What does sustainable study abroad actually look like? Is it taking public transportation instead of taxis? Learning about environmental challenges from the people working to solve them? Or completing a project that could benefit a local organization?
The answer is often a combination of these experiences.
Sustainable study abroad goes beyond choosing an environmentally focused course. It considers how students travel, where they live, what they learn, and how their presence affects the communities they visit.
But those ideas can sound abstract until you hear from people who've studied internationally.
Reviews from students and participants in sustainability-focused study abroad programs reveal what makes the experience different: learning directly from local experts, applying classroom knowledge to real situations, adapting to everyday life, and sometimes rethinking familiar habits.
Here's what those experiences can tell you about spending a more purposeful time in a foreign country.
Getting Around Becomes Part of the Learning Experience
Transportation may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you imagine studying abroad. However, it can significantly affect both your environmental footprint and your daily routine.
Depending on the destination, walking to class, taking the subway, or using buses and trains can become second nature. A commute might also introduce you to neighborhoods, local routines, and people you wouldn't encounter on organized excursions.
However, choosing lower-emission transportation isn't always straightforward.
The Reality
A 2025 Sustainable Erasmus+ Travel survey of 2,304 Erasmus+ participants and applicants found that 52% had used trains, buses, or carpooling for at least part of their journey to their study destination. Among those who used these options, 70% rated the experience positively, and approximately half reported that it had positively influenced their subsequent travel choices.
Cost and travel time were major considerations. The findings suggest that sustainable transportation becomes more realistic when affordable, convenient options are available—not simply when students are encouraged to make greener choices.
What Can Students Do?
That's where program design can help students take a more proactive approach.
For example, Authentica, an academic programs provider, incorporates walkable locations and public transportation into its study abroad experiences.
- Florence and Barcelona: Include public transit passes
- Seoul: Places students near the city's extensive transportation network
The organization also identifies train travel wherever feasible as one way to reduce reliance on private transportation.
Of course, international flights still have an environmental impact. Taking public transportation after arrival doesn't erase the emissions associated with getting there.
A more useful question is whether a program has made thoughtful transportation decisions throughout the experience—and whether students have practical ways to participate.
Shared transportation is one practical way study abroad programs can reduce reliance on individual car travel while bringing students together throughout their journey.
Sustainability Lessons Move Beyond the Classroom
Imagine studying sustainable architecture in a classroom one morning and visiting a building that applies those principles that afternoon.
Or learning about food systems before meeting local producers who can explain how environmental concerns influence their work.
Experiences like these help students understand that sustainability isn't one problem with one solution. It's connected to economics, culture, urban planning, public policy, and the decisions communities make every day. That connection shows up in their feedback.
Real Sustainable Study Abroad Experiences
These student experiences illustrate a key difference between studying sustainability as a subject and experiencing it in context.
Sustainability and Environmental Action in Australia
“This program was incredibly inspiring… Learning directly from people who have devoted their lives to embodying their values around the environment, sustainability, and climate justice was life-changing. It inspired me on so many deep and personal levels…” – Grace Lipson
Green.Building.Solutions. Summer University in Austria
“This summer I joined Green Building Solutions (GBS) in Vienna, and it turned out to be one of the best learning experiences I've had… The site visits were a real highlight. We walked through actual projects and had honest conversations with the people behind them, which no textbook or software tutorial can give you…” – Michael Hanna
Sustainable Farming and Living in Greece
“…I really love waking up on the farm every day and learning and seeing something new. It has opened my eyes to how good it is and how beautiful it is to live with only what you really need. I'm very grateful and have taken this little piece of earth. Very close to my heart…” – Inges
The emphasis isn't simply on visiting interesting places. It's on understanding how local organizations and communities approach complex challenges, and recognizing that those approaches may not always match what you've learned at home.
Sustainable study abroad encourages students to explore destinations thoughtfully, connecting classroom learning with the history, culture, and communities around them.
Real Projects Can Turn Sustainability Into a Practical Skill
There's a difference between writing about a sustainability challenge and working on one with people who are directly involved.
