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CIEE's Global Gap Programs for Deferring Students

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With the uncertainty around the fall college experience, thousands of students around the country are considering deferring their fall term/semester in favor of a virtual international educational experience or a non-traditional gap experience. To support our college and university partner schools and their students, in addition to our fall study abroad programs offered in 17 international cities, in fall 2020, CIEE is offering custom college gap programs that allow students to:

  • Intern online with a company based in one of 15+ international cities, from Berlin to Sydney, and/or
  • Study abroad during Open Campus Block III (Nov. 9 to Dec. 19) in Berlin, London, Madrid, Monteverde, Paris, Rome, or Sydney 

Global Gap Program Options for College Students

CIEE is offering college students the opportunity to customize their fall 2020 term. Students may enroll in a 8-week virtual global internship at a company based in one of 15+ international cities (non-credit and 6-credit options available) and they have the option to add a 6-week in-person study abroad experience (6 credits) during Open Campus Block III (Nov. 9 through Dec. 19) in Berlin, London, Madrid, Monteverde, Paris, Rome, or Sydney.

Flexible options include:

Virtual international internships have become one of the fastest growing student experiences. As more employers embrace a full or part-time “work from home” culture, students will learn by doing through a project-based internship with one of our company or host organization partners in a field that interests them.

A short-term study abroad experience, with courses taught by internationally based faculty, provides students with countless opportunities to get the flavor of international studies and stay on track for graduation. All Open Campus courses will have the option for online delivery so students may enroll in courses taught from any Open Campus location, which opens up a great diversity of course choices. (For example, a student onsite in London, may take online a course being taught from Paris, provided the student has approval of their home institution.)

Students may choose to add coursework that thematically builds on their virtual internship, creating an integrated experience where students can stay connected and motivated, while gaining important skills and perspective for their career. For example, a digital health internship could be followed by the Comparative Health Systems course in London, or working with a NGO’s social media team to raise awareness could be followed by the course Migration and Mobility in a Global World in Sydney.  

As CIEE’s Global Gap programs have both non-credit and credit formats, students seeking credit are encouraged to speak with their university for approval first.

Application deadline for the Global Gap programs is July 15.

Pre-college Gap Programs for Incoming Freshmen

With surveys reporting that up to a third of recent U.S. high school graduates could defer their start to college, CIEE is introducing a new set of gap study abroad options to give college-bound students maximum flexibility in the fall.

Short-term and affordable, these 6-week, pre-college gap programs will allow students to travel to over 20 destinations to develop practical skills and gain maturity and a global perspective during this unique moment in our history. Students may choose to focus on language learning, service learning, or career exploration in fields as varied as sustainability, entrepreneurship, or activism.

All non-credit programs blend hands-on learning opportunities with cultural activities, self-reflection, and a global competence course to get college-bound students ready to contribute to their home community in new, meaningful ways and make the most of their college experience

Detailed information on these programs will be available on our website as of Friday, June 12.