CIEE Open Campus Program

Orientation

Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to attend a mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation organized by Global Engagement. During this orientation, further details about the course and program details will be discussed. Pre-departure orientations Spring programs are held in November. Pre-departure orientations for Fall programs are held in April.

Global Engagement also offers mandatory Next Steps Orientation for students accepted to the CIEE Open Campus program to orient them to the preparation and processes involved in preparing for a semester abroad.

Students will also participate in mandatory online pre-departure orientations through CIEE as well as on-site arrival orientations for each location they attend. Topics covered will include safety, cultural differences, academics, expectations, academic and wellness resources, among others.

CIEE provides students extensive resources in their CIEE portals to help them prepare to have safe and successful study abroad programs.

Opportunities

CIEE offers a variety of volunteer, research, and internship opportunities for students across all Open Campus locations. Visit each CIEE Open Location homepage via the links below to learn more about these opportunities, as well as detailed information on excursions, location, housing/meals and academics for each CIEE Global Institute.

• Berlin, Germany
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• London, United Kingdom
• Madrid, Spain
• Monteverde, Costa Rica
• Paris, France
• Santiago, Chile
• Shanghai, China
• Sydney, Australia
• Yucatan, Mexico

Berlin, Germany

The thriving global city of Berlin is home to nearly 3.5 million people. Live among the locals and see for yourself why Berlin is ranked among the top for global urban quality-of-life – with excellent public transportation, you’ll have no problem exploring the city’s parks, orchestras, museums, festivals and historical landmarks.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Founded in 1536, this bustling metropolis reveals its European and Middle Eastern influence everywhere you look. Buenos Aires is a vibrant port city and the world’s leading Spanish language publishing hub. Travelers enjoy world-class museums and restaurants, exceptional architecture, and a rousing nightlife. With weather that is pleasantly mild, year-round, Buenos Aires is always ready for exploration by bike, public transportation, or on foot - one of the many reasons it was voted “the number-one city to visit” in Latin America.

Cape Town, South Africa

With a glorious climate and natural draws like Table Mountain and stunning beaches, it’s no wonder Cape Town is Africa’s number-one tourist destination. Day and night, this multicultural city offers much to do: water sports, mountaineering, nightclubs, and restaurants. As a microcosm of many African countries in transition, Cape Town also illuminates the issues of joining the global economy while grappling with vast socioeconomic inequalities born from its colonial and apartheid heritage.

Copenhagen, Denmark

The capital city has a population of approximately two million in the metropolitan area with a cosmopolitan city atmosphere and rich cultural offerings. Copenhagen is known as an environmentally friendly city, where cars share the streets with bicycle commuters; in fact, in 2017, the city recorded more bicycle than automobile traffic. The public transportation system is efficient, clean, and easily accessible and consists of buses, trains, metro lines, and ferries. The Metro brings passengers from the Kastrup International Airport to the city center in twenty minutes. Crime is low in Copenhagen and it remains one of the safest capital cities in Europe.

London, England

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The Tate Modern, Buckingham Palace - there is no shortage of must-see attractions in the capital of the United Kingdom. More than 300 languages are spoken in London, making it the most linguistically and culturally diverse city in the world. Experience it for yourself as you explore the music, fashion, theater, and comedy scenes in London as well as the huge variety of markets and museums - not to mention the abundance of green space in and around London.

Madrid, Spain

Madrid’s influence in politics, education, science, entertainment, media, fashion, and arts make it an important international metropolis, and the major hub in southern Europe. Spain’s capital city is also its largest, with a historic center dating back to the Hapsburg Empire, and world-renowned art museums. A huge variety of tapas bars, dance shows, concerts, parks, soccer matches, bustling neighborhoods and contemporary theater and cinema make it a lively place to live and learn.

Monteverde, Costa Rica

Located in northwestern Costa Rica, Monteverde lies along the continental divide at the crest of the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain chain, which is blanketed by a cool, wet cloud forest extending down into the Atlantic lowlands. The cloud forest provides a striking contrast to the deciduous forest on the Pacific side.The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve was founded in 1972 to protect the entire ridge top above Monteverde and down into the Peñas Blancas Valley. As a result of its unique history and geography, Monteverde is a stunning home to exotic flora, fauna, and wildlife and sustainability projects including agriculture, energy production, water conservation, forest management and biodiversity conservation.

Paris, France

If you’re looking to spend time in one of the world’s most prominent centers of culture, finance, and commerce, look no further than Paris. The capital of France - and the country’s most populous city - Paris is a top tourist destination and will make you fall in love with its historic landmarks, exquisite dining and charming architecture.

