daily life and routine look like for those living in another country."

What was your favorite thing you experienced in Japan?
"It is so hard to pick a single favorite experience from the trip in its entirety but one of my favorite things we did was taking a day trip to Nara prefecture. Deer are considered sacred and symbolic within the prefecture as Nara Park is home to over 1,000 deer that roam freely and are accustomed to human contact and interaction. I really enjoyed getting to explore the scenery of Nara Park and interacting with the deer there. I was so surprised to see that the deer often bow at passerby in hopes of receiving a snack!"

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Cuba? This winter break is your chance to join the Multidisciplinary Exploration: Cuba in Transition program!

The course is designed to introduce students to modern Cuba. You'll learn about Cuban society, politics, economics, education, science, and the arts; engage in a comparative study of Cuban and U.S. histories and cultures; and enhance your knowledge and skills in navigating cultural differences!

*Students from all majors are welcome.*

Visit our website to learn more.

Tip: Did you know for winter and spring break programs, your program's tuition is included in the total credits for your spring semester tuition? That means as long as you aren't enrolled in more than 18 credit hours for the spring, you won't be paying additional tuition for your program abroad, just the costs of travel!

POV: The sun is shining, you've made awesome new friends, you're full of gelato, and you're ready to take on Italian life. Ready to make this dream happen? Click the link in our bio to start your application today! ☀️

Spring 2025, Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026 Florence apps are open now!

Top o' the mornin' to ya from Cork, Ireland! 🇮🇪 KSU student Ella McDonald spent the semester studying at University College Cork in Ireland with .

☘️ UCC offers semester and academic year programs where students can study business, engineering, international studies, social sciences, and more!

☘️ Spend your free time strolling along the River Lee, popping into markets, dropping into a pub for traditional Irish music, exploring historic castles and cathedrals, and touring miles of coastline.

Introducing…our Series! As you’re preparing for your semester or summer at the Kent State Florence Center, we wanted to share our favorite recommendations for sites to see and places to explore in Florence. Starting off strong with...

1️⃣ Have a photoshoot at a “Fotoautomatica” 📸

Visit one of these vintage restored photobooths, many of which date back to as far as the 1950s! For only 2 Euros you’ll receive a strip of four black-and-white photos to save as a memory of your time in Florence. The Fotoautomatics are scattered around the city, find them in the following locations: Via dell’Agnolo, Via del Proconsolo, Via Santa Monaca, Largo Fratelli Alinari, The Student Hotel

Did you know KSU Florence's Assistant Director of Student Affairs, Andy Wyatt, dabbles in film photography? Check out some of his recent photos from Florence:

"Summer in Tuscany has a very distinct feeling (hot) and appearance (lush). While many don’t think of Florence as a ‘green’ city, you only need to go a little ways outside the historic center to find it bursting with greenery of all kinds. These photos are from my neighborhood, Gavinana, and one of its most charming streets, Viuzzo delle Lame. The outer areas of Florence and Tuscany more widely have much to offer – explore them!"

Study abroad applications through Spring 2026 are OPEN!

Find yourself hiking mountains in Hong Kong, walking through temples in Egypt, visiting historic cities in Italy, or exploring castles in Ireland!

Applications are open for: Winter Break 2025, Spring 2025, Spring Break 2025, Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026

¡Viva España! 🇪🇸 Andrea Clark spent the semester studying in the gorgeous coastal city of Barcelona at Universitat Pompeu Fabra with .

☀️ UPF offers summer, semester, and academic year programs with a variety of both English and Spanish-taught courses.

☀️ In this world-class destination, you’ll live within walking distance of sandy Mediterranean beaches, study in the heart of Barcelona, and enjoy spectacular architecture, art, music, and food. Check out UPF and the several other program options in Spain on our website!

Kent State senior Tyler Jones recently studied abroad in the Netherlands with the Amsterdam: Law, Politics, and Policy in the Netherlands program. This spring break program allows students to explore important themes in Political Science while visiting political, historical, and cultural sites in Amsterdam and The Hague.

Tyler is earning a Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree with minors in Economics and Psychology and is pursuing a career as a Licensed Professional Counselor. He was initially drawn to the Amsterdam program because of its emphasis on the Netherlands’ public policies towards drugs.

“My favorite thing overall was learning how they handled the harm reduction and drug crisis over in Amsterdam. I’d say it was really effective and we can take a lot to learn from it. I personally want to work in drug crisis counseling, so I think the struggles we have here, we can do a lot better through our state funding, local funding, and just as a society to help this harmed population a little more”

He found the program’s site visits to local non-profits like the Mainline Foundation especially helpful.

“I wanted to just learn with the international hub how they handle things in harm reduction and the drug crisis, it’s so prevalent even back home. Going there, gaining perspective, you can bring a lot of that back home and see maybe things that we can do differently or things that they might be doing better.”

