Become a world scholar

UD World Scholars are charged the same tuition as other students at the University of Delaware, and their financial aid package is split evenly between the fall and spring semesters.

Included in our program costs is a one-time World Scholar Program fee for the student’s first semester abroad, which includes housing, dining, international insurance, select excursions and activities abroad, as well as resources to support student success provided by UD and our partner institutions. Learn more about World Scholar program costs.

Students admitted to eligible majors at UD are invited to apply for the World Scholars program. If offered an interview, we look for traits that we know make for a successful Scholar, including openness to other cultures and experiences, resilience, independence and maturity, sustained commitment to current or previous activities, a desire to contribute as a member of the World Scholars community and a strong academic profile.

Wondering what majors qualify for World Scholars? Look for majors that have the "World Scholars" button
at the bottom of our Major Finder page, or on our Major Eligibility PDF.

Interested students can also see what freshman locations are available for each major here.  

Yes, but there are two caveats—your choice of major and your age at time of departure. During the interview process, students are asked to prioritize their preference for their first study abroad site. In a small number of cases, a student’s academic major will impact their choice. You may view the list of which locations are available by major here. Additionally, our partner institutions in Athens, Rome and Madrid do not allow minors to study abroad at their universities; as such, if you will not be 18 years old by the beginning of your freshman fall semester, you cannot travel to those sites.

World Scholars will depart following the anticipated timeline:

• New Zealand | Late July
• Spain, Italy, England | Late August
• Greece | Early September

All students who plan to enroll in the World Scholars Program must have, by April 15, a U.S. passport valid through June 2026 and must upload their passport to their My Blue Hen Home portal by May 1. Passports must be valid for at least six months after the departure date from your World Scholar site, although some locations may allow for a passport that is valid only three months after the end of your program abroad. Scholars studying in Madrid or Rome must surrender their passports to UD from June 14 - July 19 so that their visa applications may be batch processed by the Italian and Spanish consulates, respectively.

UD World Scholars will enroll in 12 - 17 credits (about 4 to 5 classes) during their fall semester abroad. All World Scholars will take a required course as a cohort—Introduction to Maori Studies in New Zealand and Introduction to Global Politics in our three European locations. Students will meet with their UD academic advisors to choose from a variety of additional courses that are offered at their location, are recommended for freshman students, and meet UD credit and graduation requirements. All courses are taught in English.

World Scholars move into their residence hall rooms earlier than returning students and participate in orientation and transition programs during their first weekend on campus. Within their first two weeks on campus, Scholars begin classes, including First Year Seminar, explore and join student organizations, and dive into the life of a Blue Hen! The spring semester kicks off with the World Scholars All Class Welcome, continues with monthly World Scholars workshops and ends with the Spring Formal.