We consider living and studying in a foreign culture to be an integral part of a liberal arts education, and study abroad has become one of the hallmarks of a Centre education. We also have study-away programs that allow students to study and work in a major city within the United States. Of the graduating seniors this year, 68.73% of them studied off campus once, 28.3% studied off campus twice, and 6.49% studied off campus three times, and 1.4% studied off campus four or more times. We had one student study abroad seven times, helping to make Centre one of the top colleges in the nation where off-campus study is so pervasive and important.
Residential Programs
Centre offers a number of different opportunities for international study. Centre-in-London, Centre-in-Strasbourg, and Centre-in-the-Yucatan are residential programs in the U.K., France, and Mexico led by Centre faculty members. Centre-in-England (at the University of Reading), Centre-in-Glasgow (at the University of Glasgow), and Centre-in-China (in Shanghai) are Centre's residential programs in the U.K. and China. Six exchange programs bring foreign students to our campus as well as allowing Centre students to study for a semester at Akita International University in Japan; at Yamaguchi Prefectural University in Japan; at one of five universities in Northern Ireland; at Royal Thimphu College in Bhutan; at Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance; or at Marista University in Merida, Mexico. In addition to the program at Marista University, intensive language immersion programs are offered in Nantes, France and through Centre’s special partnership with the Kentucky Institute for International Studies in Segovia, Spain, or Regensburg, Germany.
Our premier study-away program is in Washington, D.C. and New York City, where students do a full-time internship along with taking courses relevant to the location. We are planning to expand study away opportunities in the next few years, beginning with a program at Lake Tahoe.
Many students find their sophomore or junior year is the best time to participate in an off-campus program. However, rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors all are eligible to apply. Because these are not primarily language programs, students do not need to have studied French, Spanish, Chinese, or Japanese to study in France, Mexico, China, or Japan. The cost is the same as the cost of studying on the Danville campus, except for a $400 deposit/surcharge and airfare. Special endowed funds are available on a competitive basis to help students with financial need cover these costs.
In the spring of 2021, in collaboration with "Global Experiences: Virtuoso" we established virtual international internships for 28 students. This program was especially popular last spring but we anticipate continuing the program for students who want an international experience while remaining on campus.
CentreTerm and Summer Programs
In addition to these semester programs, during each CentreTerm Centre faculty members lead groups of students to study in their areas of expertise around the world. Recent sites include Barbados, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel-Palestine, Japan, Myanmar and Thailand, New Zealand, and South Africa. Students with intermediate Spanish skills can elect to do a CentreTerm internship through our Merida program in Mexico. In addition to a few courses offered by Centre faculty, each summer the Kentucky Institute for International Studies sponsors more than 20 academic programs that are popular among our students.
Non-Centre-Run Programs Abroad
Students take a temporary leave of absence from Centre to study in semester-long programs sponsored by outside providers. Financial considerations prevent some students from taking this option, since students who are on leaves of absence are not eligible to receive any Centre money and, by law, our financial aid office is not allowed to process state or federal aid due the student. Students planning to participate in a non-Centre program should get prior approval from the Center for Global Citizenship and the Registrar to make certain that all courses will count toward a Centre degree.