About 65 percent of Rhodes students take advantage of learning opportunities off-campus and in other countries, most often during their sophomore and junior years. And while language and culture are common subjects of study, specialized programs abound and help students develop real-world skills in their discipline. In most cases, students pay tuition, room, and board as normal to Rhodes, including any federal and institutional aid they normally receive, which covers their tuition, room, and board while on the program.

How to Get Started

The Buckman Center for Global Engagement manages the off-campus and study abroad component for Rhodes College. To get started, explore the Online Portal for Off-Campus Study, which houses all approved programs and where students apply to study off-campus.

Types of Programs

Rhodes Summer Programs - Every year, Rhodes faculty plan programs off-campus for Rhodes students. These are commonly referred to as Rhodes' “Maymesters.” The Online Portal has a list of current programs. As these are Rhodes programs, credit earned is Rhodes credit. No institutional or federal aid is portable for summer programs. However, the Buckman Center has need-based scholarships available.

Rhodes Semester Programs - Rhodes, Sewanee, and Centre College jointly own/operate three semester-long off-campus study programs: the "New York City Internship Program" (NYC, USA), "Cape to Campus: South Africa" (Port Elizabeth, South Africa), and the "Global Environmental Challenges Program" (Cuenca, Ecuador). Rhodes' portable institutional and federal aid applies. On the NYC Internship and the Global Environmental Challenges programs, credit is awarded as Rhodes credit. On the Cape to Campus: South Africa program, the faculty leader's course is Rhodes credit, while the remaining credit is treated as transfer credit, as it comes from direct enrolling at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, the program's base of operations. Students from all three schools will enroll in these programs and the faculty leaders are drawn from each of the schools on a rotating basis. 

ISEP and Bilateral Exchanges – Rhodes students have access to exchange programs worldwide. Our formal bilateral exchange agreements can be found on this site. Students pay tuition (in some cases, room and board) to Rhodes and receive tuition (in some cases, room and board) on the program. Rhodes' portable institutional aid and federal/state aid applies. Exchanges can occur in any discipline and can range in length from one semester to one academic year. Exchange students are directly enrolled at the host institution and pursue courses with host country students. Credit earned on exchange programs is treated as transfer credit. The number of students who can participate on exchange programs is limited.

Rhodes is also a member of ISEP (The International Student Exchange Program), an organization of more than 200 colleges and universities located throughout the world. Students pay tuition, room, and board to Rhodes and receive tuition, room and board on the program. Rhodes' portable institutional aid and federal/state aid applies. Exchanges can occur in any discipline and can range in length from one semester to one academic year. Exchange students are directly enrolled at the host institution and pursue courses with host country students. Credit earned on exchange programs is treated as transfer credit. The number of students who can participate on exchange programs is limited.

Affiliated Programs - In addition to Rhodes Programs and Exchange Programs, Rhodes has semester- and year-long Affiliated Program partnerships with numerous other colleges, universities and international organizations. Students pay tuition (in some case, room and board) to Rhodes and receive tuition (in some cases, room and board) on the program. Rhodes' portable institutional aid and federal/state aid applies. Credit earned on Affiliated Programs is treated as transfer credit.

In the case of an Affiliated Summer Program, students pay the program out of pocket; no institutional or federal aid is portable for summer programs. However, the Buckman Center has need-based scholarships available.

Studying at the remarkable Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) provides students with a life-changing opportunity to live and study in a vibrant, historic city where coursework, university life, excursions, and even internships or service learning immerse them in the culture of South Africa. This program takes up to 20 students from three partner schools (Rhodes, Centre, and Sewanee) on an unforgettable and transformative journey to the eastern coast of Africa’s southern-most country, led by a member of the faculty from Rhodes, Centre, or Sewanee. Students will enroll in the Faculty Leader’s course and up to four additional courses taught at Nelson Mandela University by NMU faculty. Programmatic excursions to Robben Island, Addo Game Reserve, and Cape Town are included. Students may also opt into voluntary service learning or internships.

