Saddleback College offers a variety of study abroad programs that integrate academic learning in classroom and/or field settings with exposure to different cultures and environments, as students explore the beauty and ecology of a foreign country.
Oxford, England: Spring 2024
Program Dates: March 14 - May 17, 2024
Required Courses: ENG 18; ENG 27A or ENG 27AH
Deadline to Apply: December 20, 2023
For more information, contact: Professor Suki Fisher sfisher@saddleback.edu.
Program Highlights
- Spend 9 weeks in beautiful Oxford, England
- Classes Mondays – Wednesdays
- Field trips to London, Stonehenge, Bath, and Stratford-upon-Avon
- Weekends are yours to explore the world!
Studying abroad at Oxford was an incredible experience. I got lost my fair share of times, but exploring one of the oldest college campuses in the English-speaking world was half the fun. In class, I loved diving into what inspired Shakespeare and other writers, especially as our professor often assigned literature that took place in Oxford and London. I recommend applying if you're looking for an opportunity to learn more and absorb the English culture or if you're looking for a bit of adventure. If I could do it all over again, I would!
Costa Rica: Summer 2024
Program Dates: July 1 - July 14, 2024
Required Courses: BIO 230 & BIO 235
Deadline to Apply: TBD
For more information, contact: Dr. Marcelo Pires mpires@saddleback.edu and Dr. Bruno Passarelli bpassarelli@saddleback.edu.
Program Highlights
- Explore Costa Rica’s ecosystems: Pacific and Caribbean coastal regions; seasonal, moist, dry, and cloud forests
- Visit seven national parks and other exquisite locations
- Interact with the wilderness through hikes, whitewater rafting, suspended bridges, and ziplining!

To students considering the Costa Rica program, I would highly recommend it. It was well balanced between activity and education. Going abroad really does open a person’s perspective about the world around them. There were a lot of firsts for me on the trip, like ziplining and visiting a volcano. Overall, my experience on the field studies trip was excellent.
Santander, Spain: Summer 2024
Program Dates: June 29, 2024 - July 28, 2024
Required Courses: SPAN 20A, SPAN 20B and one language course
Deadline to Apply: March 31, 2024
For more information, contact: Professor Carmenmara Hernandez-Bravo chernandezb@saddleback.edu.
Program Highlights
- M-F morning classes
- Cultural activities in the evening
- Visits to museums, literary conferences, film festival, etc.

My experience studying abroad was life changing. Personally, Spanish never clicked for me in the classroom. Then, abroad, I was immersed and picked up Spanish quickly. I went from admiring those who could learn Spanish with ease to becoming that person. I learned a lot about myself as a student in Santander. Which was not the goal of my trip but was the cherry on top to a fun, educational and cultural experience in Santander.
Contact
For general questions regarding the Study Abroad Program, please contact The Division of Instructional Support and Teaching Innovations.