Study Abroad Programs


  • Business, Finance & Information Technology
  • Agricultural Sciences & Vet Tech
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • STEM
  • Liberal & Fine Arts

Joliet Junior College offers many study abroad opportunities around the world. All academic credits transfer directly to JJC and programs incorporate cultural experiences and field trips.

What's new?

  1. Japan program is back!
  2. New Environmental Biology program in South Africa!
  3. Study at the American College of Thessaloniki in Greece.
  4. We are currently accepting applications for Spring 2024 semester programs.

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JJC Study Abroad (@jjcstudyabroad) • Instagram photos and videos

Why Study Abroad?

If you are unsure about study abroad, here are a few reasons to help you decide:

  1. Get better grades and graduate sooner. Studies show students who study abroad have better grades and graduate from college at higher rates than students who do not study abroad.

  2. Study abroad experience looks good on your college application or resume. Experience of living internationally shows you have experience dealing with people from different cultures, plus a higher level of adaptability.

  3. Improve your language skills. Study abroad is a great way to learn a new language from scratch, refresh languages you learned in high school or advance your college level language courses.

  4. Experience culture and learn history. The best way to experience culture is to live it, which is exactly what you’ll be doing as a study abroad student. You will also learn history where it occurred hundreds and, sometimes, thousands of years ago. 

  5. Meet a diverse range of people and make friends. A shared study abroad experience is a great way to bond with your fellow students, develop your people skills, and deepen your knowledge of others, particularly those from different cultures.

  6. Gain independence, self-reliance, and self-confidence. Studying and living abroad requires you to be independent. Independence, time management, organization, social skills and self-confidence, will all develop exponentially while you’re abroad.

Where Can I Study Abroad?

To provide wider variety of program types and destinations, some programs are offered through our partners (such as Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs (ICISP)) while other are lead by JJC faculty. Every study abroad program has its pluses and minuses. The list below will help you decide which program is right for you.

How To Get Started?

It is never too early to start planning your study abroad experience. In fact, it is best to choose the program during your first or second semester at JJC. Early planning allows you to select a program that meets your academic and personal goals which, in turn, increases likelihood of receiving scholarships and financial aid.

  • Choose your destination and program type

    Begin researching programs using links on this page and then schedule an appointment with International Education Coordinator to discuss your options.

  • Meet eligibility requirements

    Minimum requirements include 6-12 credit hours completed at JJC with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5/4.0. Some programs require completion of ENG.101 or ENG.102 with B or better.

  • Apply for financial aid (if eligible)

    Financial aid may cover part of the program cost and varies by individual and study abroad course selection. Contact International Education Coordinator to discuss your options.

  • Register for study abroad program

    Contact International Education Office to request study abroad application. Registration deadlines are:

    • Oct. 15th for Spring programs

    • February 15th for Summer programs

    • May 15th for Fall programs

  • Apply for scholarships

    CCID's Founder Study Abroad Scholarship is offering student study abroad scholarships of $500 for participation in study abroad programs. Submission requires one letter of recommendation from a JJC faculty, administrator or staff member.

    • Applications are currently closed. Check back soon.

    JJC scholarships. JJC offers two $1,000 full semester and two summer study abroad scholarships per academic year. NOTE: scholarships not intended for study abroad may still cover some of its cost if you meet scholarship criteria.

    • Application cycle for Spring 2024 programs will run from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
    • Application cycle for Summer 2024 programs will run from .

    External scholarships. JJC scholarships page has an extensive list of external scholarships you may qualify for and use to cover study abroad cost (make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to see external scholarships list).

    • Application deadlines vary.

    ​​​​​​​Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship - will award up to $5,000. Students do not have to be enrolled in the study abroad program to qualify. To be eligible, you must be receiving a Pell Grant as part of your financial aid.

    • The October 2023 Deadline application opened in mid-August 2023 for programs that start between December 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024. The application deadline is Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 11:59pm Pacific Time.​​​​​​​

    Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) gives preference to students with financial need, along with minority, community college and first-generation students. Applicants to FEA are considered for all of the scholarships they meet the criteria for, along with the FEA General Scholarships.

    • The Summer 2023/Fall 2023/Academic Year 2023-2024 application closed on January 18, 2023. The Spring 2024 application will open in early July.​​​​​​​

    First Trip is a scholarship for students traveling abroad for the first time to select countries.

    • Applications submitted at least three (3) months in advance of departure date are reviewed on a rolling basis.​​​​​​​