Students live in contemporary residence halls within walking distance to NMU, giving them the opportunity to connect with university students from around the globe. Rooms include private bedrooms, private en-suite bathrooms, and shared common spaces, including a full kitchen. The city of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) is small enough to feel like home, but large enough to offer all the metropolitan life and experiences typically requested by study abroad students. This coastal city boasts amazing beaches, world-class museums and attractions, and unforgettable nature walks and wildlife destinations. The people of Gqeberha are warm and friendly, leading to the Gqeberha’s nickname, “Friendly City.”

Courses:
Students enroll in the Faculty Leader’s course, which is Rhodes credit; grades earned are factored into the GPA. The rest of the courses are taught by NMU faculty by directly enrolling as visiting international students at NMU (a process organized and overseen by the staff at the Buckman Center at Rhodes College). These courses are transfer credit; grades earned are not factored into the GPA. NMU has a wide selection of courses and disciplines to support students from any major area of study. Students wishing to earn F11 on this program may do so by successfully completing the program and two program assessments (one before and one after the semester abroad). Students may also opt into voluntary service learning or internships.

Student applications are on the Buckman Center's website.

Students spend their semester in the highlands of Ecuador, learning about local and global environmental challenges while immersing themselves in the Spanish language. The Global Environmental Challenges program explores various environmental issues of today and tomorrow through an integrated lens of science and humanities. The first 12 weeks of the program take place in the highlands of Cuenca, Ecuador, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Students live in a homestay with an Ecuadorian family, being fully immersed in a Spanish speaking community. No previous Spanish language experience is necessary - students will be placed in one Spanish class at the appropriate level. An additional three courses (taught in English) complete the semester, centering around the local and global environmental challenges facing this region and how local people are meeting them.

After the initial 12 weeks of the program, students synthesize what they've learned in a final three-week module at two remote, world-class ecological research stations: one week at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon River basin and two weeks at the Galapagos Science Center on San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos Islands. During this intense module, students will gain hand-on experience in data collection and learn about the specific challenges facing this region of the world.

For the entirety of the program, students have the opportunity of a lifetime to engage in field trips to local communities and organizations to learn more about the environmental issues brought up in class. They will be able to engage with a plethora of environmental issues and reflect on the differences between their own linguistic and cultural backgrounds and those found in their host communities.

Students from three schools, Rhodes, Centre, and Sewanee, will take part in this unique liberal arts collaboration examining these timely and important questions. The Program Leader for each fall will be a faculty member from one of these schools.

This is a Rhodes program and all courses are Rhodes courses. The grades will appear on the student's transcript as grades earned and will be factored into the Rhodes GPA. Students wishing to earn F11 on this program may do so by successfully completing the program and two program assessments (one before and one after the semester abroad). Student applications are on the Buckman Center's website.

Courses:

Tropical Biology: ENVS 108, 4 credits. This course surveys the diversity of tropical ecosystems and examines the ecological and evolutionary processes that shape them. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and guest speakers, the course examines foundational theories and major themes in tropical biology, including species diversity, adaptations and coevolution, community structure, biogeography, and conservation challenges. The course uses Ecuador as a model to illustrate general principles and contemporary issues in tropical ecology and conservation. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to A: Identify major tropical ecosystems, describe their climatic and biological characteristics, and explain the fundamental reasons tropical systems differ from temperate ones. B: Understand the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that shape patterns of species diversity and explain why there are so many species in the tropics. C: Critically examine the assumptions and empirical evidence supporting or rejecting hypotheses that have guided our understanding of tropical ecosystems. D: Understand the major threats to tropical ecosystems and how ecological principles can inform conservation efforts.

