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Built collaboratively with institutions, these high-impact programs bring students abroad for their first semester of college: a pivotal stage of academic and personal growth. While living in EF Hubs, students take classes at local universities, immerse themselves in new cultures, and gain the tools to learn and lead with confidence.
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CUSTOM FIRST-YEAR PROGRAMS
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Jump-start higher-ed journeys abroad
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Collaborative planning
These custom programs are designed around each institution’s unique learning objectives. After aligning on goals and academic themes, we determine which EF Hub can best bring them to life.
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Curating experiences
Utilizing the resources of EF Hubs, our teams work with partner universities, source central housing, and facilitate thematic field visits that allow students to explore their academics hands on.
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Opening the opportunity
Once a program is designed, we work with the institution’s study abroad and admissions teams to promote the program and weave enrollment into their preferred processes.
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An opportunity that sets institutions apart
Intercultural learning opportunities attract curious, growth-minded applicants.
Off-campus experiences help manage enrollment while bolstering retention.
Students returning from abroad help evolve campus culture through a new global lens.
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Intentional experiences
From accommodations to academic partnerships, every element of our Custom First-Year Programs works together to provide students with enjoyable, engaging, and impactful study abroad experiences.
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Academic field visits
Course-specific field visits allow students to explore their academics in action alongside industry experts. These experiences help students connect their curriculum to the world around them.
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Community engagement
From guided exploration to engaging cultural experiences, students will gain a deep understanding of their new city and the communities that call it home through intentional immersion.
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Local partner universities
In each EF Hub, we partner with top local universities to support program academics. While abroad, Students attend international classes alongside learners from around the world.
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Comprehensive support
Our on-the-ground teams in EF Hubs prioritize student needs and provide support every step of the way—from logistical and academic preparation to mental and physical wellbeing.
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Language learning
In addition to on-the-ground staff and resources, our EF Study Centers in each hub city house EF International Language Campuses where students can take local language lessons.
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Central accommodations
To give students the experience of living like a local in our global EF Hubs, we source comfortable accommodations in safe and vibrant neighborhoods at the heart of each city.
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6 cities. Endless possibilities.
Custom First-Year Programs are brought to life in our EF Hubs: dynamic cities with an established EF presence. With EF Study Centers, dedicated local staff, and deeply rooted regional knowledge, EF Hubs offer the pinnacle of our programming. Combining our on-the-ground insights with global resources, we’re able to customize impactful study abroad experiences in the heart of each city.
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How we brought one institution’s goals to life
We partnered with a university to achieve their study abroad objective: Helping students obtain a firm grasp of technology and society in South Korea by prompting them to think critically, build perspective, and make connections. Tapping into the resources of our EF Hub, we curated thematically relevant program experiences, including:
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