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Fall & Spring Semesters

Living & Learning is a study abroad program designed for students who desire to grow in their ability to integrate Life and Learning—to connect their walk with God to the realities of history and its impact on our lives, modern culture, and post-Christian influences in the world.

Concordia University Irvine partners with Living & Learning International for undergraduate students to study abroad in Quito, Ecuador, or Rome, Italy for the fall or spring semester.

Quito Semester

The Quito Semester exists to provide an excellent academic semester where students will engage in the challenges of a developing nation and learn to respond with an appropriate Christian worldview. This semester abroad opportunity is based in Quito, the nation's capital. Quito has amazing weather and is famous for its eternal springtime conditions. The city offers rich history, architecture, friendly people, and safe living conditions in which to grow and learn.

Living and Learning in Quito is part of a 15-year-old organization called Youth World. This program offers an amazing mixture of adventure, academic excellence, culture, practical experience, language, mission, and integrated living as you participate in this semester abroad program.

Learn more about studying abroad in Quito, Ecuador with Living & Learning International. Explore their semester program highlights, calendars, semester course lists, and program overview to read what it’s like to study abroad in Quito.

A girl swings on a rope in front of a tree, capturing a moment from the Concordia University Irvine trip in Quito.

Academics

Students can receive up to 18 units of college credit and will engage with teachers, faculty, and ministry site hosts in both a classroom setting and one-on-one meetings. Additionally, there are built-in internship opportunities totaling 120-180 hours of internship work in Quito. Students are required to enroll in a 4 unit Cultural Understanding course and at least one Spanish course.

Housing & Meals

Students will start in program-operated apartments for the first few weeks. After adjusting to Quito and improving their Spanish, students will live with Ecuadorian families for a month. After the month with Ecuadorian families, students will move back into their apartments.

There is a Living and Learning Resident Coordinator who lives in each apartment with students. Students will live with other college students who are also attending the same semester program. Apartments are fully furnished, including a kitchen, washer, and dryer. Students will cook for themselves when they are living in the program apartments. Lodging will also be provided for students during trips outside of the city and in the Galapagos.

Excursion trips throughout the semester include travel to the Amazon jungle, the mountain adventure town of Baños (Swing at the End of the World), the Galapagos Islands (Santa Cruz), and the coast of Ecuador. It is not permitted to miss class for any personal travel or visiting family.

Cost

Concordia University Irvine students are fully enrolled at Concordia for their semester abroad with Living & Learning International. This payment of home tuition expenses remains regardless of any publicized cost advertised by Living & Learning International. This means that a semester with Living & Learning International in Quito, Ecuador will include the following on a student’s bill:

  • Concordia University Irvine Semester Tuition
  • Concordia University Irvine Student Fee
  • Concordia University Irvine Housing
  • Concordia University Irvine Meal Plan (19-week meal plan required)
  • $200 Study Abroad ISEP Fee

Students will pay Living & Learning International directly for:

  • A one-time $75 application fee

Living & Learning International provides the following:

  • All Lodging and Transportation during program events
  • All meals during program events (about 40% of meals during the semester)
  • Excursion to the Galapagos and another region of Ecuador
  • Mission Trip to the Amazon Jungle
  • Final Debrief Trip to the Coast of Ecuador
  • Homestay with an Ecuadorian Family
  • Cultural Experiences and Student Activities
  • Internship Experience (for credit option)
  • Visa
  • International Travel Insurance (not primary medical insurance)

Additional expenses that are not included in your direct expenses to Concordia that you need to budget for are round-trip travel, passport fees, local transportation, personal expenses, and about 60% of your meals.

Financial aid including federal, state, and institutional aid is applicable for students except for athletic and departmental-specific scholarships. Contact [email protected] to discuss your specific financial aid package as it relates to studying abroad.

Rome Semester

Experience a faith community through your classes, chapel, a local church, and through engaging in outreach. During your semester in Rome, you will be immersed in life in Italy while having the opportunity to learn from qualified professors teaching from a Christian worldview.

Learn more about studying abroad in Rome, Italy with Living & Learning International. Explore their semester program highlights, calendars, semester course lists, and program overview to read what it’s like to study abroad in Rome.

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy, showcasing its ancient architecture during the Concordia University Irvine semester abroad.

Academics

Students can receive up to 18 units of college credit and will engage with teachers, faculty, and ministry site hosts in both a classroom setting and one-on-one meetings. Students are required to enroll in a 4 unit Cultural Understanding course where you will begin your semester with a multi-day orientation and the first few weeks of class to learn about the culture and “survival Italian” skills.

Housing & Meals

Live in the Pigneto neighborhood in Rome with students where you will live and eat with other students studying abroad. Meals provided include:

  • Italian-style breakfast Monday-Friday
  • Monday Lunch
  • Chapel Dinner
  • One meal per day during the Florence and Greece Trips

Additional Travel

Excursion trips throughout the semester include travel throughout Rome and to Florence, Pompeii, and Greece. It is not permitted to miss class for any personal travel or visiting family.

Cost

Concordia University Irvine students are fully enrolled at Concordia for their semester abroad with Living & Learning International. This payment of home tuition expenses remains regardless of any publicized cost advertised by Living & Learning International. This means that a semester with Living & Learning International in Rome, Italy will include the following on a student’s bill:

  • Concordia University Irvine Semester Tuition
  • Concordia University Irvine Student Fee
  • Concordia University Irvine Housing
  • Concordia University Irvine Meal Plan (19-week meal plan required)
  • $200 Study Abroad ISEP Fee

Students will pay Living & Learning International directly for:

  • A one-time $75 application fee

Living & Learning International provides the following:

  • Room and board (Some meals included)
    • Italian-style breakfast Monday-Friday
    • Monday Lunch
    • Chapel Dinner
    • One meal per day during the Florence and Greece Trips
  • Public transportation pass for travel in Rome
  • Multi-day educational excursions to Florence and Greece
  • Select museum and excursion fees when part of a class excursion
  • Retreat Weekend
  • Student Activities: Small Group Dinners, Cooking Classes, etc.
  • International travel insurance

Additional expenses that are not included in your direct expenses to Concordia that you need to budget for are round-trip travel, passport fees, local transportation, personal expenses, and some meals.

Financial aid including federal, state, and institutional aid is applicable for students except for athletic and departmental-specific scholarships. Contact [email protected] to discuss your specific financial aid package as it relates to studying abroad.

Apply Now

Begin your Living & Learning International application for Ecuador or Italy. Deadlines are based on Concordia University Irvine deadlines, regardless of deadlines posted by Living & Learning International.

  • Deadlines:
    • March 1st, Fall Semesters
    • September 15, Spring Semesters

Apply to Living & Learning International Program

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