Upcoming Study Abroad Events
The summer 2025 study abroad programs have reached capacity.
We will celebrate Study Abroad Day on February 24, 2025 with events so check back in January for updates.
Study Abroad Testimonials
Ember Henderson - Summer 2023 Costa Rica
My motivation for studying abroad was to travel with the intention of learning as much as possible through the experience, and the professors and program really made that happen. I spoke some Spanish going into it, but I picked Costa Rica because it was a small town that I thought might be less of a tourist destination with fewer people, and Costa Rica is very safe. I learned so much about Costa Rican culture, sustainability, and how to navigate new places and make long-lasting friendships (I still keep in contact with a friend I made there named Luis, and my homestay mom Orledy via WhatsApp). Getting outside of the US with these types of opportunities just helps young people to be able to see what life is like for other people and how we can learn from each other. I approached the entire trip in a way where I wanted to take as many possible opportunities for adventures and stay open to new things. I saw the good in situations even if they didn't go perfectly as planned which I think is a helpful mindset in general! Costa Rica helped me to further understand the importance of community and taking care of others, and that people and life should always be first. Going into this I didn't know that none of the homestay moms, and minimal people in town spoke English, but that wasn't a problem. I improved my Spanish and learned to communicate in other ways, such as helping with what I could around the house. I also felt safe as a trans person, as Costa Rican culture is very non-judgmental.
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Sara Funk - Summer 2024 Greece
My time spent studying in Zakynthos, Greece was more than I ever imagined it could be. I never thought I would have the opportunity to study abroad, but working with the Study Abroad office at MiraCosta simplified the process and made me believe it could be possible, even for a student like me. I was so honored to be a recipient of the Gilman Scholarship to help fund my experience, which I applied to believing I wouldn’t even have a chance of receiving. I also found out while on my trip I was selected to be a recipient of the American Association of Women (AAUW) Jeanne Gruenwald Scholarship, which I had learned about through a MiraCosta newsletter and applied to. While in Zakynthos, I attended a Balkan Heritage Field School program hosted at the Ionian University. I got to work with some unbelievably talented conservators, doctors, and research scientists in the fields of paper, metal, and textile conservation and preservation. It was an amazing opportunity that made me realize how little I know, fueling my passion to continue to learn. It allowed me to make connections and ask questions about the career field I want to enter that I otherwise would not have been able to find answers to. It wasn’t all work and no play either. I got to experience beaches, sea caves, swimming with turtles, making new friends, experiencing the local cuisine, participating in volunteer work, visiting museums, and so much more.
-Study abroad is an opportunity to travel outside the United States with California Community College professors and other California students for the purpose of earning academic credit applicable to your educational goals. Students enroll in classes, receive transferable general education units, and can apply for financial aid and scholarships to help with the costs. Program courses and activities are geared toward taking advantage of the international location, and students gain invaluable multi-cultural experience by living and learning outside of the United States.
Fall and Spring Programs with SCFC
MiraCosta College is a member of the Southern California Foothill Consortium (SCFC) coordinated by Citrus College. The program offers two study abroad experiences each year (fall and spring) that provide students with a unique opportunity to enrich their education. Completed coursework appears on a Citrus College transcript.
