Study Abroad
Travel has long been considered an integral part of a robust and comprehensive architecture and design education. Through experiencing, analyzing, and documenting cities, buildings, and artifacts designed within distinct cultural contexts, we come to better understand how design at all scales shapes lives around the world.
Many students in the School of Architecture & Design take advantage of study abroad. Nearly 40% of the undergraduate Class of 2027 traveled abroad, and all M.Arch students participate in the Global Research Studios.
Undergraduate Study Abroad
The School of Architecture and Design (SoAD) offers several semester-long study-abroad options for students in the Bachelor of Science programs in Architecture, Building Sciences, Interior Design, and Industrial Design. Sites for study abroad include Girona, Spain; Urbino, Italy; and Istanbul, Türkiye. In addition, a study away program is offered in Waterford, Ireland. All study abroad programs are led by Wentworth faculty members and taught in collaboration with local architects, designers, and scholars with expertise in the city and region. All semester-abroad curricula are fully aligned with required courses in Boston, allowing students to remain on track as they progress toward graduation.
In addition to semester-abroad programs, the SoAD offers shorter-duration international experiences for academic credit. These travel-based courses are typically offered during Spring Break and/or between spring and summer semesters. They vary year to year, taking advantage of faculty experience, expertise, and ongoing research initiatives.
Undergraduate study-abroad programs accept a limited number of students by application. Accepted students are responsible for program fees (in addition to semester tuition), which vary by program and cover airfare, accommodation, and other on-the-ground travel expenses.
Graduate Study Abroad
One-week-long international travel with Global Research Studio instructors is an integral part of the Master of Architecture program
Girona, Spain
Offered in: Fall term (architecture, senior year)
Program Fee: $12,000* (cost in fall 2027)
Located 45 minutes northeast of Barcelona, Girona is a vibrant Catalonian city dating back to Roman times. The old quarter of Girona, or the Barri Vell, is remarkably well preserved, allowing students to experience urbanism and architecture dating back to the medieval period.
The University of Girona, where Wentworth students have their studios and seminars, is one of the oldest in Spain and has a wealth of historic and contemporary buildings for students to explore. Classes are held in collaboration with the university’s faculty and students, offering Wentworth students an authentic and well-rounded European university experience. Students explore Barcelona’s architectural and urbanistic riches through weekly seminars and walking tours of the city. Multi-day excursions to other Spanish cities (Madrid, Bilbao, Granada, Cordoba, Seville) enrich the program.
*Program fee is in addition to tuition, and includes airfare, accommodation, study-related travel, museum and cultural site entrance fees, and ground transportation.
Istanbul, Türkiye
Offered in: Fall term (architecture, senior year) and Summer term (industrial design junior year)
Program Fee: $12,000* (fall 2027)
The School of Architecture and Design students immerse themselves in the rich, historic culture of Istanbul while advancing their design studies from a global perspective. Wentworth’s host institution, Bilgi University, is in the Eyüp Sultan district—a vibrant area that blends traditional Turkish culture with contemporary trends. Led by a Wentworth faculty member, architecture students complete their senior year fall curriculum abroad, while industrial design students complete their junior year summer curriculum abroad.
The architecture semester abroad includes a one-week design-build workshop at Datça’s Summer School and a multi-day visit to Athens, Greece, while the industrial design semester abroad has included a multi-day visit to Milan, Italy—one of the world’s design capitals. Both programs also include trips throughout Türkiye’s Aegean and Mediterranean regions. Students have explored the ancient cities of Aphrodisias, Assos, Bursa, Ephesus, Hierapolis, and Izmir immersing themselves in the region’s phenomenal ancient history.
*Program fee is in addition to tuition, and includes airfare, accommodation, travel within the experience, museum and cultural site entrance fees, and transportation.
Urbino, Italy
Offered in: Fall and Spring term (architecture, senior year) and Summer term (interior design + industrial design, junior year)
Program Fee: $14,500* (cost in fall 2027 and spring 2028, w/meal plan included)
Nestled among the foothills of the Apennine mountains in the Marche region of central Italy, the walled city of Urbino is among Italy’s most cherished sites. As one of the primary centers of the Italian Renaissance, Urbino offers students a window into the past while revealing contemporary strategies for engaging with historic contexts. Students live in the city center, a UNESCO-designated area, and their classes are held in the hillside complex of the Collegi Universitari, a short walk from the city gates. This city campus, designed by architect Giancarlo de Carlo, offers sweeping views of the countryside and a spatially dynamic context for studying architectural design. Many more works of de Carlo in the area are found woven throughout Urbino and serve as powerful examples of design that deeply and thoughtfully engage with context.
