Study Abroad

Other Opportunities to Study Abroad

In addition to "Simpson Experience Abroad" offerings, students also have the opportunity to participate in study abroad programs operated by other institutions and organizations and have those credits transferred back to Simpson  Please note: your state and federal financial aid will very likely be able to be used on these programs, but your institutional aid from Simpson may not.  Check with Simpson's Office of Financial Assistance for details about the transferrability of aid on a non-Simpson study abroad program.

Through a bilateral exchange agreement between Simpson and another institution:

The State Higher Vocational School (PWSZ) in Krosno, Poland has an exchange agreement with Simpson such that two students from Krosno come to study at Simpson in the fall semester and then two students from Simpson go to Krosno to study for the spring semester. Courses offered in Krosno include beginning Polish language as well as a courses taught in English such as "Introduction to Poland," "The Holocaust," "European Identity," "American Popular Culture" among others.  Students can also serve as an English language teaching assistant and they can join fellow international students at PWSZ on excursions led in the surrounding region. Because this is a direct exchange program between the two institutions, students pay their home institution's tuition and fee charges, their home school's standard room and board rate, a $500 study abroad fee, and their transportation and visa costs and they can use their full Simpson financial aid on this program. Note:  The deadline is Friday, October 12, 2012 to submit application materials to the Office of International Education for the Spring '13 semester.  Please click here for more details on the application process, and contact Jay Wilkinson if you have specific questions or need more information about the exchange.

The University of Murcia in Spain has an agreement with Simpson which allows up to four students per year from each institution to study for a semester at the other institution.  Students interested in studying in Murcia must have a good command of written and spoken Spanish so that they will be well-prepared for success in their coursework abroad.  Simpson students can take courses at the university with Spanish students in a wide-range of topics, and support is given to Simpson students through the university's Office of International Relations.  Exchange students typically live in apartments in town with other international students and they are providede with a meal stipend to cover the cost of their meals.  Because this is a direct exchange program between the two institutions, students pay their home institution's tuition and fee charges, their home school's standard room and board rate, a $500 study abroad fee, and their transportation and visa costs and they can use their full Simpson financial aid on this program. Note: The deadline is Friday, March 16, 2012 to submit application materials to the Office of International Education for the Fall '12 semester. Please contact Jay  Wilkinson if you have specific questions or for more information about the exchange.

The University of French Polynesia, Simpson's partner institution in Tahiti, has an agreement with Simpson which allows students from each institution to study for a semester at the other institution. Students interested in studying at UPF must have a good command of written and spoken French so that they will be well-prepared for success in their coursework abroad. Simpson students can take courses at the university with local students in a wide-range of topics, and support is given to Simpson students through the university's Office of International Relations. Exchange students typically live with host families who provide them with breakfast and dinner each weekday as well as all weekend meals.  These arrangements are made through UPF's IR office, and students pay their hosts directly for their accomodations.  Because this is a direct exchange program between the two institutions, students pay their home institution's tuition and fee charges along with the $500 study abroad fee, while they pay their host family expenses and meals not covered by the hosts (weekday lunches) along with their transportation and visa costs themselves.  Students can use their full Simpson financial aid on this program.Note: The deadline is Friday, March 16, 2012 to submit application materials to the Office of International Education for the Fall  '12 semester. Please contact Jay Wilkinson if you have specific questions or for more information about the exchange.

Universidad del Centro Educativo Latino Americano (UCEL), Simpson's partner institution in Argentina, has an agreement with Simpson which allows students from each institution to study for a semester at the other institution. Students interested in studying at UCEL must have a good command of written and spoken Spanish so that they will be well-prepared for success in their coursework abroad. Simpson students can take courses at the university with local students in a wide-range of topics, and support is given to Simpson students through the university's Office of International Relations. Exchange students typically live with host families who provide them with all of their meals. These arrangements are made through UCEL's IR office. Because this is a direct exchange program between the two institutions, students pay their home institution's tuition and fee charges, standard room and board charges, along with the $500 study abroad fee.  Students are also responsible for the cost of their travel to and from UCEL, for their books and academic materials, as well as their travel documents and visa costs. Students can use their full Simpson financial aid on this program. Note: The deadline is Friday, March 16, 2012 to submit application materials to the Office of International Education for the Fall '12 semester. Please contact Jay Wilkinson if you have specific questions or for more information about the exchange.

