Study abroad opportunities have taken Ship students around the world — from Europe to down under in Australia, students have immersed themselves in new ways of life and cultures, learned from experts in the classroom, gained experience in their selected fields of study and gained valuable internship opportunities.
Spring 2026 study abroad undergraduate students:
Jacob Kessler
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- Tartu Town Hall Square
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- Franciscan Church of the Annunciation and the Ljubljanica River
At Tallinn University in Estonia, Kessler enrolled in coursework directly connected to his interests in political science. His classes examined Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania’s political situations — evaluating their government structures, party system and economic development. Kessler attended the CIE-hosted events such as the “Foreign and Policy” seminar, where he also had the opportunity to network and chat with experts in the field.
He also took trips across the region, from Saaremaa and Hiiumaa to Tartu and Haapsalu. He also traveled to Slovenia during spring break, visiting Ljubljana Castle and Lake Bled. Furthermore, Kessler sampled local dishes such as Vastlakukkel, Kohuke and Kalev Chocolate.
Looking ahead, he wants to eventually move to Estonia “longer term” and complete more research and work tied to politics in Europe.
Gabrielle De Bruin
De Bruin spent the Spring at Excelia University in France, where she strengthened both her language learning and knowledge of biology. While at the university, she took French classes and observed the ecological differences between La Rochelle and Pennsylvania.
De Bruin also practiced French while navigating her way around and learning the way of life of La Rochelle and other cities. Her travels expanded across Europe, from a visit to the Greek monuments in Athens to the cats near the Ancient Agora, to exploring Italy’s Rome, Florence and Naples.
She said she plans to continue finding ways to travel around the world while pursuing her passion for conservation work.
Alissa Dorsey
Dorsey entered the Direct Enrollment program at the University of Sunshine on the Gold Coast of Australia to study marine biology. “The experience was entirely amazing and I would recommend it to everyone and anyone,” she said. Her marine biology course included field research in coastal dunes, mangroves, intertidal flats and rocky shore ecosystems, where she helped classify organisms, estimate data and test hypotheses.
From earning her scuba diving certification to skydiving and snorkeling along the Great Barrier Reef, her experience abroad was one that was unforgettable. A few memories in particular that stood out to her were visits to Byron Bay, a quick trip to Bangkok, Thailand and ziplining through the jungle in Koh Samui to feed elephants at a sanctuary.
Overall, her time abroad proved to be educational and affirmed her dream of being a marine biologist. “Within my profession, I want to always be learning about something new as well and potentially traveling the world,” said Dorsey.
August Wildermuth
For Wildermuth, a mechanical engineering major, the exchange program at the Leuphana Universität of Lüneburg exposed him to different Engineering perspectives. He described the Germans’ approach to classroom learning as being heavily connected to real-world examples. Some of his courses even offered additional exercise periods where students could use pulley sets to model physics problems previously discussed in class.
Outside the classroom, Wildermuth’s favorite memory in Germany was going on a road trip with his friends to attend the Munich Oktoberfest. There, he enjoyed the traditional dish, “Schweinbraten mit Knoedel.”
As for his future career plans, he aims to apply his mechanical engineering skills toward building sets and gadgets in the film industry.
Kate Jones
Jones, a graduate student in Applied History, completed a summer internship at the Milton Keynes Museum in Milton Keynes, England. There, she worked under Tabatha Barton, the museum’s curator/arachaeologist, to conserve two wedding dresses in their collection.
The Milton Keynes Museum is a social history museum that traces how the Milton Keynes region has evolved over time, showcasing ancient artifacts alongside modern pieces from across the region.
“I have always been very interested in the artifacts and history that are most connected to people’s everyday lives,” Jones shared. Through her internship this past summer, she dedicated her time to conservation work, including “rehousing two World War-era dresses,” which involved a condition report, conservation proposal and cleaning the dresses.
As a part of her internship, Jones explored historic landmarks such as the British Museum, the Panacea Society and the New Bradwell Mill. Her favorite memory was visiting where the “Amazing Grace” was composed.
From studying politics in Estonia, conducting marine field research in Australia to preserving history in England, Ship students have endless academic and professional study abroad opportunities available to them.
