Like study abroad, Domestic Study Away opens up access to new and unique course offerings while exploring student life at a different institution. A student might "study away" not for the city/location, but for a specific experience, laboratory, archive, or specialized equipment not available at Swarthmore. Beyond the change of scenery, moving between different types of U.S. institutions allows a student to master different ways of learning and to reevaluate their own academic habits.

Students may be motivated by different factors, as a few examples:

• Domestic Study for Subject Matter: 
  A film student might be interested in spending a semester in Los Angeles, or a political science major might head to Washington DC. A STEM student might seek out a university near a national laboratory. A history or literature major may choose a program with proximity to specific primary sources or unique archives.
• Domestic Study for Specialized Opportunities:
  Some domestic programs offer unique field-based experiences. At Woods Hole, students collect samples in the marshes and analyze them in a world-class research facility. On the River Semester, students don't just study the Mississippi River, they paddle down it while undertaking interdisciplinary study that mixes ecology, history, and social justice.
• Domestic Study for Context: 
  Opportunities through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), or Tribal Colleges can often offer specialized curricula centered on different historical and cultural narratives, providing academic immersion and context that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

All students must apply through the Global Engagement Office following the same process used for study abroad.  See here to get started on the process.

Approval is contingent on various factors, both at Swarthmore and at the other institution. Neither is automatic nor guaranteed.

During a semester of Domestic Study Away, you remain registered at Swarthmore and are billed according to the regular billing cycle. Without exception, you are charged regular Swarthmore tuition, room, and board. This is a condition of participation. It is not possible to receive exemptions from fees (such as housing) while studying abroad.

All eligible students will receive the same financial aid for a semester abroad as for a semester on-campus.  

For more details, see the Study Abroad Finances page, as the same arrangements are in place for GEO domestic and international opportunities.

The Global Engagement Office (GEO) guarantees 4 credits for their students on Swarthmore-approved Domestic Study Away, IF they meet the necessary requirements.

For more details, see the Study Abroad Coursework and Credits page, as the same arrangements are in place for GEO domestic and international opportunities.

If you are resident in the United States on a Swarthmore-sponsored F-1 visa, there may be additional planning considerations when considering domestic study away. Please contact your International Student Center (ISC) advisor for more information.

Domestic study away could be an option for you. For support with understanding your options, don't hesitate to contact Jennifer Marks-Gold, Assistant Dean and Director of International Student Programs and/or Lauren Owens, Director of Operations for Global Engagement.

Students need to work with the host institution to figure out whether their health insurance complies with the host institution's health insurance requirements (regardless of the health insurance plan the student has while at Swarthmore). 

In some cases, students may need to waive the host institution's health insurance. It is the student's responsibility to submit the proper documentation by the host institution's deadlines.