WorldStrides' Study + Community Engagement programs offer you a unique opportunity to combine meaningful academic coursework at host universities with authentic service-learning experiences in local communities. You'll take courses at institutions like Universidad de Granada, Universidad Veritas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, and Anglo-American University while dedicating 5-25 hours per week to hands-on community service projects with partner organizations across Spain, Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Morocco, Ireland, and the Czech Republic.

The program structure is flexible: semester options allow you to complete 5-10 hours of service weekly throughout the fall or spring term, while summer and intensive month programs combine 4-6 weeks of coursework followed by 4 weeks of full-time community engagement (20-25 hours per week). This phased approach lets you build language skills and cultural familiarity before diving into your service placement, ensuring you're prepared to contribute meaningfully to your host community.

Through hands-on experiences and structured reflection, you'll engage with real social issues while learning about local resources and initiatives addressing them. Service placements span diverse sectors—health clinics in Cusco, centers supporting autism in Galway, women's vocational training in Meknes, environmental parks in San José, and beyond. You'll develop critical intercultural communication, leadership, problem-solving, and empathy skills that mark you as an engaged global citizen.

Academic credit is flexible: WorldStrides has partnered with the University of South Florida to offer transfer credit based on service hours (1 credit for 45 hours in semester programs; 2 credits for 90 hours in summer/intensive programs), with graded transcripts sent to your home institution. Many students also negotiate "Independent Study" or "Special Topics" credit with their home universities. All participants enroll in a reflective online community-engaged learning course that helps you synthesize your experience and demonstrate professional and cultural competencies.

Program costs range from $4,250 to $16,450 depending on destination and duration. Extended application deadlines are available for select 2026 programs, with Spring 2027 options also available. This is an ideal pathway for students seeking to balance rigorous academics with purposeful service, develop fluency in Spanish or Arabic, and build a résumé that demonstrates both intellectual engagement and genuine commitment to community impact.