Santiago, Chile

Santiago de Chile has been a major contributor of Latin America’s economic and social progress, representing a regional reference for political and economic stability. Having created a contemporary trend in arts and lifestyle, in Santiago you will discover the urban deployment of multicultural and global tendencies with a Latin American atmosphere. Santiago de Chile is marked by a very high Cordillera de Los Andes, its traditional institutions such as the Palacio de La Moneda, as well as by the tallest corporate building of Costanera Center in the financial district of Vitacura, among others.

Shanghai, China

Shanghai, home to over 24 million people has seen massive development over the last two decades. The new financial district of Pudong is home to some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. Boasting the fastest-growing rapid transit system in the world, Shanghai’s urban centers are conveniently connected by the world’s first commercial high-speed Maglev train, 13 subway lines, and two of the world’s busiest airports. 21st century businesses are increasingly interconnected through complex technological, political, social and financial systems.

Sydney, Australia

Sydney’s origins trace back to an area inhabited by indigenous Australians for over 30,000 years, discovered by Europeans in the 1770’s and settled as a penal colony in 1788. With a population of around five million, Sydney is a cosmopolitan, open-minded, multicultural city. Nearly half of its residents speak a language other than English at home and 36% were born overseas. Sydney is consistently ranked as one of the best cities to live globally, and it is renowned for its social inclusion, diversity and tolerance.

Yucatan, Mexico

From its hundreds of Mayan ruins and colonial architecture to its exceptional food and bustling city life, the Yucatán is a complex hub of ancient and modern culture. In fact, the city of Mérida hosts one of the largest intact indigenous populations (60%) of any Latin American city. Look for Mayan culture as part of daily in the modern city – its regional foods, music, textiles and traditions are all rooted in centuries of tradition. Above all, Mérida is a safe, modern city filled with wonderful people among its shops, restaurants, universities and museums.The Yucatán is ideal for studies in natural sciences including ecology, the environment, astronomy and cosmology and even physics! Much of the region sits within the Chicxulub crater, formed by the impact of a large asteroid that hit earth 66 million years ago, causing the fifth great extinction that included dinosaurs. Geologically, the Yucatán’s karst topography of limestone creates caves and cenotes rich in beauty and cultural significance. Additionally, zoos, botanical garden, Museum of Natural History and science institutes are all within easy reach.

Eligibility

You must have an overall GPA of 2.5+ and be in good disciplinary and financial standing with SHU.

Course Credit

SHU approved courses taken on this program will count towards your general graduation total. Course grades will also factor into your cumulative Grade Point Average (courses are not available for Pass/Fail).

Students can reference the Course Equivalency Database to see which courses have already been approved. Approval for courses not yet approved can be requested through Global Engagement. Email studyabroad@sacredheart.edu for more information.

• CIEE Courses: 3 credits; 45 contact hours
• CIEE Internship: 3 credits; 15 seminar hours, 100-120 internship placement hours

Language of Instruction

English

Requirements

• Students are required to enroll in two courses in each block. Students attending the program for all three blocks in a semester may select one block in which to enroll in only one course (3 credits each). 
• Students enrolled in one location for 2 blocks will enroll in 4 CIEE courses (3 credits each).

Students may participate in the internship program for one of their course enrollments. Optional 1-credit language communication courses may be available.

The housing and meals will differ for each location. Housing and Meals are not included as part of your SHU study abroad program fees. Housing and meal fees are paid directly to CIEE.

Housing and meal details can be found for each CIEE location via the Open Campus program homepage. Some examples are below.

Berlin, Germany

Housing - Residence Hall

Most students live in an on-campus residence hall with a mix of CIEE students and resident assistants. Students live in double, triple, or quad rooms with ensuite bathrooms and shower facilities. Lounges and kitchens allow students to mingle over meals, cultural activities, study groups, and special events. They are shared spaces, with students enjoying the benefits but also the responsibility of taking care of them. Larger common areas are on the ground floor and inner courtyards offer comfortable spaces to work and relax.

Housing - Homestay

A limited number of homestays are available, with preference given to those whose universities require living with a local family. Students can indicate their preferences in the pre-departure housing survey.

Housing - Apartments

Students may also be housed in shared apartments. Final housing assignments are solely at the discretion of CIEE.

Meals - Residence Hall

Students can prepare their own meals in the full kitchens. CIEE provides basic cooking utensils and cleaning supplies. Students also may get coffee, tea, soft drinks, snacks, and sandwiches at the on-site café, or explore the myriad restaurants in the Kreuzberg neighborhood.

