Humanities Study Abroad Programs in Scotland

I graduated from high school a semester early, and the only way I wanted to spend my semester was by being abroad. I've known about Semester at Sea for around 6 years and I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. I searched up the requirements to be accepted and luckily fit all the requirements most importantly being 18, so immediately I applied. I then got an email back the next morning saying I got accepted into the program and that email brought me to tears in the middle of one of my classes. I couldn't wait to board the MV World Odyssey and embark on this journey of a lifetime. On the ship, I gained so much knowledge about different cultures and I was able to be fully immersed in them, not just sticking to the touristy things offered. Semester at Sea does an amazing job keeping the students' safety in country as a priority with having mandatory “Pre-Port meetings” the night before arriving in a country, and offering field programs which are ship run excursions with ship faculty leading them. The community on the ship was nothing I have ever experienced before. We were so close knit and it felt like I was truly in a connected, caring, and welcoming environment. I met the people I never imagined I'd connect with, and they ended up becoming the best connections I've ever made with people. Semester at Sea also helped me get out of my comfort zone which led me to have experiences I would have never imagined I'd have, best example being running a half marathon in Vigo, Spain even though I'm not a runner and have never been a runner. Semester at Sea has given me the world and the opportunity to appreciate it to its fullest. I left the ship with my passport full, but my heart is even fuller with people, memories, and connections I will forever cherish. Semester at Sea was truly the best experience I have ever had and would recommend it to anyone as it was life changing.

One of the most underrated aspect of semester at sea is the ship campus itself. Being able to live so close to your friends and just walking a few flight of stairs to your classroom and being able to sit down with your professors for lunch is such an amazing experience. It's eternal sunsets, it's endless travel stories from your friends, it's lifetime of memories. Highly recommend. One of the best decisions I made. And still day dream about this experience, still talk and travel to meet my SAS friends 4 years later.

I have not experienced anything like semester at sea before, therefore giving me a whole lot of different lenses to look at the world with. I completely enjoyed my experience and understand the importance of understanding others concerns, communication, communities, and countries. A overall wonderful experience that has changed my views as well as the way I live and who I am as a person.

This was a fabulous cultural adventure with a great group of people! Our guide was exceptional and very accommodating with the various needs of our group members. If you want to see the world, this is an excellent means of doing so!

As a community member I had the best time being able to travel and learn about the culture and history along our trip. Our guide was amazing and extremely knowledgeable and was able to teach us a lot along the way! The itinerary was well thought out and planned for us and the students to really get the full experience I really hope that I will have another ability to travel again with this group, it was unforgettable!

Watching the Bethel youth group interact with people from other countries was truly amazing this week. Also, for people, my age it was a once in a lifetime experience that we wouldn’t be able to do if we didn’t have GACA and Bethel University

I highly recommend this trip to any college student. What a great way to learn about things that you otherwise would not be able to do. There is something much to do on these trips as well as free time.

While in school I’d studied about the fighting between Catholics and Protestants, the devastating potato famine in Ireland, and the castles, kilts and bagpipes in Scotland, but to experience these things and get to know the people first hand was absolutely unforgettable. With the expert guidance and care from Stacie Freeman and Sarah Kidd and our ACIS guide Harry Bean, we saw and enjoyed our week immensely.

Thank you so much for the chance to experience Ireland and Scotland! It was a fabulous trip that had us experiencing the culture, language, food and the Countries from a view most of us would never get a chance to do with out the GCAC! Very impressed with ACIS and Harry Bean ---- will definitely be traveling again!!!!!

