Study Abroad
Spring 2025 Destinations
Black Studies: Ghana
Ghana Faculty Leaders: Nwenna Kai Gates, Dr. Anyabwile Love and Quamiir Trice
Tentative Travel Dates: Spring Break travel to Howard University before traveling internationally, May 23 to June 1, 2025
Program Fee: $900 in addition to the 3-credit course
Business Leadership: India
India Faculty Leaders: Gayathri Banavara and Mitsy Ann Rapley
Tentative Travel Dates: May 14 to May 27, 2025
Program Fee: $850 in addition to the 3-credit course
Theater: London
London Faculty Leaders: Quinn Eli and Monica Hahn
Tentative Travel Dates: May 12 to May 23, 2025
Program Fee: $850 in addition to the 3-credit course
Architecture: Mexico
Mexico Faculty Leaders: Casey Gwardyak and Ariel Vazquez
Tentative Travel Dates: May 23 to May 31, 2025
Program Fee: $700 in addition to the 3-credit course
Participation Requirements and Important Information
To be eligible, students must have completed at least 12 credits at Community College of Philadelphia by the end of the Fall 2024 semester, be registered in Spring 2025 courses at the College and be in good academic standing with no disciplinary holds.
Interviews of the finalists will begin in January and selected students will be notified in February 2025. When the selection process is complete, selected students will need to submit a deposit to secure their place. The check or money order should be made payable to Community College of Philadelphia and submitted at the time you submit your acceptance/agreement form.
Selection Criteria
A diverse group of students will be selected based on the following:
- Academic performance in Community College of Philadelphia courses, as indicated by grades in courses.
- A current, unofficial College transcript is required and must include courses being taken in Spring 2025.
- One CCP faculty member’s written recommendation. Faculty recommendations must address the following:
- The student’s interest in the target destination, intellectual curiosity, and/or relevant personal/career goals, as well as markers of solid academic work.
- The student’s reliability, as demonstrated through the student's engagement in class/coursework.
- The student’s ability to contribute to and function abroad in a small group: getting along with faculty, other students, and any other persons the student may encounter along the trip.
You must also provide a carefully written statement of 300-600 words explaining past coursework, reading and/or experience that led you to be interested in this particular opportunity, and how participation in this program would further your personal, academic and/or career goals.
Selected finalists will be contacted for an interview by a selection committee. All accepted participants will automatically receive a travel scholarship that will cover their expenses and be recognized as Global Student Ambassadors (GSA) who will be required to take part in specific pre- and post-departure activities, as well as their respective course during the early summer session. Attendance is mandatory.
After travel, students will be expected to participate in presentations or panel discussions to share their study abroad experience with others in the College community.
How to Access the Scholarship Application
- Login to MyCCP
- Click "Student Quick Links"
- Click on "Apply for General Scholarships"
- Complete the scholarship application, including the general essay
- Please be sure to answer the question “Are you interested in studying internationally to x?” by saying "YES"
You MUST also provide a carefully written statement of 300-600 words explaining past coursework, reading and/or experience that led you to be interested in this particular opportunity, and how participation in this program would further your personal, academic and/or career goals.
Good luck! Please call the Scholarship Office at 215-496-6182 if you have any questions about the scholarship application.
Study Abroad Resources
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Evolve: Study Abroad Returnee Conference
Gilman Scholarship
Global Philadelphia Association
Global Student Leadership Summit
Study Abroad Coordinator
Lucia Gbaya-Kanga, Assistant Professor of English
Gilman Scholarship Adviser
Please contact me if you have any questions about study abroad opportunities!
Office: Room BR-40
Email: bgbayaka@ccp.edu
Study Abroad Testimonials
Read what our students had to say about their study abroad experience at Community College of Philadelphia.
Making an Impact in the World
Merida: “This trip helped me understand the history, culture and the people of Merida; more importantly, it helped me realize how I can make an impact in the world around me.”
Cambodia: “Prior to this trip, I had been planning to go into working with women and children’s health and nutrition. I wanted to work globally. This trip cemented my goals. I am planning to stay involved with the orphanage we visited.”
Belize: “Prior to visiting Belize, I thought that the most important place I would visit would be the Mayan ruins, but the most important learning experience was actually visiting the zoo and exploring the reefs because I got a sense of some of the endangered species of animals, fish and corals which are gravely in danger and certainly more important than I thought to our ecosystem.”
Making a Career and a Dream Come True
Peru: “I have thought about teaching abroad or participating in a study abroad program; this trip helped me realize that it is something that I will do in my future career and make my dream a reality.”
Belize: “This trip was not only informative but it opened my mind to different career opportunities. My career goals are now clearer.”
Gaining a Deeper Understanding of Another Culture
Peru: “This trip helped me gain a deeper understanding of other cultures outside my own; to experience a different culture was a great experience; this trip has giving me the desire to continue to travel and learn about other people.”
Israel: "Before even landing in Israel, through the IDS course, I learned more about the history and politics in Israel as well as the Middle East than I had ever been aware. After spending ten days in Israel and meeting people from every corner of the globe, I was enlightened to how culturally diverse Israel is. It was amazing.”
Turkey: “This trip has had an enormous impact on my personal world-view. It narrowed my sense of the cultural gap between the east and the west. I will certainly share my experience and what I have learned on this trip with my future students.”
Interacting with Others
Turkey: “This trip gave the power of coming out of my shyness. I feel like I can interact with people better and feel comfortable about it. Also, being a student, this trip was very affordable and the experience turned out to be great.”
Belize: “The professors did a wonderful job in choosing the students to go on this trip. We all got along so wonderfully. The itinerary was just perfect. The sights and sounds from this trip will be with me always…especially the laughter we all shared. This trip is definitely one of the highlights of my life so far.”
Learning from Others
Belize: “The place that was most important to my learning about contemporary Belizean life was Tobacco Cay. Since we lived so close to the native people of the area, I was able to observe the true lifestyle of a Belizean.”
Opportunity through Financial Support
Turkey: “At this time in my life, I would never been able to afford a trip like this on my own. Thanks to this trip, I’m very appreciative and tolerant of other cultures. I definitely feel this experience has greatly enriched my life.”
Israel: “Traveling at low cost thanks to the generosity of the supporters of this program, it’s a great gift and opportunity for students that have not experienced visiting another country. I am happy that these funds exist and can be used for people with talent but little opportunity to travel.”
Belize: “I couldn’t have afforded this trip it if it wasn’t financially supported by the College and an outside foundation. It’s nice to see that Community College can expand a student’s experiences outside of school. Thanks so much for that.”
Creating Future Plans
Israel: “I am so thankful for this experience. It has taught me more than I could eve dreamed of. This trip has given me the ‘travel bug’ and I look forward to exploring more places in the future.”
Turkey: “I am going back! Also, I am learning the language and I am traveling elsewhere in the area!”