Meals - Homestay

Students who live with homestay families receive breakfast and dinner daily.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Housing - Homestay

To complete your Argentine cultural experience, live with a local family. Students are placed with carefully screened homestay families. Each family has at least one member that can speak English. Hosts may be families with young children, single professionals, young couples with no children, or older couples.

Meals

Homestays include two meals per day: breakfast and either lunch or dinner. Students are responsible for the other meal. Host families and students decide meals together. Meals are not included as part of your SHU study abroad program fees. Please visit CIEE's website here for more information on meal costs not included in housing fees.

Cape Town, South Africa

Housing - Homestay

Living with a South African family is the best way to maximize cultural immersion. Families live throughout the Cape Town area, and students take public transportation to and from the Global Institute.

Housing - Shared Apartment

Students share apartments above the Global Institute with other CIEE participants and Resident Assistants (RAs). There is a combination of both single and double rooms within the apartments. These are allocated randomly. Students share kitchen and other facilities with three to six students. All residents of the apartments share basic cleaning duties.

Meals - Homestay

Breakfast and dinner are provided on weekdays. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided on weekends. Students are responsible for lunch on weekdays.
Meals - Shared Apartment: Students are responsible for all meals. They can prepare their own meals at their apartment, or eat at the many restaurants on the Global Institute block.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Housing - Apartments

Students are housed in shared apartments or furnished studios located throughout the city within a 40-minute commute by bike to the Global Institute.

Housing - Residence Hall

Students share a furnished room with another CIEE student in a student dormitory. Residences are located throughout the city within a 20-minute commute by bike to the Global Institute.

Meals - Apartments

No meals provided. Students prepare their own meals in shared kitchen facilities. CIEE provides basic cooking utensils and cleaning supplies. Students also explore the myriad of restaurants that Copenhagen has to offer.

Meals - Residence Hall

No meals provided. Students prepare their own meals in their own kitchenette or the residence hall’s shared kitchen facilities. CIEE provides basic cooking utensils and cleaning supplies. Students also explore the myriad of restaurants that Copenhagen has to offer.

London, England

Housing - Residence Hall

Students will live in either residence halls or shared apartments centrally located in Bloomsbury, Farringdon, or Kings Cross. Students will share twin or triple rooms.

Meals

No meals are provided in student housing but students will have access to kitchen facilities to cook their own meals.

Madrid, Spain

Housing

Shared Apartments: Students can live with other CIEE students in apartments that have single or double rooms and shared bathrooms. Utilities, cleaning, laundry facilities, and internet access are included.

Housing - Commuting

Shared apartments are located in central Madrid. All students will be living within a 30 minute or less commute via public transportation to the CIEE Global Institute.

Meals - Apartments

Meals are not included. Students prepare meals in their shared kitchen apartments or purchase affordable meals in their neighborhood at supermarkets, cafeterias, etc.

Monteverde, Costa Rica

Housing - Campus accommodations

Students stay in the “bungalows” of the CIEE Global Institute campus in shared rooms with en suite bathrooms. Three simple, but hardy meals are served in the dining hall. The campus includes indoor and outdoor common areas for recreation and study and allows exclusive access to forest trails and gardens.

Housing - Homestay

Open Campus students have the opportunity to participate in an optional weekend homestay each block.

Meals

All students receive three meals per day.

Paris, France

Housing - Shared Apartments

Most students live in shared apartments in Paris with other CIEE Summer in Paris students. Student apartments are located throughout the city but will be within a 45-minute commute of the Global Institute.

Housing - Homestays

A limited number of homestays may be available.

Meals

Students who live with homestay families may receive breakfast daily plus five meals per week. Meals are not provided for students staying in apartments. Each apartment has its own kitchen where students may prepare their meals

Santiago, Chile

Housing 

Homestay this option provides an excellent opportunity for immersion into the local culture. A single room, two meals a day, laundry once a week, and Wi-Fi are provided.

Meals

Housing includes two meals per day.

Shanghai, China

Housing

The campus residence hall is a five-story facility located on the north end of East China Normal University Zhongshan (ECNU) campus.

Meals

The residence hall is a stone throw’s away from the main cafeteria on campus. Most students choose to eat in a variety of Chinese fast food restaurants and cafeterias within walking distance of ECNU, but limited cooking facilities are available in the dorms.

Sydney, Australia

Housing

Students in Sydney will live across a variety of housing locations. Housing options are mostly twin rooms with some single and triple rooms. Students will share a kitchen and other facilities with others. Housing locations are all in convenient locations to shops, cafes and public transport within the city area and are within a commute of around 30 minutes to classes in Ultimo, Sydney.

