We encourage students to study abroad.

Summer Study Abroad
Foreign language study is central to the IPH, and there is no better way to learn a modern foreign language than to immerse yourself in its culture. Students in the IPH are strongly encouraged to participate in foreign language programs in the summers following their first and second years at Washington University. The sooner students develop their language skills, the sooner they can bring the literary works, philosophical texts, and various historical archives of other cultures into focus without the competing refractions of translation.

Semester Study Abroad
Because of the importance of the IPH Junior Colloquium and Junior Thesis Workshop, both of which are held in the spring of the Junior year, IPH students who wish to study abroad during the academic year should do so in the spring of the sophomore year or the fall of the junior year.  We have identified a number of excellent programs abroad for IPH students; please see the link below.

Preferred: Student goes abroad in the fall of the junior year, picking up the junior colloquium in the spring of the sophomore year, doing the thesis prospectus work by e-mail, and, if pursuing honors, taking the comprehensive exam in the senior year.

Fallback: Student goes abroad in spring of sophomore year, picking up a cultural history course in sophomore or junior fall and working out a research tutorial to be pursued abroad.

Summer Programs: Summer programs can help a student substantially accelerate progress in foreign language study. The attached programs are especially strong and recommend for IPH students.

Please use these links to view the programs: