What is a Semester at Sea?
The study abroad experience of a lifetime.
Traveling during your time in college isn’t easy, even when you’re trying every travel hack in the book. This is why plenty of students turn to a study abroad program during their time in college. It provides them the opportunity to see the world without costing a fortune. But what if you could really maximize your study abroad experience?
Semester at Sea provides students the opportunity to visit plenty of countries, all while continuing their undergraduate education. If you’re interested in applying to the program, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about the program (and why you should probably do it).
What is Semester at Sea?
Semester at Sea is a part of the nonprofit Institute for Shipboard Education which allows students to experience a multi-country study abroad program. Students travel, live, and take classes while aboard a ship during the program. The voyages are usually for around 100 days, during which students visit a minimum of 10 different countries.
For the spring 2024 itinerary, students visited the following countries during their time abroad:
- Germany
- Portugal
- Morocco
- Ghana
- Kenya
- South Africa
- Mauritius
- Malaysia
- India
- Thailand
One of the program’s benefits is that students can visit a wide variety of countries they might not normally have the opportunity to. Students also have all the comforts available on their home campus such as counselors and student life staff. Additionally, there is a gym and pool on the ship.
There are also clubs and activities for students to participate in as well. Semester at Sea has been compared to a small liberal arts college that floats around the world, hosting about 500 students in addition to faculty and staff.
How to apply for Semester at Sea
If you’re interested in applying for Semester at Sea, be sure to head to their website. Applications are open to any undergraduate students from any college with any major. The eligibility requirements are:
- Have at least a 2.5 GPA
- Be in good academic standing
- Have completed a minimum of 12 college credit hours
For applicants whose first language is not English, they will also be required to achieve a certain score on an English proficiency exam from TOEFL, Duolingo, IELTS Academic, or PTE Academic.
Semester at Sea also accepts applications from students taking a gap year, recent college graduates, and “lifelong learners” (people who recently retired or are on professional leave).
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis up until a month before the start of the semester, but Semester at Sea recommends applying one year before your planned program start date. Most colleges require an additional application before beginning your study abroad experience.
How is Semester at Sea different from studying abroad?
While Semester at Sea is technically considered a study abroad program, there are some key differences between it and a traditional semester abroad.
Depth Over Breadth
If you’re looking for a fully immersive cultural experience, Semester at Sea might not be your best choice. You’ll be visiting a lot of different places over a short period of time. If you’d rather see a little bit of tons of different places, Semester at Sea is the perfect option.
Global Classmates
With some study abroad programs, American students are kept together. This is not the case with Semester at Sea. Universities around the world participate in the program, meaning students are exposed to a wide variety of cultures.
Prominent Lecturers
During your time on board, in addition to your regular classes, you may also have the chance to hear from a variety of lecturers. The program has previously hosted Arthur C. Clarke, Indira Gandhi, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Where can you visit while doing Semester at Sea?
The program generally provides students the opportunity to visit at least 10 different countries while participating in Semester at Sea. Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 are visiting 10 and 11 countries, respectively.
Academic Field Classes are also available to participate in. These are day-long experiences that take place in one of the countries visited during the voyage. Field Programs, however, can be from one day up to the full port stay. Both of these options allow students to have experiences that are uniquely local (and generally unavailable to regular tourists).
How much does Semester at Sea cost?
Traveling on a budget isn’t easy, even when you’re studying abroad. Similar to studying abroad at a university that doesn’t partner with your home institution, Semester at Sea programs tend to be more expensive than a normal semester at college. The cost changes depending on the year and program, but there are also financial aid options available.
Average cost
Once accepted into the Semester at Sea program, students are required to put a $1,000 deposit down to secure their spot on the ship. For the fall 2024 semester, Semester at Sea is charging between $32,900 to $36,100. The cost varies depending on if the student chooses the standard or premium cabin option.
The total cost of the program includes tuition, housing, meals, amenities, academic field costs, a starter internet package, travel health insurance, student services, and the projected fuel fee.
However, there are additional fees. Flights to and from the docking ports, travel visas, textbooks, laundry, vaccines, personal travel, and any additional spending money are not included.
Financial aid
If you’re interested in Semester at Sea but are worried about the cost of attendance, there are financial aid options available. The program itself offers more than $5 million in scholarships annually, both merit- and need-based along with grants. Plus, all Pell Grant recipients receive a matching grant for one semester of funding.
Your college might also offer study abroad scholarships and funding. Be sure to check with them to see if you’re eligible.
How do courses from Semester at Sea transfer?
Semester at Sea offers a wide variety of classes for the students on board. For most semesters, around 45-50 different courses are offered, including the following subjects:
- Business
- Communication, Journalism, and Media Studies
- Political Science, Economics, and History
- Literatures and Languages
- Engineering, Environment, and Health
- Performing and Visual Arts
- Psychology and Human Development
- Religion and Philosophy
- Society and Culture
- Tourism and Hospitality
All students are required to take the course Global Studies, which provides a background on the history, politics, climate, and culture of each country the students will be visiting. On average, students earn 12 to 15 credits during the semester.
Most students tend to get their general education credits done, as the program doesn’t offer a huge variety of major-specific and/or upper-level courses.
Credits are registered with Colorado State University, the official partner of Semester at Sea. Students are considered visiting guests at CSU, and all official transcripts are sent to their home university.
