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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.
We are currently accepting applications for Summer and Fall 2023 programs.
See the list of available programs in the "Where Can I Study Abroad?" section.
Attention JJC Freshmen!
Check out American Passport Project scholarship designed to help you get your first US passport. Passport fees are on us!
Connect on Instagram!
Why Study Abroad?
If you are unsure about study abroad, here are a few reasons to help you decide:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Summer Study Abroad Programs
Summer programs are cheaper and easier to fit into your schedule but have little flexibility in course selection. Due to short period of time (2-4 weeks), the itinerary is tight with little to no opportunities for independent travel. If you would rather travel with the group in a controlled setting, summer program is a great option for you. All summer programs regardless of focus include excursions and field trips. Application deadline is February 15th unless otherwise noted. Programs are offered in the following destinations:
Language study programs:
- San Jose, Costa Rica
- Dijon, France, application deadline March 15th, 2023
- Seville, Spain
Culture, arts, and flex-study programs:
- Carlow, Ireland
- Accra, Ghana
- Nairobi, Kenya, application deadline June 1st, 2023
- Salzburg, Austria
- Thessaloniki, Greece
Environmental and sustainability study programs:
- Limuru and Maasai Mara, Kenya, application deadline May 15th, 2023
- Community College in France Bootcamps. Application deadline is January 31, 2023
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Fall and Spring Semester Programs
Semester-long programs (16 weeks) allow for more cultural and language immersion, flexibility in course selection, and independent travel. These programs require full-time enrollment status of 12 to 15 credit hours. This allows to create a schedule that is unique to your academic and personal interests. Semester-long programs are offered in:
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Course Specific Programs
Some programs are offered as part of a course and take place during spring break. Participating in the study abroad program may or may not be required for course completion. Please contact the appropriate program advisor for details.
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Costa Rica (BIO.146 - Environmental Biology, Honors Program)
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Guatemala (VET.295 - International Experience, Veterinary Technology Program). Check out @jjcvettech2022 on Instagram.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Register for study abroad program
Contact International Education Office to request study abroad application. Registration deadlines are:
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Oct. 15th for Spring programs
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February 15th for Summer programs
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May 15th for Fall programs
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Apply for scholarships
American Passport Project scholarship is designed to help JJC freshmen obtain their first adult US passport. Contact studyabroad@jjc.edu for application instructions.
- Applications are accepted until April 30, 2023.
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 for programs running March 1, 2023-August 31, 2023 are open! Deadline to apply is January 15, 2023.
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 Summer and Fall 2023 programs opens February 1st and closes May 15, 2023.
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 March 2023 Deadline application will open in mid-January 2023 for programs that start between May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024. The application deadline is Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.
- The October 2023 Deadline application will open 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.
- Currently accepting applications for Summer 2023/Fall 2023/Academic Year 2023-2024 programs. Application deadline is January 18, 2023, at 12:00 PM EST.
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.