Linking the Local to the Global: ENVS 207, 4 credits. This course examines local environmental challenges in Cuenca, Ecuador and nearby locations. Examples of potential topics include, but are not limited to: gold mining and its effects on water quality, eco-agricultural sustainable food production, corn sovereignty (small production vs. large agro-industrial production), and invasive species of flora and fauna (e.g. introduction of trout in Cajas). Experiential learning will be a significant element of the course and students will regularly visit local communities, NGOs, museums, governmental offices, etc. so that students can learn from those who are most affected by these issues. Additionally, students will observe local community members’ engagement in political activism, artistic expression, and cultural practices that illustrate their experiences with the environment and their efforts to pursue alternative ways of interfacing with the natural world. While each of the environmental challenges mentioned above is present in and around Cuenca, the course explicitly explores links to the broader global context. For example, gold mining has a negative impact on the environment in this region; however, mining has similar effects on various communities around the world, from coal mining in the southeastern United States to cobalt mining in central Africa. The course includes discussions around questions such as: How does the practice affect the environment (land, water, air)?  What are the reasons for these environmentally damaging practices? How are these practices affecting local and global communities? How are the affected communities employing artistic expression to illustrate their experiences? What alternatives have been suggested or implemented? What are the obstacles to achieving solutions?

Environment, Conservation and Policy Issues: ENVS 107, 4 credits. In this course, students will be introduced to the most influential factors shaping the ecosystems and their conservation looking at the global, regional and local factors that determine the climates and the contrasting ecosystems that can be found in Ecuador. The course includes several field visits to the lowlands of the Ecuadorian Amazon (Tiputini Biodiversity Station) and the Galápagos Islands, allowing students to experience first-hand current topics of conservation and policy issues, while discussing the main environmental challenges associated with the conservation of natural ecosystems in tropical developing countries. Additionally, this course reviews the environmental issues facing contemporary Ecuador in the context of a transforming global reality. We look at specific environmental issues that are of concern for Ecuador and the region including: the oil industry and indigenous communities in the Amazon Basin, aquaculture and shrimp farming, introduced species, large scale ranching and deforestation, fisheries, and the management of fragile marine ecosystems such as the Galapagos. We investigate possible solutions that consider political and ecological pressures, perspectives of indigenous populations, environmentalists, the governments, NGOs, as well as international investors and multinational companies. It all revolves around this little but diverse country.

Spanish Language Course: (Spanish language, 4 credits). Students will take one Spanish language course at Cuenca's Sampere Institute, ranging from Introductory Spanish 101 through Advanced Spanish 425. Specialized courses at the intermediate and advanced levels include "Cultura y civilización latinoamericana," "Panorámica de la literatura latinoamericana," and "Español para los negocios." F10 is granted for successful completion of Español 201, B1:1. There are no Spanish prerequisites for this program. All students are placed into a Spanish language course at their level. "Prerequisite" is understood as the Rhodes course listed, the equivalent, or permission of the Rhodes Director of Spanish.

In "London: A Discovery of Voices," students spend their semester in the heart of London, England, a cultural capital and a historic global city. Living and studying at the University of London Goldsmiths gives students an opportunity like no other to become citizens of our much broader world. This program is led by a Rhodes College professor who is on the program full-time with the students. 

From Roman roots to modern innovation, London’s vibrant tapestry offers an unparalleled setting for students of any major to explore the interconnectedness of history, politics, and culture. Through 16 credits of Rhodes College coursework, students gain firsthand insight into UK life, industry, and society. One of the four courses is taught by the Rhodes faculty leader, the rest being supplied by London-based professors, in a set curriculum that is customized each year to meet the academic needs of Rhodes students across the College's academic disciplines. 

Taking their coursework into the living streets of London, students engage with their lessons through weekly guided excursions to cultural and historical sites. Combined, this carefully-built curriculum provides a conceptual lexicon for connections between the liberal arts classroom and the public, exposing Rhodes students to rich cultural heritage, diverse communities, and unique experiences. These classes and experiences have a common objective: exploring the ways in which history, politics, and culture – all of our different voices – have shaped London today, from its streets and bridges to its institutions and people. Taking part in London: A Discovery of Voices allows Rhodes students to add their own voices to their local community in South London.

