Study Abroad

Our study abroad programs are more than art tourism

Herron's study abroad programs are among the most powerful ways to discover the historical impact of art and design worldwide and over time, all while making lasting friendships.

Programs are offered over several weeks during the spring and summer semesters. Destinations have included France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Southeast Asia in previous years.

You will have the trip of a lifetime studying abroad, immersing yourself in international culture on-site at museums, archeological sites, monuments, and design firms. In turn, your understanding of global contexts will contribute to forming your identity as a professional artist, designer, or scholar.

Upcoming programs

Information about study abroad opportunities for Spring Break 2025 and summer 2025 will be available soon!

If you have any questions, contact goabroad@iu.edu.

During the summer of 2024, IU Indianapolis offered two study abroad programs for Herron School of Art and Design students.

Exploring Art in Italy

May 13th - June 6th, 2024: The three-and-a-half week course will travel throughout Italy with classes held on location in major museums, churches, monuments and archeological sites. The class will travel to Rome, Florence, Siena, Assisi, San Gimignano, and Venice to explore Classical, Byzantine, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern art.

Exploring Art in Central Europe

May 18 - June 10, 2023: This study abroad course will focus on exploring various visual and social dichotomies while traveling in Central Europe. During the course, students will travel to Berlin, Prague, and Vienna where they will visit numerous historical sites and museums.

Study abroad stories

Exploring Italy's art and culture

Summer 2017

18 students covered nearly 160 miles on foot and consumed countless gelati while exploring art history and European culture across various destinations in Italy. Enjoy a few of their highlights and some post-study reflection.

Spring break abroad in London

Spring 2018

Two students chronicle their spring break exploring all that London and the surrounding area has to offer, including museums, galleries, and historical sites, guided by a painting professor and Herron's gallery director.

Experiencing Danish design and culture

Summer 2018

See how 22 students and two faculty members traveled to Copenhagen to experience one of Europe's modernist design epicenters and embrace "hygge," a defining characteristic of Danish culture.

Earn credit and experience

Because our faculty-led programs are supported by lectures, readings, and group discussions, you will earn credits in art history or studio art while reflecting and making sense of your experiences abroad.

Herron study abroad scholarships

Herron awards an average of $45,000 in scholarships each year for students participating in Herron's study abroad program. Students also can apply for campus-wide scholarships that can be used for any study abroad experience.

The Reverend A. G. Fraser International Travel Scholarship awards Herron students approximately $2,000 each to travel with a Herron-sponsored international program. Applicants must be full-time Herron students with a minimum overall GPA of 3.30. The application for this award is included in the application to all Herron study abroad programs through iAbroad. The deadline to apply is identical to the deadline for program applications.

The Huston/McDermed Gay Men's Study/Travel Scholarship awards a minimum of $500 for up to five Herron undergraduate or graduate students who identify as gay men and are traveling to pursue creative knowledge in locations beyond Indianapolis, Indiana. Applicants must be full-time Herron students with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and agree to have their names listed on the scholarship's recognition list, which resides in a prominent hallway near Herron's Office of Admissions and Student Services. The application for this award is included in the application to all Herron study abroad programs through iAbroad. The deadline to apply is identical to the deadline for program applications.

The Miller Student Travel Award awards approximately $500 each to Herron students who have demonstrated superior talent and skills, and an interest in pursuing art studies in the United States or abroad. The application for this award is included in the application to all Herron study abroad programs through iAbroad. The deadline to apply is identical to the deadline for program applications.

The Carol S. Stayton International Studies Scholarship awards Herron undergraduate students approximately $500 each to travel with a Herron-sponsored international program. Because, as part of its mission, Indiana University is committed to diversity, special consideration will be given to underrepresented populations, including but not limited to financially challenged students and/or students with diverse cultural experiences. Preference will be given to female students. The application for this award is included in the application to all Herron study abroad programs through iAbroad. The deadline to apply is identical to the deadline for program applications.

The Margaret R. Watanabe M.D., Ph.D., International Studies Scholarship awards Herron undergraduate or graduate students approximately $1,000 each to travel with a Herron-sponsored international program. The application for this award is included in the application to all Herron study abroad programs through iAbroad. The deadline to apply is identical to the deadline for program applications.

The Julia Z. Wickes Award awards approximately $1,500 each to full-time, undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree in fine arts and participating in a residential artistic studio environment abroad. The deadline to apply is February 1. For more information on how to apply, contact Herron Student Services.

IU Indianapolis financial aid and scholarships

The scholarships, grants, and subsidized and unsubsidized loans you receive from Student Financial Assistance for study at IU Indianapolis may be used to pay for study abroad programs.

You may also be eligible for study abroad scholarships through the IU Indianapolis Study Abroad Office.

Find more scholarships and awards

Venice Biennale Sessions

Since 2009, Herron School of Art and Design has been an official educational partner for the Venice Biennale Sessions. Students on the "Exploring Art in Italy" trip in the summer of 2024 will attend La Biennalie di Venezia's prestigious 60th Annual International Art Exhibition.

Herron School of Art + Design