Welcome
Santa Barbara City College has been offering study abroad programs for more than 44 years. Since its first credit summer program in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1973, more than 6,000 SBCC students have participated in study abroad programs in approximately 20 different countries, including traditional destinations in Spain, Italy, England, Germany, and France, as well as several destinations in Central and South America, and Vietnam, Thailand, Rwanda, China, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the former Soviet Union.
SBCC Study Abroad programs are faculty-led and therefore programs change every year.
The subject specific programs allow faculty to bring their lectures to life with relevant
excursions in the destination country.
With diverse course offerings including English, Art, Marine Biology, STEM, Communication, Film Studies, and Political Science in addition to Language classes just to name a few, students can find a program that offers not only the experience in a foreign culture, but can help them advance their education, and might fulfill IGETC requirements to transfer to a 4-year- institution.
With an emphasis on diversity and affordability, SBCC Study Abroad strives to offer programs to the diverse SBCC student body, as well as students from other institutions. Applications are straightforward and requirements are attainable. Refer to the FAQ page for more information on requirements for the semester and short programs.
In addition, many scholarships are available through the SBCC Foundation. SBCC is also a top 10 producer for the Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship and offers additional resources to find scholarships to study abroad. The Financial Aid/ Scholarships tab to the left will provides more information on scholarships to study abroad.
97% of students who have returned from a program would recommend the programs to their
peers and friends. Some of the lasting impact a program abroad has made include:
- A greater sense and understanding of global issues
- A much better understanding of themselves and their future goals
- An appreciation for other cultures and their history
- An increase in confidence overall and in navigating unfamiliar places
- Lifelong friendships around the world
- Better preparedness to enter the workforce
- Improvement of a foreign language
- Increase in skills attractive to future employers
- Academic ability to transfer to a 4-year institution
- Self-assurance in their global competitiveness
Make the world your classroom by studying abroad with SBCC and its comprehensive academic
and cultural experiences.
Applications can be picked up in the office at IE-1 or click on APPLICATIONS to download a copy.
Stay in touch with us on social media and visit our blog page to read what our program bloggers share!
Staff
Carola Smith
Acting Dean, Educational Programs
International Education Center
Phone: Ext. 2243
Email: smithc@sbcc.edu
Nicole Walther
Senior Program Assistant
Phone: Ext. 4294
nwalther@pipeline.sbcc.edu
