Global Entry Semesters

All Colby in Salamanca participants are registered at the Universidad de Salamanca, and have full use of the campus. They take Spanish language courses at Cursos Internacionales, a branch of the university that specializes in the teaching of Spanish to international students. Students are placed at levels (inicial, intermedio, avanzado, superior) corresponding to their abilities, determined by an online initial placement exam. They attend classes on a daily basis along with students from other countries. The Global Entry Semester has a fixed curriculum that includes the following courses:

• Spanish Language (level based on placement test)
• Contemporary Spain: From Transition to Democracy (Social Sciences)
• Literature Readings in Spanish (Literature)

Students choose 1 elective from these options: 

• Spanish and Latin American Cinema (Arts)
• Spanish Art (Arts)
• The Arab World in the Hispanic World (History)

The information in parenthesis is the Colby distribution requirement that the course can fulfill if successfully completed with a grade of C or better.

The students are registered for a full semester’s worth of academic credits.

The courses are conventionally graded. Grades are assigned and transferred into the Colby system by the Resident Director upon recommendation from the Spanish instructors.

Excursions are an important part of the semester and enable students to see fascinating parts of Spain. Past excursions included:

• Four days in the North of Spain (Cantabria, Bilbao, San Sebastián)
• Four days in Andalucía (Sevilla, Málaga, Granada, Córdoba)
• Madrid
• La Alberca/Las Batuecas Natural Park olive tasting experience 
• Day trips to Toledo, Segovia, Avila, El Escorial

The homestay, in which students are placed with selected families in and around Salamanca, is as important an aspect of the program as the academic courses. The homestay is more than a place to sleep and eat; it is here that students will develop their spoken Spanish and learn the most about Spain. It is a portal to Spanish civilization and culture. Students take their breakfasts, lunch and evening meals in their host families. Not all the host families are traditional. Some families have children and some do not. Some are traditional families and some are single women who want to share their apartments with a Colby student. Some families host several international students and some do not. Some families may invite their host students to family events or outings; others will not. The resident director will try to place each student with the family that best seems to fit his or her profile in the housing form included with the registration packet. Please make sure to list your allergies and/or dietary restrictions.

Animadores: Each year Colby arranges to have a number of Spanish college-age people, including university students, to work with the group. These animadores y animadoras have specific responsibilities toward the group during orientation and the first weeks of the program. Their role is to spend time showing students around Salamanca and organizing social events for the group. Some of them may also accompany the group on trips and excursions. They are expected to communicate in Spanish at every opportunity.

All students receive a “pasaporte cultural” that gives them special discounts at cultural activities, which include: concerts (classical, jazz, rock), operas, theater and cinema.

There are modern, clean gyms in the center of Salamanca that welcome Colby students each semester. Colby will reimburse half of the membership fee. Colby in Salamanca will reimburse 50% of all sports activities.

The fees for the Global Entry Semester are equivalent to the comprehensive fees for Colby College. In addition to tuition, the fee covers room and board in Salamanca (including breakfast, lunch, dinner and laundry), meals and activities during excursions, airfare from a point of departure chosen by Colby, and transfer to Salamanca. It does not include: books (except class books provided by Cursos Internacionales), meals during vacation periods, and personal travel.

Safety is of prime concern to Colby and its programs abroad. The resident director of the Salamanca program monitors the United States Embassy in Spain’s advice, and will modify the program when and if the Embassy believes there is any danger to US citizens. Salamanca is a relatively safe city, and students will be briefed upon arrival about ways they should stay safe in Salamanca and in Europe.

Salamanca has a public university hospital and a private hospital. Medical care in Salamanca is excellent. Students will be given specific information on health professionals when they arrive in Salamanca. Students are covered by the Cursos Internacionales/Colby in Salamanca health insurance policy. Students must pay for their medicines.

You will be introduced to LINK, a student group that will be in contact with you throughout the Global Entry Semester and during on-campus orientation. LINK leaders and members help GES students transition to life on-campus through extensive communication and various activities. This process begins as soon as you choose to enroll at Colby and continues through the spring of the following year. LINK students lived where you are about to live and studied in the same classrooms—they’ll be available to answer your questions before your departure, while you are abroad, and when you arrive in Maine.