Housing is conveniently located in a secure university residence hall in central London, equipped with kitchen facilities and round-the-clock security. Meal/grocery stipends are included. Students have access to on-the-ground support and adjustment from an experienced Rhodes faculty member, including transportation from Heathrow Airport to the residence halls on the first day in London and orientation activities during the first weekend.

Courses:

This is a Rhodes program and all courses are Rhodes credit. The grades will appear on the student's transcript as grades earned and will be factored into the Rhodes GPA. Students wishing to earn F11 on this program may do so by successfully completing the program and two program assessments (one before and one after the semester abroad). Student applications are on the Buckman Center's website.

The New York City Internship Program takes place in the fall semester in NYC and is composed of one 8-hour internship and two 4-credit classes, for a total of 16 academic credits.

Students will challenge themselves through an intensive internship and study experience in the vibrant and culturally and linguistically heterogeneous environment of New York City. They will gain meaningful, real-world work experience in New York City, learning experientially in several domains: career readiness and marketability, training in cross-cultural adaptation to one of the largest and busiest cites in the US, and academically through the two 4-credit courses offered on this program. One benefit from the urban setting of New York City is its proximity to museums, libraries, theatres, galleries, nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, and global industries, such as finance.

This pre-professional program leverages our strong alumni community and internship opportunities in NYC with two academic courses on the history of the people of New York and the theatre industry on and off Broadway. This is a collaborative program between Centre, Sewanee, and Rhodes: each school will send students to participate. Student applications are on the Buckman Center's website.

Rhodes Summer Programs, commonly referred to as "Maymesters", take place over the summer in May, June, July, or August. Programs may begin as early as the day after Commencement and end before Opening Convocation. Most Maymesters are about four weeks long, though they may take place over as few as two weeks or as many as six weeks. Most Maymesters are international, though several are domestic.

In consultation with the Director of the Buckman Center for Global Engagement, faculty members propose, design, and lead their own Maymesters. It's normal for program development to take about 11 months.

Course Content: Generally, each Maymester's coursework takes place within the academic discipline of the faculty leader. For course titles, descriptions, credits, and Foundations credit, see the Buckman Center's website for current Maymester programs. 

Rhodes typically offers 10-12 Maymesters each summer, based on faculty interest and availability. Some programs operate every year; others alternate years or are only offered every several years. New programs are always being developed, thanks to the Buckman International Curricular Development Grants, which provide funds for faculty to travel/research for the development of new Maymesters.

The following is a list of Maymesters offered in the last several years, with an * next to ones operating Summer 2024:

• Ancient Greek Mythology
• Art and Art History: Archaeological Fieldwork in Greece
• Arts and Language Across Spain*
• Buddhism in Thai Society*
• Caesarea City and Port Exploration Project
• Chinese and Political Science
• Classical Music Appreciation in Vienna
• Environmental Archaeology at Ames* (domestic)
• Environmental Field Study in Namibia*
• French Immersion Maymester in Togo*
• Health and Mental Health Disparities in an International Context, The Case of Thailand*
• Healthy Cities: The Political Economy of Urban Policymaking
• Holocaust Travel Seminar
• Intensive Language - German
• Intensive Language - Russian
• International Business Cases and Religion in the Low Country*
• International Studies and Chinese in Taiwan* 
• Rhodes in Rennes: French National and Regional Identity and Culture
• Search Abroad in Latin America
• South Africa Maymester: Business and Psychology
• Spanish Immersion in Ecuador*
• Summer School in London*
• Summer Study in Europe
• The Science of Climate Change in Belize* 
• The Urban World of the First Christians
• Transformational Ideas in Computing in the UK*