Meals

You will have shared kitchen facilities to prepare meals or purchase food and drinks at local grocers. Sydney has a vibrant food scene with fresh local fruits, vegetables, and meats readily available. You’ll find Australian food is influenced from all corners of the globe, whether it’s a walk down Spice Alley, fish and chips on the beach or a traditional Australian pub feed there is something for everyone’s tastes.

Yucatan, Mexico

Housing Homestay

Students stay with local families to fully immerse themselves in the local culture.

Meals - Homestay

Two meals per day.

Open Campus Block Programs Include 2-3 Day Study Tours!

Multi-day tours, designed to complement your academics and enhance your cultural immersion, are included in all of CIEE’s Open Campus Block programs! Some examples of past tours and cultural activities are listed below.

Students in Berlin can...

• Check out famous landmarks such as Checkpoint Charlie, the Jewish Museum Berlin, the Reichstag building, and the historic Mitte district.
• Walk one of the last remaining stretches of the Berlin Wall still in place at the East Side Gallery – the longest open-air art gallery in the world. 
• Get an inside look at Berlin's thriving start-up scene at a networking event or pitch night. 
• Learn more about Germany’s difficult modern history at important memorials and sites, such as the 
  memorial and museum at the former Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

Students in Buenos Aires can…

• Enjoy traditional Argentinian food, land earn tango and folk dances. 
• Relax Buenos Aires-style at a festival, watch culture in motion with musical, dance, and theatre performances or experience the passion for soccer. 
• Join a group that shares your interest – art, sports, culture, community – and connect with 
  students. You can also join weekly café gatherings to compare school, idioms,
  and more with Argentine peers while you practice Spanish 
• Take advantage of nearby sites of interest that offer a broader understanding of the country.

Students in Cape Town can...

• Explore iconic sites like Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
• Channel your inner chef at a fun Food Jam with fellow students.
• Join local fans at a sports stadium to watch cricket or rugby.
• See culture come to life with art on First Thursdays, theater, music, and other productions. 
• Visit local communities to experience daily life in marginalized townships.

Students in Copenhagen can...

• Take a trip to explore Hamlet’s Castle in Helsingør - just one of many castles harboring the stories 
  of Scandinavia’s past. 
• Take an overnight trip to other parts of Denmark, and explore some of the unique landscape and
  visit one or more of the sites listed on UNESCO World Heritage list – like
  the Wadden Sea or Stevns Klint.
• Explore the National Museum and see how Copenhagen transformed from a 10th-century fishing village to a world leader in sustainability and innovation. 
• Take a short train trip across the bridge to Sweden and explore the young city of Malmø (half the population is under 35) with lots of cobblestone streets full of cafes and shops. Get on the train 
  again and Visit Lund – home of a 12th – century Romanesque cathedral and one of the oldest and 
  largest universities in Scandinavia. 

Students in London can...

• A visit to Oxford or Cambridge with walking tours through some of the famous beautiful colleges. 
• Hampton Court Palace, a former royal palace of Henry VIII on the banks of the Thames. See where 
  Macbeth was first performed and explore the celebrated C18th maze. 
• Exploring the Wellcome Collection, which charts the study of the evolutionary, historical, social, and
  institutional contexts of human development. 
• Touring London’s world-class art galleries, from The National Gallery, with its unrivaled collection 
  of Old Masters, to Tate Modern where you can see art by international contemporary artists. 
• Joining in guided tours of some of the secrets of London: Brick Lane and Brixton. 
• Investigating the legacies of post-colonialism with a visit to the Museum of London’s Sugar exhibition or the Bank of England’s Slavery Exhibition.

Students in Madrid can...

• Explore beyond Madrid with day trips to the medieval city of Toledo or other UNESCO World 
  Heritage cities such as Alcalá de Henares.
• Soak up Spanish culture with museum visits, dance workshops, urban art and graffiti tours, and popular neighborhood visits in Lavapiés, Malasaña, or La Latina. 
• Is the outdoors more your style? Try kayaking, snow walking, or hiking in the outskirts of Madrid city. 

Students in Monteverde can...

• Natural destinations, such as national parks or reserves to experience Costa Rica’s biodiversity and 
  natural beauty.
• Rise with the sun for birding tours or farm chores and experience biodiversity after the sun goes down with a guided hike in the forest. 
• Indoor and outdoor areas with access to forest trails and gardens for recreation, self-exploration and co-curricular activities. 
• Optional weekend at a homestay where students can live with a local family in Monteverde and
  immerse themselves in the Costa Rican culture. 

