Global Engagement Opportunities (GEO)
Where can we send you?
Over 200 students each year at RC go abroad with our office - Global Engagement Opportunities (GEO). Generally speaking, there are three primary ways that Roanoke College students travel abroad for their studies: short-term faculty-led trips like May Term travel courses, short-term summer programs, and traditional semester-long study abroad.
- Faculty-led three-week excursions with May Term
- Typically costs between $2000 and $5200
- Includes airfare, accommodations, some meals, and an unforgettable experience with your RC peers and professors
- Completes your IL graduation requirement
- Six-week or similar Summer Terms
- Typically cost between $3500 and $9000
- Scholarship available to offset travel
- Financial aid is not available; Student loans may possibly be applied (not recommended)
- Examples include the Virginia Program at Oxford
- Study Away Term (with Exchange Partner or Affiliate Partner)
- No matter where we send you, you pay normal Roanoke College tuition (no tuition or fees to the host institution)
- All Financial Aid applies* (students with Tuition Remission or Exchange must Study Abroad with Exchange Partners)
- For residential students, costs the same or significantly less than living on campus at Roanoke College
- Hundreds of programs to choose between
We have partners in 50+ countries and programs with courses satisfying graduation requirements for every major, minor, and concentration at Roanoke College. Where can we send you?
Students who wish to study abroad on a Roanoke College-approved exchange or affiliated program must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the time of application and prior to departure. Students should be aware that some of the study abroad programs require a higher grade point average than this RC minimum. Students must maintain full-time status prior to and during the term abroad.
Deadlines
Fall Semester Deadline
Applications to Study Abroad during the Fall Semester (or for a full Academic Year, meaning Fall & Spring together) must be started with the Global Engagement office by February 1st.
Spring Semester Deadline
Applications to Study Abroad during the Spring Semester must be started with the Global Engagement office by September 1st..
Summer Program Deadline
Applications to Study Abroad during the Summer must be received by April 1st.
Step 1: Browse our approved programs
All currently available programs are searchable by major, term (Fall, Spring, Summer), country, language, etc. by clicking here.
- Log in with your Roanoke credentials
- Take the program match quiz
- Fill out your student profile
- Select a program and term and fill out your application!
Step 2: Schedule an Appointment
Our office is in Lucas Hall (Modern Language Building) on the top floor, Room 221. The Coordinator of Global Engagement is Dr. Michael Hancock-Parmer. We will discuss your program of interest, associated program fees (if any) and funding, scholarship opportunities, and how to work your ambition to Study Abroad into your academic plan here at Roanoke College.
Please use this link to book an appointment with Dr. Hancock-Parmer. Keep in mind that if on your phone, you will want to mindful of the Time Zone settings on your device!
Browse our list of Approved programs below
Extension Campuses
Roanoke College offers three intermittent faculty-led semester programs. We craft a semester tailored to the needs of attending students. Please follow the links below to learn more about these exciting programs.
Leipzig, Germany (relaunching Fall 2025)
Yucatan, Mexico (relaunching Spring 2027)
Spend either the fall or spring semester in Lugano, Switzerland as part of Roanoke's Linking Lives program.
Roanoke College Exchange Programs
Students who participate in exchange programs enroll directly in a foreign university and take courses designed for local students, courses specially designed for international students, or a combination.
Exchanges:
Kansai Gaidai University (Japan) - Requires that students have completed at least one year (preferably two years) at a college-level institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Waseda University SILS (Japan) - This competitive program requires a minimum GPA of 3.0
Ewha Women's University (South Korea) - The highest-rated private university in Korea and, despite its name, has a co-ed international exchange program and is open to students without prior knowledge of Korean. Requires a minimum GPA of 3.0
Aarhus University-Faculty of Arts & Faculty of Psychology (Denmark) - Requires a GPA of 3.0
University of East Anglia (England) - Requires a GPA of at least 2.5, but in exceptional circumstances petitions are acceptable
Otto-Friedrich-Universität (Germany) - Requires a GPA of 3.0
Ludwigsburg University (Germany) - Requires a GPA of 3.0
University of Ulster (Northern Ireland, UK) - Requires a GPA of 3.0
American University of Cairo (Egypt) - Requires a GPA of 2.8
ISEP Exchange (schools in over 50 countries!) - A GPA of 3.0 is recommended, a minimum of 2.75 is accepted
Roanoke College Affiliated Programs
Roanoke College affiliated programs offer a variety of study abroad destinations and structures. They include programs at overseas colleges, programs that facilitate direct enrollment at foreign universities, programs run by other U.S. colleges, and programs run by nonprofit organizations.
USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium) Programs:
USAC is one of the chief providers for Roanoke College, connecting students with amazing Study Abroad opportunities at Universities around the world. Each program has a preferred GPA minimum of 2.5, with possible petitions being accepted to certain programs with a minimum GPA of 2.3.
Other Affiliate Programs
University of Nicosia (Nicosia, Cyprus)
Regent's University (London, England)
The Umbra Institute (Perugia, Italy) & ISI Florence (Florence, Italy), both managed by ISI Abroad.
James Cook University (North Queensland, Australia)
Other Summer Opportunities
Roanoke College is a co-sponsor of the Virginia Program at Oxford, which enables students to participate in a six-week study program at St. Anne's College, University of Oxford. Students may earn a unit of transfer credit in literature and a unit of transfer credit in history.