A classroom assignment might ask you to propose a solution to a hypothetical problem. A project-based course can require you to consider an organization's actual resources, priorities, constraints, and expectations.
That may mean researching sustainable business practices, developing recommendations, or collaborating with a local enterprise on a clearly defined project.
The work can also be more challenging than expected.
Real Student Insight
Experiential learning is a big part of sustainable study abroad, and it can encompass learning a new subject, working with others, responding to feedback, and adjusting an approach to meet a real organization's needs.
"I was selected for a marketing project in the sustainable real estate space, which I had no prior experience in. The consulting toolkit training we received helped our team structure our approach and develop an effective work plan to solve the challenge. Authentica was with us at every step, guiding us and helping align our work with client expectations." – Charles Dedekam, MSc International Management, Ivey Business School, Intern at Orange County, India
Study abroad programs with internships can connect sustainability interests with professional skills such as research, communication, project planning, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Project-based learning gives study abroad students opportunities to exchange ideas, examine real-world challenges, and strengthen their communication and problem-solving skills.
The Challenge
But meaningful projects also require realistic expectations.
Not every student project will produce a measurable environmental or social benefit. The value depends partly on how the work is designed, whether local partners have a meaningful role in setting priorities, and what happens after you leave.
Before joining a project-based program, find out who identifies the problem, what you’re expected to contribute, how your work will be supervised, and whether the results will be useful to the host organization.
Sustainable learning should create opportunities without treating communities as practice grounds for someone else's education.
Everyday Life Offers Another Kind of Sustainability Lesson
Studying abroad isn't meaningful only because of coursework and organized activities.
Sometimes, the most memorable learning happens during simple daily moments:
- Buying groceries
- Figuring out a transit route
- Preparing a meal
- Asking someone how things work
These experiences encourage you to adapt to local routines instead of expecting everyday life abroad to function exactly as it does at home.
Sustainability also has a social dimension. Respecting local customs, supporting community businesses, and learning from residents can be just as important to responsible travel as reducing waste.
Exploring neighborhoods with local guides can help students better understand community perspectives and the social dimensions of sustainable travel.
Housing Arrangement
Accommodation can influence your overall stay, too.
Living in a shared apartment might mean learning to shop locally, cook with seasonal ingredients, and manage household resources with other students. A homestay can create opportunities to understand family routines, food traditions, and perspectives that might otherwise remain unfamiliar.
Neither arrangement automatically guarantees a more sustainable experience. Location, access to public transportation, housing conditions, and the quality of community interaction all matter.
Real Student Insight
Previous Authentica program participants highlight the importance of having support while adjusting to new environments.
Sustainability & Project-based Learning in Italy
“Authentica really looked after us well… Being able to ask them questions, find out more about the local culture here, and just being able to check practical things like "can I eat this salad at this restaurant?" was incredibly helpful. The cultural activities at the start were really well done.” – Thomas Thorpe
“Everyone from Authentica has been so lovely and hospitable… That level of hospitality has been really heartwarming, and we felt really confident… I've been very grateful to have been able to do this experience… I've had an overwhelmingly positive experience, so I would highly recommend it to anyone.” – Keira McCormick
These aren't necessarily dramatic sustainability stories. They are reminders that thoughtful program design also involves helping students feel prepared to engage with their surroundings.
Experiential learning takes students beyond traditional classrooms, offering opportunities to explore local environments and understand sustainability in different settings.
What About the Environmental Impact of Studying Abroad?
It's worth addressing the contradiction: traveling internationally to learn about sustainability still generates emissions. Even a program with excellent local transportation and environmentally conscious accommodation can't avoid that reality entirely.
Some providers address part of their environmental impact through carbon offsets, which fund projects intended to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere.
Sustainable Provider Spotlight
For global education organization Authentica, carbon offsetting is one component of its responsible travel approach, alongside public transportation, waste reduction, and working with local service providers.
Its broader sustainability framework is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which address environmental, social, and economic challenges, including climate action, education, inequality, and responsible consumption.
