Off-Campus Studies
Whether it’s interning in London, studying in Spain or doing research in Germany, most Hobart and William Smith students will have had some kind of international learning experience before they graduate.
With some planning, economics majors can travel abroad and still graduate on time. While the Center for Global Education offers abroad programs on six continents, economics frequently participate in programs in Czech Republic, Germany and Taiwan.
Prague, Czech Republic
This program is based at Charles University, the oldest university in Central Europe, founded in 1348. Charles University has a student population of over 40,000 Czech and European students at both graduate and undergraduate levels. The program through HWS is delivered by the “Undergraduate Program in Central European Studies” (UPCES), which is affiliated with Charles University’s Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education. Each study abroad student is assigned to a Czech ‘student buddy’ upon arrival to help with social and cultural integration. UPCES encourages its students to spend the semester in Prague really immersing themselves in Czech life and culture and thus recommends that students limit their travel within the wider Europe to the beginning or end of the program.
Freiburg, Germany
Hobart and William Smith Colleges maintain an affiliation with IES Abroad (the Institute for the International Exchange of Students) to offer three program tracks in Freiburg, based at the IES Abroad Freiburg Center in collaboration with Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. Students will have the opportunity to enroll in Environmental Studies and Sustainability, European Union, or German Language and Area Studies. All of the tracks provide integration into the local community and culture by accommodating students in a residence with other German and international students and giving them access to facilities, cultural activities, and academic coursework/opportunities at the University.
Taipei, Taiwan
The China/Taiwan program, offered through Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ affiliation with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), provides students the opportunity to study in one of three sites on mainland China or Taiwan: Beijing, Nanjing or Taipei. Each site has a distinct academic focus and will give students a different perspective on Chinese society. Students participating in this program will study at some of the region’s most prestigious universities, improve their Mandarin Chinese language skills, and gain an understanding of contemporary China or Taiwan.