Ireland and Scotland trip is one of the most amazing trips I have eve had in my life, if not the most. The nature, the architecture, the food, the culture - everything was astonishing. Even thought I did not know anyone on the group, we quickly became very good friends and experienced all of that together! Not going to lie, but coming back to the States to the university and to work after this dreamy week is extremely hard :)

Ireland and Scotland trip is one of the most amazing trips I have eve had in my life, if not the most. The nature, the architecture, the food, the culture - everything was astonishing. Even thought I did not know anyone on the group, we quickly became very good friends and experienced all of that together! Not going to lie, but coming back to the States to the university and to work after this dreamy week is extremely hard :)

Ireland and Scotland trip is one of the most amazing trips I have eve had in my life, if not the most. The nature, the architecture, the food, the culture - everything was astonishing. Even thought I did not know anyone on the group, we quickly became very good friends and experienced all of that together! Not going to lie, but coming back to the States to the university and to work after this dreamy week is extremely hard :)

From the moment I was on my way to the airport in Nashville to today as we are about to head back to Dublin for the layover, it was an amazing experience I would recommend people try at least once. 💕

I was extremely excited and thankful to go on this trip. I got to get fully immersed into different cultures as well as introduce them to others. It was amazing to see how different things are around the world so that I can take some fun facts and advice back home with me. This is my first trip abroad, and after being on this trip, I want to not only come back to the places I’ve visited, but also travel the world. I haven’t even left for home yet and I’m sad to leave. I can’t wait to come back and share what I’ve learned with my peers and my family. This is an opportunity that I am so blessed to be given.

This trip was so amazing. From meeting all the new people, trying new foods, learning about all of the historic cultures from Dublin, Belfast, and Edinburgh! It was such an exhilarating experience and has taught me so much

My favorite part of this trip was the Giants Causeway. It was like literally being in a movie. I would go again for sure! But I also want to experience Greece. I would have preferred more time in Edinburgh since there is so much to see.

Studying in Barcelona had been a dream! I took classes in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, and Spanish Art and Cultural Heritage at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. My 7 weeks in that paradise were filled with exploration, inspiration, and so much fun. From amazing people to the delicious cuisine, and stunning architecture to the colorful culture, Spain should be at the top of the must-visit countries list. My favorite activity, besides spending my day at the beach, was wandering around the city without a map and being amazed by the beauty hidden in every corner of Barcelona. Thanks to the Spanish Art and Cultural Heritage class, I learned even more about this impressive history and culture. CIS helped me through every step of adapting to studying and living in Barcelona. They planned fun events for us, such as various tours in famous parts of Barcelona, beach picnic and volleyball, wine tasting, tours to towns in Spain, and cooking classes. I stayed at Aparto Pallars, which is conveniently located near the metro station, from which you can take the metro anywhere. I'm so grateful for this experience, and I'm definitely willing to go back to Barcelona or any other program with CIS!

I just studied abroad with SAS in spring of 2025. To say this experience changed my life would be an understatement. I cannot recommend this enough. The learning opportunities are amazing, the staff and faculty do everything they can to make this your home away from home, and the traveling experiences are ONCE IN A LIFETIME!

When I completed Semester At Sea in the fall of 2024, it was my first time traveling over seas. Growing up going on cruise’s I was super excited to start this new journey on the floating campus. Going in knowing no one else I was nervous but soon felt so welcomed, the community on the ship is amazing. Getting to travel the world with other college kids that have the same interest as you is such a wonderful experience. The professors and other staff members are there to make your learning come to life and it was magical to watch that happen, exploring your learning in each country was eye opening. Not only getting to explore a country but 10 countries allowed for a broad variety of cultures that we get to dive into and explore was so rewarding. I would 1000% go on Semester At Sea again and would recommend it to everyone if you’re deciding to study abroad.

I don’t even know where to begin! Semester at Sea was truly a life-changing experience. There’s no other program where you can see so many different places in a single semester. For example, I visited 10 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe, experiencing diverse cultures and meeting people from all over the world. Semester at Sea also gives you incredible freedom: while docked, you can join field programs or explore each country independently. Through this journey, I not only learned about the world but also about myself. I became more independent, more confident, and gained a global perspective that has completely changed the way I see the world.