Students in Paris can...

• Learn the nuances of the City of Lights through a guided walk of Paris. 
• Explore the hidden corners of Parisian culture, art, and society through weekly extracurricular activities. 
• Participate in a cheese, croissant, and macaron tasting to find your favorite French food. 
• Visit another region on a day trip – past destinations include Normandy, Champagne, or Loire Valley. 

Students in Santiago can...

• Immerse yourself in Chilean history and arts through our cultural activities such as visits to museums, craft fairs, and historic neighborhoods recognized as landmarks of the city of Santiago. 
• Taste Chilean and Latin American street food: the delicious and filling completos and sopaipillas, along with the newly arrived arepas, tequeños and Chilean hand-rolls.
• Become a local! Join your hosts at weekend barbeques and at Chilean tea times called “la once” with relatives and family-friends. 
• Experience Chilean culture with CIEE coordinated cultural and co-curricular activities which include 
  workshops, cultural outings, site-visits, peer-time, among others. 

Students in Shanghai can...

• Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, Preserved Water Town in Shanghai. 
• Excursions to other cities like Hangzhou or Nanjing.

Students in Sydney can...

• Hike the spectacular Blue Mountains with experienced and informed guides ready to share the
  environmental and cultural history of the spectacular landscape. 
• Learn about the world's oldest civilization during one of our Aboriginal cultural tours.
• Enjoy a day at the famous Manly beach and join a guided historical Q-station (Quarantine Station) tour  in Sydney Harbour National Park and learn about the first Australian visitors' quarantine history and experience.
• Visit Australia's capital - Canberra. Learn about Australia's parliamentary government while seeing
  world-class attractions and amazing architecture.
• Go on a hike at one of Sydney's National Parks. Previous visits included: Wolli Creek Park, La Perouse Park, and Sydney Harbour National Park.
• Visit one of our many museums. Previous visits included: Australian Museum, Art Gallery of NSW
  and Contemporary Art Museum. 
• Learn about Sydney's beach lifestyle while enjoying an Aussie BBQ (Barbie). Previous visits included:
  Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach, and Shelly Beach. 
• Meet our local animals, including kangaroos and koalas, during one of our zoo visits. Previous visits
  included: Taronga Zoo, Wild Life Sydney Zoo, and Sydney Zoo. 

Students in Yucatan can...

• Explore the ruins of Chichén Itzá – perhaps the most famous pre-Columbian site built by the Maya 
  and one of the Seven Wonders of the World! 
• Tour the Yucatan Scientific Research Center’s (CICY) Botanical Garden, a green oasis home to more
  than 700 native species.
• Visit the most beautiful underground cenotes located along the ring of the Chicxulub Crater.
• Visit a Hacienda and experience a flashback to the Merida’s golden age of Henequen Industry, once known as “the green gold”.

Students must be in good academic, financial, and disciplinary standing with Sacred Heart University in order to be considered for a CIEE Summer program. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

CIEE Open Campus Semester: Fall 2025 - Spring 2026

Additional Expenses

*Reference CIEE's site to confirm the cost for your desired location(s).

All costs subject to change.

Fees Include: Program orientation, arrival airport transfer and mandatory basic international health insurance.
Fees Do Not Include: Travel to/ from host country, major medical insurance, on-site course fees, visa/ resident permit fees, program materials or any personal expenses.

Additional Billing Information

All expenses are subject to change based upon currency fluctuations, flight demand, personal spending habits, etc. Actual expenses may be more or less than the listed estimates.

Program withdrawal fees, penalties and refunds are subject to the withdrawal policies of each program.

Students in the Thomas More Honors Program are eligible to use a one-time study abroad scholarship of $500 towards the cost of their program. Students will need to apply for this scholarship post-acceptance within their study abroad accounts.

CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality. To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants online.

If accepted by SHU, you will then need to apply through CIEE and work with one of their admissions counselors. Spots for CIEE Open Campus locations are limited for SHU students and that applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Spring 2025

• Block I: January 6 - February 15, 2025
• Block II: February 17 - March 29, 2025
• Block III: March 31 - May 10, 2025

Fall 2025

• Block I: August 18 - September 27, 2025
• Block II: September 29 - November 8, 2025
• Block III: November 10 - December 20, 2025

Students staying at one location for all three blocks have long weekends in between each block. Students traveling between locations will have arrival orientations at the start of each block.

Check out our Instagram Spotlights to get an inside look into the student experience at the London and Paris locations.

Check out student blogs on all CIEE locations.