Short-Term Abroad Programs: Student Stories

Short-Term Abroad Programs (STAPs) at the Elliott School of International Affairs give students the opportunity to study global issues in a more applied, on-the-ground context. On this page, students share reflections from their programs through blogs written during or after their time abroad. Their posts highlight the academic, cultural, and day-to-day aspects of the experience.

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Beyond the Headlines: Experiencing Taiwan

It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to go abroad and not necessarily just for the educational experience, but for the cross-cultural dialogue you can have

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The Other Side of The Coin: A Taiwan STAP Story

What better way to study China-U.S. relations than actually going to Taiwan and being on the ground?

student in front of ICJ

Down and Out in Brussels and Paris

Traveling to the places we study, meeting the people, and learning from them in a personal way helps break through that barrier.

Student in front of european canal

Across Europe in 7 Days

There are moments that feel like a lifetime and days that go by in the blink of an eye.

student in car in malawi

Listening Beyond the Data: Rethinking Research in Malawi

What we learn and carry forward depends on how well we listen, the trust we build, and how responsibly we translate those insights into meaningful action

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On the Frontlines of Learning: A Study Abroad in Taiwan

18 Master's students completed a short-term study abroad program to Taiwan last winter break, studying what a war between China and Taiwan would look like.