All Colby in Dijon participants are registered at the Ecole Suisse Internationale – Dijon. Students take a French language course and three other courses. 2026 courses include:

• “Dijon through its History: Art and Archaeology” (History)
• “Comparative Political Cultures: France, the EU & the U.S.” (Social Sciences)
• “Anatomy of Place: A Practice of Slow Discovery” (Arts)

The information in parenthesis is the Colby distribution requirement that the course can fulfill if successfully completed with a grade of C or better. For the language requirement to be fulfilled, students need to be placed at the intermediate or advanced level and obtain a C or above.

The courses are conventionally graded. Grades are assigned and transferred into the Colby system by the Resident Director upon recommendation from the French instructors. All grades count toward their grade point average (GPA). The normal number of credits completed in Dijon is 16, which is the equivalent of a full semester’s worth of academic credits.

Students will have an opportunity to explore French culture and history in depth through several excursions organized by the resident director. During and after these educational and experiential trips, students will be working on creative projects and assignments in their respective classes to reinforce their knowledge of the visited areas. Over the last few years, students explored the following regions and cities (the excursions will vary depending on the year):

• Provence
• Paris
• Lyon
• Normandy
• The Loire Valley
• Burgundy
• Jura
• Reims & the Champagne region

All GES students are placed with a local host family, which is an important part of the program experience and their language development. The homestay is more than a place to sleep and eat, and students will have to learn how to be mindful and respectful of the family’s space and rules. It is here that students will develop their spoken French and learn the most about France. It is also a portal to French history and culture. Students take their breakfasts and evening meals in their host families. During the week, students will prepare their own lunch with the food that host families will provide; they will have free access to the host family’s kitchen. On weekends, when there are no excursions, students are offered all of their meals in their host families. Not all the host families are traditional. Some families have children and some do not. Some are traditional families and some are single women who want to share their apartments with a Colby student. The resident director will try to place each student with the family that best fits his/her/their profile in the housing form included with the registration packet.

Cultural Events: The resident director will organize cultural activities during the semester including cooking labs, movie nights, dinners, to name a few. With their student card, students will be able to get discounts at theaters, concerts, and various cultural events.

There is a modern, clean gym in the center of Dijon that welcomes Colby students each fall. Students will get their gym membership card during the first week of September. Colby covers the fee for a three-month membership.

The fees for the Global Entry Semester are equivalent to the comprehensive fees for Colby College. In addition to tuition, the fee covers room and board in Dijon (full board), transportation in Dijon (you will receive a Tram card to navigate through Dijon), all meals and activities during excursions, airfare from a point of departure chosen by Colby, and transfer to Dijon. It does not include: books, meals during vacation periods, meals during the week/weekend if you decide not to eat with your host family, or if you don’t want to eat the food provided by your host family, insurance, laundry expenses, and personal travel.

Safety is of prime concern to Colby and its programs abroad. The resident director of the Dijon program monitors the United States Embassy in France’s advice, and will modify the program when and if the Embassy believes there is any danger to US citizens. Dijon is a relatively safe city, and students will be briefed upon arrival about the way they should stay safe in Dijon and more generally in Europe.

To ensure the safety of students, everyone will be asked to notify the resident director of all personal travels in and outside France ahead of time, and fill out a form that will need the director’s stamp of approval.

Dijon has a teaching hospital and medical care is excellent. Students will be given specific information on health professionals when they arrive in Dijon. Note that students are responsible for their own health insurance, and proof of health insurance must be submitted before students leave for France.

Food is a major component of this program (students will engage in many tastings, French traditional meals, and cooking labs). Eating French food is learning about the French culture. However, the way the French eat and cook is quite different from the way Americans eat and cook. Dijon is a small city where restaurants and grocery stores might not always accommodate food allergies and/or dietary restrictions. Some host families will do their best to adjust to students’ dietary restrictions/allergies, hence the necessity for students to be as clear as possible about their food allergies and dietary needs. Students with specific dietary, allergy, or medical concerns should contact Global Education Opportunities (GEO), [email protected].

You will be introduced to LINK, a student group that will be in contact with you throughout the Global Entry Semester and during on-campus orientation. LINK leaders and members help GES students transition to life on-campus through extensive communication and various activities. This process begins as soon as you choose to enroll at Colby and continues through the spring of the following year. LINK students lived where you are about to live and studied in the same classrooms—they’ll be available to answer your questions before your departure, while you are abroad, and when you arrive in Maine.