The College of William and Mary proudly boasts its standing as the top-ranked public university in study-abroad participation, with programs offered throughout all seasons. This statistic is heavily linked to the College’s COLL 300 requirement, which incentivizes students to learn about global and cross-cultural issues through study-abroad opportunities.
While the words ‘study abroad’ are often associated with a semester or summer of travel, the College does offer study-abroad programs during winter break as well. These two-week-long programs offer students a quick, flexible opportunity to fulfill their COLL 300 requirement without interfering with summer plans or semester course load. However, much of the study-abroad experience is oriented toward immersing oneself in a different culture for an extended period of time. Can these shorter programs still offer students enough time to reap the full benefits of a study-abroad experience? Additionally, are the costs of these programs worth the short-term trip?
This past winter, the Global Education Office administered winter programs in locations such as New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, Rwanda, Argentina, Japan, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The focus of these programs varies greatly, and depending on the program, a student may be able to fulfill certain major requirements beyond just their COLL 300 credit.
For instance, the winter London study-abroad program can help National Institute of American History & Democracy students fulfill their field school requirement as part of the seven-course NIAHD certificate program. However, other winter study-abroad programs only offer credits that specifically fulfill the COLL 300 requirement.
As part of the winter study-abroad program, students must take a 1-credit prep course during the fall semester after fall break. Over the winter, students will earn 3-4 credits in their abroad course or courses. Depending on individual needs, this can be the perfect setup for a student.
Natalie Burg ’27, a member of the Global Scholars Program, voiced personal concerns about more traditional study-abroad programs.
“I have been hesitant to study for a full semester abroad because I was scared I would miss my friends and professors,” Burg said.
She went on to explain how the length of a winter break program was better suited for her.
“I think it was just the right amount of time where I’m able to learn and grow as a person, have such profound experiences that I know will shape me as a person,” Burg said.
Jimmy Kurtz ’26, who recently studied abroad in Osaka, Japan, expressed similar sentiments but confirmed that his recent winter study-abroad experience has changed his views.
“I think that for me, a semester is a really big commitment,” Kurtz said. “Now that I’ve done the two-week winter abroad, it really made me realize how feasible it is to do a summer or semester program.”
Jonah Spotts ’27, a member of the Geneva, Switzerland winter study-abroad trip, reasoned that more traditional study-abroad programs were not an option for him.
“With the way my credits worked out, I couldn’t end up going abroad for a semester,” Spotts said.
Spotts’ situation is reminiscent of many other students. Fall or spring semester study-abroad programs may require students to take a limited number of credits or may specialize in coursework unrelated to a student’s academic needs. Fortunately, there are alternative opportunities for students to earn their COLL 300 credit while taking a traditional campus-based course, if studying abroad is not realistic or feasible for them.
The winter break study-abroad framework is unique in its ability to offer students the chance to quickly earn their COLL 300 credit with limited conflict with other winter plans. With the month-long winter break, the time frame between Jan. 1 and the start of the spring semester is a valuable opportunity for students to pursue a global academic experience.
Yet, these short-term programs still come with a hefty financial cost. Between New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, Rwanda, Argentina, London, Japan and Brazil, the average cost for a winter study-abroad program is $8,156 — taking into account housing, tuition, airfare and other fees, without considering potential scholarships. Of these listed programs, the Kigali, Rwanda program is the most expensive at an estimated cost of $9,975, and the cheapest is the Heidelberg, Germany program with an estimated cost of $7,080.
The reason behind the higher cost for the Rwanda program is due to its focus on the 100-day genocide and the arduous process of forgiveness and reconciliation among the Rwandan community. A recent member of the Rwanda program, Emilia Zapata ’26, provided insight into its high cost.
“Although it was a little expensive, it was really nice once we got there because Rwanda is big on transparency and accountability,” Zapata said. “So, they were really transparent about where the money was actually going, and a lot of it was going to survivors to help rebuild their homes.”
Zapata went on to explain the features of the Rwanda program that made it so unique and unforgettable to the students who traveled there.
“People are showing us all these memorials because they don’t want this to repeat ever again,” Zapata said.
Additionally, students noted how their study-abroad experience impacted their professional goals and perspectives on their future career paths.
“I came into William and Mary thinking that I would be a lawyer, but actually I have fallen in love with this field of shaping the future and seeing what we can do to support other countries and support the United States,” Burg said. “And if anything, it’s given me that confidence that I can participate in the room, I can get myself in the room and I can be a contributing member with all of these very high-level thinkers and policy makers.”
Kurtz added his own perspective shift from studying abroad.
“I think that now, coming from that experience, I will definitely be more interested in jobs that have a travel component or jobs where I could experience more of the world,” Kurtz said.
Furthermore, the students noted their experiences with cultural immersion in the distinct places that they visited.
“On our very first day here, many of us actually went out and explored the local markets, explored the local restaurants,” Burg said.
“W&M really wants you to not only feel immersed in the location, but also make sure you have ample time to explore on your own,” Spotts said.
According to students, the short program lengths of winter study abroad did not inhibit their ability to have a worthwhile experience.
“Even though we’re only here for two weeks, a very short period of time, the difference that it makes in your worldview and your perspective is gargantuan,” Spotts said.
Based on his own experience, Kurtz encouraged students to join a study-abroad program.
“To anyone thinking about studying abroad, whether that’s for two weeks, a month, a semester, I think it’s sometimes good in your life to just take a leap of faith and just do something that you’re on the fence about,” Kurtz said.
Zapata added the insights she gained from her study-abroad program.
“I think we all became the best versions of ourselves in knowing that we need to stick up for one another and support one another because you never know what the other person is going through,” Zapata said.
Ultimately, the value of a winter study-abroad experience depends on the needs of the individual student. Are you a rising senior who has not yet fulfilled their COLL 300? Are you fascinated by one of the many winter locations advertised by the Global Education Office? Do you want to take a leap of faith and explore a completely different place in a short span of time? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then perhaps winter study abroad is the right step for you.
