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Semester at Sea

9.46 (59)Verified12 Programs

Why choose Semester at Sea?

Founded in 1963, Semester at Sea is the leading shipboard program for study abroad in the United States. We offer more than a hundred day voyages every spring and fall. Our program participants travel aboard the MV World Odyssey, attend classes in a closely knit environment with an international faculty, complete fieldwork and travel while in port, and earn up to 15 transferable academic credit th...

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Semester at Sea Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

9.46

Total Reviews

59
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The Greatest 4 Months of my Life

March 05, 2025by: LilyClaire Alpert - United StatesProgram: Semester at Sea: Global Study Abroad on a Floating Campus
10

Semester at Sea changed my life in more ways than I thought possible. I had incredible travel experiences like visiting the Taj Mahal in India, spending a night under the stars in the Western Sahara Desert in Morocco, and seeing penguins at Boulders Beach in South Africa. But all of my travel memories were made so much more meaningful through the classes I took while on Semester at Sea. Learning about the diverse cultures of the countries we visited through lenses of literature, religion, social change, and global studies was an unmatched opportunity. Additionally, I took oceanography during a span where the ocean was truly my home. In addition to my travels and academics, Semester at Sea brought me lifelong friends from all around the globe. In 4 short months, the strangers I boarded the ship with became my family. If you are considering doing SAS, this is your sign!! I have 0 regrets and will cherish this experience for the rest of my life. I am already a year out and I still find a way to bring up SAS in conversation every single day.

Semester at Sea alumni ball

Amazing experience on SAS 133!

February 19, 2025by: Molly Anthony - United StatesProgram: Semester at Sea: Global Study Abroad on a Floating Campus
9

I absolutely loved getting to know 400+ students on a ship while traveling across 3 continents. I traveled through Thailand, Malaysia, India, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco, Portugal, and Germany. Having classes while on the ship and getting to learn about my major in different ports was so interesting.

Life changing

January 17, 2025by: Kendra Short - United StatesProgram: Semester at Sea: Global Study Abroad on a Floating Campus
10

I studied abroad on the spring of 2022 voyage. Doing this voyage absolutely changed my life. In the span of 4 months, we traveled to 14 different countries and fully immersed ourselves in their cultures. This experience truly did change my life. I grew so much and got out of my shell. I gained independence but also met the most amazing friends that I still travel with to this day. I recommend this program to anyone thinking about doing it, you will not regret it!

Semester at Sea Programs

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A woman holding a sign that says "Semester at Sea".
9.5334 reviews
Semester at Sea: Global Study Abroad on a Floating Campus

Join Semester at Sea on this global journey and make the world YOUR campus while sailing on our floating university! Come face to face with diver...

Semester at Sea - Spain
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Semester at Sea Study Abroad Spain

Explore Spain and other European and Asian countries during a voyage that gives participants a truly global study-abroad experience on our floati...

Semester at Sea - Ghana
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Semester at Sea Study Abroad Ghana

Join Semester at Sea as we go on a global journey, sailing on our floating university and making the world YOUR campus. Experience the diversity ...

Semester at Sea - South Africa
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Semester at Sea Study Abroad South Africa

Come face-to-face with diverse cultures and perspectives while sailing on our floating university! Semester at Sea brings together students from ...

Semester at Sea - India
9.65 reviews
Semester at Sea Study Abroad India

Join Semester at Sea and sail on our floating university! Make the world YOUR campus on this global journey that brings you face-to-face with div...

Semester at Sea - VietNam
9.25 reviews
Semester at Sea Study Abroad Vietnam

Make the world YOUR campus and set sail on our floating university! Semester at Sea is a global journey that brings students face-to-face with th...

Interviews

Read interviews from alumni or staff

Meredith Dungar

Participated in 2007

Alumni

Absolutely without a doubt, keep an open mind. Also, eat. It sounds so silly, but when you're traveling around and your blood sugar drops, I don't care who you are or who you're with, it's hard to stay nice.

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Kelly Webber

Participated in 2004

Alumni

I actually had the opportunity to do two semesters abroad, so I had the best of both worlds! I studied in Heidelberg,Germany for one semester and then did Semester at Sea for my second semester of junior year. This was a great opportunity to experience one culture more in depth (my time in Heidelberg) versus the comparative nature of a multi-country program (Semester at Sea).

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Dr. Katherine Zagone

Participated in 2007

Alumni

I've always been passionate about different healing techniques. I chose Semester at Sea because I wanted to get a taste of a number of countries so I could explore various cultural healing modalities on one trip. I also wanted to live on a ship, because, well, it's awesome. Semester at Sea allowed me the structure to get the experience and knowledge I craved without planning and paying for multiple trips. 

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Semester at Sea

Semester at Sea

9.46Verified

Ready to Learn More?

Founded in 1963, Semester at Sea is the leading shipboard program for study abroad in the United States. We offer more than a hundred day voyages every spring and fall. Our program participants travel aboard the MV World Odyssey, attend classes in a closely knit environment with an international faculty, complete fieldwork and travel while in port, and earn up to 15 transferable academic credit through Colorado State University, our academic sponsor. More than 60,000 alumni from about 1,700 different institutions have studied and traveled to more than 60 countries with Semester at Sea and its predecessor programs. We aim to educate students with the global understanding needed to address the challenges of our interdependent world. With the world as our classroom, our unique shipboard progr...

Awards

Check out awards and recognitions Semester at Sea has received

Innovation in Alumni Engagement Finalist 2022