WKU students traveling throughout Europe while studying abroad at Harlaxton College. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Gaiko.
Today, 36 scholars embark on an adventure that will leave them with outstanding memories for the rest of their lives. Since 2007, the Honors College at WKU has been sending students to Harlaxton College in Grantham, England for study abroad experiences like no other. This semester, there will be more WKU students at the Victorian manor house than ever before.
Emily Gott, a sophomore in the Honors College studying Entrepreneurship will be spending the semester at Harlaxton College.
“I decided studying abroad at Harlaxton College would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me as an undergraduate college student,” Gott said. “Spending a semester at Harlaxton will give me the opportunity to have a variety of diverse, educational, and cultural experiences. I hope to become more independent through traveling on my own and being thousands of miles from home.”
As students join the Honors College, Dr. Craig T. Cobane, Executive Director of the Honors College at WKU and Chief International Officer for the university, tells students that it is important to begin planning for when they want to leave for a study abroad experience.
“I have always been a firm believer that international education allows students to be better citizens of the world and highly effective leaders in the global workforce,” said Cobane. “We encourage all of our students to go abroad and experience what the world has to offer. This cohort has certainly stepped up to the challenge.”
Located approximately one-hour from London by train, Harlaxton College provides a gateway to all of Europe for the students who choose to study abroad at the 153-room manor home. Classes are held on Monday through Thursday, allowing long weekends for travel. Most students studying at the college visit approximately six countries during the semester.
Kaitlynn Smith, a sophomore in the Honors College majoring in Broadcasting will also be studying abroad this semester in Grantham.
“I chose Harlaxton because it is an affordable way for me to travel around Europe and experience more than one country. By the end, I will have been to 8 new countries,” she said. “I wanted international experience because I have a strong interest in international news. Because I am a broadcasting student and hope to focus on international current events at some point in my career, I knew the undergraduate travel experience would be important.”
Gott has many friends who have spent a semester at Harlaxton and is excited to experience the many cultures and opportunities that they talk about.
“Studying abroad will be a life changing opportunity for me and I hope to come back a more well rounded and cultured individual, able to share my experiences with others in hopes that they, too, will choose to study abroad.”
For more information about studying abroad at Harlaxton College, click here!