Irish American Scholars Program

Through the support of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church, Simpson College is able to offer one or two students annually the opportunity to study in Northern Ireland as part of the Irish American Scholars Program. 

Simpson students may apply to study at Belfast Metropolitan College, Queens University, St. Mary’s University College, Stranmillis University College, or the University of Ulster, all of which are located in Northern Ireland for either a semester or an academic year. If accepted, students register and pay tuition and fees as they normally would at Simpson, however, housing, food, travel, books, and other living expenses while studying in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the student. The only additional expenses charged by Simpson will be the $500 study abroad fee. Financial aid and any Simpson scholarships a student has can usually be used to help cover the cost of participating in the program.  Here is a program information sheet you should download if you're interested in applying.

Applicants must currently be a sophomore or junior and have a minimum GPA of 3.20. Preference is given to students who wish to study for an academic year, but the Irish universities will consider applications for one semester.  Applications to study in Northern Ireland either for the full, 2013-2014 academic year or for just one of the semesters of the '13-'14 academic year are due to Simpson's OIE by Wed. Jan. 23, 2013.  A complete application must include:

  • a completed application form,
  • a 500-word essay describing your educational objectives while studying in Northern Ireland,
  • two letters of reference: one from your academic advisor and one from another faculty member or administrator at Simpson who knows you and your work well, and
  • an official Simpson College transcript which includes your grades through the Fall 2012 semester (Must be requested in person in the Registrar's Office, and it can take up to 5 business days for the transcript to be issued.).


Through another institution or provider:

College Year in Athens is a study abroad program focused upon the history and civilization of Greece and the East Mediterranean region.  Its mission is to offer each student an academically rigorous program of studies combined with the vibrant experience of day-to-day contact with the people, monuments, and landscape of Greece – a rapidly changing country with a uniquely varied past.  A special scholarship is available to cover program tuition, housing, excursions, and some meals for a Simpson student to study for the full 2012-2013 academic year on the CYA program.   Scholarship applications are due to the OIE by Wed., Feb. 15, 2012.   Please note that y ou do not need to complete CYA's application materials until you've been notified that you're the successful scholarship recipient.  A complete scholarship application includes:

  • Two copies of the completed scholarship application form
  • A two to five page personal statement explaining how the College Year in Athens program fits into your studies at Simpson, what your overall academic objectives are, and what specifically you hope to gain from this program that will enhance your educational experience.
  • A copy of your current degree audit.
  • The names, email addresses, and phone numbers for two people who could serve as references for you, neither of whom are related to you and at least one should be a Simpson professor.
  • A copy of the photo page from your passport.  If you don't already have a (valid) passport, complete a passport application, make a photocopy of the completed form to turn in to the Office of International Education with your social security number blacked out on the form.  Note: You don't have to submit your passport application materials to the County Recorder's Office until you receive notification that you've been selected to receive the CYA scholarship. 

For more details, contact Jay Wilkinson in the OIE.

 
Harlaxton College (the British campus of the University of Evansville) hosts students from all over the United States to study for a semester in a unique academic and cultural learning environment.  The college is housed in an impressive, nineteenth-century manor house, and is situated within 117 acres of gardens, park and woodland.  Simpson can send a limited number of students on this program each year, so let Jay Wilkinson know if you're interested in applying for the program as early as one full year in advance of studying abroad.

Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA) is an organization of 17 liberal arts colleges, universities and associations dedicated to education for social justice. Together it shapes academically rigorous, study-abroad and off-campus study programs that address the most pressing issues in our neighborhoods, nations and world..

SACI Institute for International Studies in Florence, Italy offers a wide variety of studio arts and humanities courses during both the academic year and summer terms.

For more information about these opportunities, contact:

Jay Wilkinson
International Education Coordinator
Simpson College
701 North C Street
Indianola, IA 50125
(515) 961-1288
toll free (800) 362-2454, ext. 1288
jay.wilkinson@simpson.edu

Last Updated: 2/7/12