Hellenic American Study Abroad students explore Meteora, the stunning UNESCO World Heritage site
Our Travel & Experiential Study Programs and Courses are designed to immerse students in Greece and Europe through direct engagement, guided travel, and on-site learning. These offerings are open to individual college and university students seeking academic credit through short-term, summer, or semester-based study abroad experiences.
Students may enroll in experiential courses alongside undergraduate General Education courses or core and elective degree courses, provided prerequisites are met.
A Walk Across Greece (WAG)
Travel Course | Summer Term
Every summer, we welcome individual college and university students to Athens for our four-week Summer Study Abroad session, offered twice each year in June and July.
As part of the program, students enroll in the experiential travel course “A Walk Across Greece”, alongside two undergraduate General Education courses or any core or elective degree course offered during the session.
“A Walk Across Greece” is an intensive, one-week experiential course that takes students on a guided journey across the country through walking tours, day hikes, and visits to regional museums, archaeological sites, and iconic monuments. Tracing more than 5,000 years of history, from the Homeric epics of the Bronze Age to the 19th-century War of Independence, students travel over 1,000 kilometers, visiting six cities and two islands.
Athens serves as the academic base for the summer program. A vibrant modern metropolis and a meeting point of East and West, Athens offers an ideal environment for academic study, cultural exploration, and engagement with contemporary European issues.
Summer 2026 Travel Course Dates
- WAG SUMMER I Term: May 30 – June 6, 2026
- WAG SUMMER II Term: June 30 – July 6, 2026
→ Learn more about our course offerings and watch the video of our signature study abroad course, “A Walk Across Greece”.
Athens Across the Ages (AAA)
Experiential Study Abroad Course | Semester & Summer- Winter Terms
Each year, we welcome individual college and university students for a semester or short-term period of study in Athens. Students may enroll in any undergraduate General Education course, as well as any core or elective degree course at their level of study, provided they meet course prerequisites.
“Athens Across the Ages” is the University’s most popular experiential study abroad course. The course explores the city of Athens from its ancient origins as a small settlement at the foot of the Acropolis in 4500 BC, to its development into the modern capital of Greece and a contemporary European metropolis of over five million people.
Class meetings and on-site lectures are organized chronologically, allowing students to engage directly with the historical events, monuments, and urban transformations that have shaped Athens across time. The city itself functions as a living classroom, connecting ancient history with modern life.
Program Dates
- Fall 2025 Semester: September 8 – December 19
- Winter Intersession 2026: January 5 – January 23
- Spring 2026 Semester: February 2 – May 22
- Summer II 2026 Term: July 6 – July 24
International Service Learning
Service & Social Impact Course | Summer Term
A hands-on, applied course that engages students with modern Greek society through project-based volunteering while earning course credit. The program combines classroom instruction with interactive service excursions supporting leading NGOs and civil society organizations. Students explore how international service is conceived, implemented, and evaluated, examining topics such as global inequality, humanitarian ethics, sustainability, emergency preparedness, and socio-environmental challenges on Greek islands. Service activities align with HAU’s Politis Civic Engagement Program and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing practical experience in social impact and community engagement.
Upon completion, students will be able to demonstrate practical skills in community engagement and service-based project work, assess and apply principles of humanitarian ethics and sustainable development in real-world contexts, critically reflect on the social, cultural, and environmental impact of service initiatives, and integrate classroom learning with hands-on volunteering to make meaningful contributions to local communities.
Session Dates: June 8–June 26, 2026
Foundations of European Business
Service-Learning Course | Summer Term
BUS397 Foundations of European Business introduces students to the core principles, policies, and contemporary issues shaping business activity within the European Union. The course examines EU-established business frameworks, management objectives, organizational culture, and the economic and social environment of the EU-27, with particular emphasis on Greece.
Through a multidisciplinary approach, students explore national and international business practices, ethics and social responsibility, entrepreneurship, marketing, and consumer behavior. The course also provides practical insight into how new businesses are planned and launched within the EU regulatory and economic context.
Session Dates: June 8 – June 26, 2026
Why Choose Travel & Experiential Study at Hellenic American University
- Place-based learning in Athens and across Greece
- Flexible enrollment for visiting students
- Academic credit through accredited coursework
- Integration of classroom instruction with travel and on-site learning
→ Click here to learn more about program costs