Tyler’s study abroad experience also left him feeling more prepared for a future career in counseling.

“I feel like I’ve gained a lot of cultural perspective, especially important in the world of wanting to work in counseling and psychology. Just knowing everybody is different and cultural sensitivity is important, but being aware of the cultural differences is more important.”

Kent State Psychology student Madison Oberacker returned just a few days ago from her summer study abroad program, Human Development and Family Sciences in Ireland!

The program was a 9-day exploration of Ireland with the opportunity for students to explore community services and societal influences on interpersonal relationships and families, such as education, religion, traditions, and immigration.

The students visited local centers like SCCUL Sanctuary (an organization focused on alleviating poverty and distress in Galway), a women’s empowerment organization, and Burrenbeo Trust (a charity that focuses on conserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Burren).

One of Madison’s favorite visits was to the Dolmen Centre, a local community center focused on helping people with intellectual disabilities live independent lives. Madison enjoyed speaking with the staff and learning about the Centre’s fun activities (coding classes) and art projects (puppet making!).

“It was really awesome getting to see the work they do and seeing the people there thrive. It was cool to see their Centre and they showed us the puppets they make and the art projects. It was just really, really inspiring.”

Madison and the students on the HDF Ireland program also had the chance to volunteer with another local organization, Kinvara Tidy Towns, for some cleanup and village beautification work. This volunteer opportunity allowed the students to work side-by-side, talking one-on-one with locals to get a perspective they wouldn’t have gotten through a traditional tour of Ireland.

Madison’s takeaway from all these visits?

“It was really inspiring to see the field in action in a way that I haven't before, like seeing how people use HDFS to better their communities.”

"Bienvenue en France" 🇫🇷 KSU student Kelsey Morgan spent the summer studying French language and culture at Universite Savoie Mont Blanc with .

🚞 USMB is located at the base of the French Alps in Chambéry, known for its pedestrian-friendly squares, historical town center, colorful cafe terraces and breath-taking views of the mountains. Students can spend a summer, semester, or academic year learning the French language at the beginning, intermediate, or advanced level.

🚞 Interested in studying French abroad? Explore the extensive French language programs available to you at the link in our bio.

The Florence Summer Institute is in full swing and we are loving every minute of it! ☀️ Considering studying at the Kent State Florence center? Visit the link in our bio to learn more! 🇮🇹

We ❤️ Firenze and so did Fashion Merchandising major, Audrey Ayers who spent this spring semester in Florence. Audrey reflected on her time abroad sharing, "Exploring 33 cities across 7 countries, I developed loves for traveling, Italian culture, and new experiences. If you ever have the opportunity to travel abroad, walk towards fear... I learned many priceless philosophies, but my main SparkNotes are:
1. Enjoy the struggle.
2. If there is a will, there is a way.
3. People are greatly influenced by their environments."

Ready to embark on your journey abroad? Visit our website today. ✈️

We're diving deep into Claire Davis' semester at La Trobe University in Australia through ISEP. 🌊🦈 From visiting the coral reef to hiking, beach walks, petting kangaroos, and more, zoology major Claire has had the experience of a lifetime.

Claire shared, "I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to explore Australia in such cool ways. So far, classes have also been a really positive experience and very hands-on which I really enjoy. Coming to Australia has made me realize how rewarding it is to step out of your comfort zone, and really appreciate truly how much of a positive experience traveling can be!"

Interested in spending a semester abroad? Visit our website to explore the 60+ countries open to you. 🌏

We are so in love with this view! We can't think of anything better than experiencing a performance in one of the 10 best opera houses in the world while studying abroad!

Our favorite photo of the week is from the CAED Urban Design spring break program in Mexico City and Queretaro! This stunning shot is from Biblioteca Vasconcelos in Mexico City.

Our students have amazing opportunities to study abroad all over the world, and the American University in Cairo is one program we think is really special! That's because Kent State students get to study some really interesting topics like Hieroglyphics, Cinema in Egypt and the Arab World, and Migration and Refugee Movements in the Middle East and North Africa. They also get to visit some really awesome sites such as the Great Pyramid of Giza!

Would you like to study abroad in or visit Egypt? Let us know in the comments!

We're gearing up for the start of the Florence Summer Institute next week! Can't wait to see y'all there, Golden Flashes! ✈️

Big smiles for these Fashion Design and Merchandising students who recently wrapped up their spring semester in Florence. 🤩 Interested in studying in one of the world's fashion capitals? Spring 2025 applications are open now! 🇮🇹

The Constitutional Law in the United Kingdom program is coming back for Spring Break, March 2025!

Students will be able to understand the differences between American and British legal systems, and use their theoretical knowledge of law, courts and justice to evaluate how these play out in daily life in England.

This international learning experience will also include visits to the most famous attractions in London such as Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, and the UK Supreme Court. Students will also make daytrips to Windsor and Oxford!

Just a relaxing class break in Mexico City 😉