As part of studio, architecture, interior design, and industrial design students contend with contemporary challenges related to the historic city and the greater Marche region. Design seminars reinforce students’ understanding of Italian architecture, urbanism, and design through analysis and documentation. These seminars take advantage of Urbino, as well as other notable Italian cities, as both classroom and as sites of study. As part of this program, students are guided through weekly excursions to famous sites and cities including Rome, Florence, Siena, and Venice. All travel is contextualized through a lecture-based course centered around Italian history and culture.
Students are housed in historic hotels in the center of Urbino and provided with a meal plan for the semester.
*Program fee is in addition to tuition, and includes airfare, accommodation, meal plan, travel within the experience, museum and cultural site entrance fees, and transportation.
Waterford, Ireland
Offered in: Fall term (architecture and building sciences, senior year)
Program Fee: $11,000* (cost in fall 2027)
Ireland is often called the Emerald Isle for its lush landscapes, rolling countryside, and vibrant greenery that remain beautiful year-round. Located on Ireland’s southeastern coast, Waterford, the country’s oldest city, lies about two hours south of Dublin and is home to just over 50,000 residents. Founded by Vikings more than 1,100 years ago, Waterford is known for its rich history and for Waterford Crystal, one of Ireland’s most celebrated symbols of craftsmanship and design. Just a short drive from the city, the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark offers dramatic cliffs, scenic beaches, and some of Ireland’s most breathtaking coastal views.
In this study away program, students attend South East Technological University (SETU) and take courses through the Department of Architecture & Built Environment that align with Wentworth’s architecture and building sciences curricula. Students live in residence halls on SETU’s main campus, providing easy access to university facilities, services, and student activities. SETU’s main campus is located on the outskirts of Waterford, while the architecture building is a short bike ride or bus trip away in the city center. Situated along the banks of the River Suir, the architecture department is housed in the historic Granary Building, a six-story stone warehouse that reflects Waterford’s architectural heritage. Studying in Waterford gives students the opportunity to engage with Ireland’s rich architectural heritage while learning within a vibrant, internationally connected academic community.
*Program fee is in addition to tuition, and includes airfare, accommodation, study-related travel, museum and cultural site entrance fees, and ground transportation.
Short-Term Travel Elective
Milan, Italy; Basel, Switzerland; Copenhagen, Denmark
Summer Travel Elective (3 credit hours)
Program Fee: $3,000* (cost in April 2024)
Graduate Global Research Studios
During the fall of their program's final year, all Master of Architecture students pursue design research based on their experience of architectural culture in different regions of the world. The semester begins with a ten-day, faculty-led study tour to different cities or regions, immersing students in contemporary urban and architectural challenges and establishing the learning goals of the semester's design projects.
Countries visited by recent Global Research Studio groups have included Kenya (Nairobi), Morocco (Marrakesh and rural villages), Japan (Tokyo and Kamakura), Türkiye (Istanbul), Scotland (Edinburgh and the Highlands), Greece (Athens and others), China (Shanghai and surroundings), Italy (Rome, Venice), Norway, Dubai, and the US (Chicago, New England).
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I apply for study abroad?
Login on the Colleges of the Fenway (COF) Study Abroad Portal to begin your application for any study-abroad program, including short-term travel and required Global Research Studios.
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When I make a deposit, can that amount be refunded if I have to cancel?
No, all deposits are considered non-refundable.
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Aside from getting a passport, what do I need to do to prepare for international travel?
Notify your bank and credit card companies that you are traveling internationally and provide them with the list of countries that you will visit. Check to see if your cellular phone service works outside of the US. If not, you may want to consider purchasing a SIM card in the country of your destination to ensure ease of communication. Confirm with your study-abroad faculty member as to how they plan to communicate with the class while traveling. If traveling in Europe, you may need to secure an ETIAS travel visa.
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Should I purchase travel insurance before the semester begins?
The Colleges of the Fenway (COF) provides insurance through International SOS for all COF-registered travelers. Coverage includes medical care and mental health services. Learn more here, and be sure to download your ID card and the Assistance App before you travel.
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If the program is cancelled by the University, will I be refunded?
Yes., you will receive a full refund in the event that a study abroad program is cancelled by the University.