These commitments can provide useful starting points for evaluating a program, but they should also lead to more specific questions like:
- Does the provider explain which emissions are included in its calculations?
- Are carbon offsets independently verified?
- What steps are taken to reduce emissions before relying on offsets?
- How are local organizations compensated for their participation?
A carbon-neutral claim shouldn't be treated as evidence that an experience has no environmental impact. Ultimately, a credible sustainable study abroad program should be able to explain not only what it's trying to achieve, but also how it supports its claims and where limitations remain.
Explore Authentica’s sustainability study abroad programs
Can Studying Abroad Change How Students Think About Sustainability?
A sustainable study abroad experience doesn't have to end with a final assignment or return flight. The bigger question is whether you carry any of those lessons into your decisions afterward.
A study published in the Journal of Studies in International Education examined international education mobility and environmental attitudes using survey data from 27 European Union countries. The findings suggested a modest but statistically significant positive relationship between studying abroad and environmental concern.
That doesn't mean every student returns home with permanently changed habits. Nor does it prove that participation in a particular sustainability program will produce those outcomes.
Still, the research points to an interesting possibility: Encountering different approaches to environmental challenges may influence how students understand issues they previously considered only from a familiar perspective.
Reading program reviews allows you to explore examples of how that learning can continue.
GoAbroad has been connecting travelers with meaningful programs abroad since 1997, with thousands of verified reviews from past participants to help you compare your options confidently.
Finding a Sustainable Study Abroad Program That Fits Your Goals
Not every student has the same amount of time, academic background, or interest in sustainability.
Fortunately, purposeful study abroad doesn't have to follow one format. You can focus on a specific topic in a shorter period through summer programs or explore sustainability from several perspectives during spring or fall terms. You can also see how concepts are applied in the workplace through programs with internship placements.
A program doesn't need the word “sustainability” in its title to offer meaningful exposure to responsible practices. What matters is the activities involved and the standards guiding it.
How to Tell Whether a Program Is Genuinely Sustainable
Sustainability has become a popular term in international education, but a convincing description isn't the same as a well-designed experience.
When comparing study abroad programs, consider these questions:
- What will you actually learn? Look for course descriptions, field visits, project requirements, and clear academic objectives rather than vague promises of meaningful experiences.
- How much responsibility will you have? A real project should have defined expectations, appropriate supervision, and learning goals that match your skills.
- Who are the local partners? Ask which organizations are involved, how partnerships are developed, and whether community participants are fairly compensated.
- What practical sustainability measures are included? Check transportation arrangements, accommodation, waste-reduction practices, and information about emissions and offsets.
- What will the entire experience cost? Compare tuition, housing, transportation, excursions, meals, and additional fees. Sustainability doesn’t mean overlooking your finances; you should still be able to stick to your budget.
The strongest programs should make it possible to understand what you'll be doing on an ordinary day, what you'll learn from those experiences, and how the host community participates.
Hands-on activities and collaborative learning experiences can help students develop practical skills while building connections with people from different backgrounds.
Meaningful Study Abroad: More Than Going Somewhere New
No single activity makes study abroad programs sustainable.
Taking the train, attending a sustainability course, or participating in a community project can all contribute. But the bigger picture depends on how those activities fit together and whether they encourage thoughtful learning and responsible engagement.
The student experiences discussed here highlight something important: sustainable study abroad often becomes most meaningful when classroom concepts meet the realities of everyday life.
It's in conversations with local experts, unfamiliar routines, collaborative projects, and questions without easy answers.
So when choosing a program, don't focus only on where you'll go or how many activities are included.
Ask what you'll be learning, who you'll be learning from, and how the experience will change the way you understand the world around you.
That's a more useful place to begin.
This article is written in collaboration with Authentica, a mission-driven organization dedicated to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) through place-based learning. Our career-focused study abroad programs integrate academic excellence, global exposure, and real-world impact, ensuring students gain the skills needed to succeed in an interconnected world. By leveraging technology, we optimize student support, advising, and learning, making global education more accessible and effective.
