2026 BREAKAWAYS

• The application deadline is November 1, 2025

• Remember, ALL IC students can receive a one-time $1,000 BreakAway coupon for a trip of your choice. 

• If you are applying for an international BreakAway, you need a valid passport.  If you don't have a passport, you need to apply for a passport (or renew one that expires before December 2026) by November 1, 2025.

• There are also some additional funding sources for students who travel to a country where the language is spoken that they are studying or where strong financial need is demonstrated.  Those awards are usually $500 or less.  HOWEVER, there is one BreakAway award (The William Curry Award) is about $2,000!  Qualifications: never traveled outside of the U.S. and demonstrated financial need.  See the cost section below for more information and the link to the funding application.

• Also remember to leave room in your spring semester course schedule for one academic credit associated with the BreakAway course!

Crossroads and Cultures in Spain

Tentative Dates: May 4-17, 2026

Led by Professors Steven Gardner (Global Studies, Spanish), Jenny Barker-Devine (History), and Kelly Dagan (Sociology)

Crossroads of Cultures in Spain offers students an immersive experience in Spanish history, immigration, and cultural identity through academic engagement, cultural site visits, and hands-on learning.  As an important bridge between cultures and continents, Spain offers valuable insights for students across multiple disciplines.  Understanding Spain will enhance participants/ knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world, one of the largest linguistic communities alongside English, Arabic, and Chinese.  By exploring contemporary Spanish society through the lens of its history, participants will gain a deeper understanding of Spain's role as a crossroad between Africa and Europe, as well as between Latin America and Europe.  Madrid, a major economic hub, is home to a diverse population, with many residents originating from other parts of Spain or different countries.  In contrast, Pamplona, located in northern Spain, has only recently begun experiencing a significant influx of immigrants.  However, as a key stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, Pamplona has long served as a meeting point for travelers journeying to Santiago de Compostela, where the bones of Apostle James the Greater are supposedly held.

In Pamplona, the group will be hosted by the Public University of Navarra (UPNA), a partner institution of Illinois College.  In Madrid, the group will be hosted by Tandem, a Spanish language and culture educational institute that has provided opportunities for IC students since 2004.  Tandem will also provide a visit to Toledo, the home of the Spanish crown before the capital was moved to Madrid.

Credit: 1 credit course in spring semester

Estimated Cost:  $3,630 ($2,630 if using your one-time BreakAway "coupon")

Payment Schedule

• $500 by December 5, 2025
• $3,130 on your spring semester invoice ($2,130 if using College BreakAway coupon)

Study Abroad link to more information and application -

studyabroad-ic-edu.via-trm.com/program_brochure/27140

England: Culture and Conquest

Tentative Dates: May 5 - 17, 2026

Led by Professors Adam Porter (Religion) and Nancy Taylor Porter (Theater)

England — a place of Roman soldiers, ambitious monarchs fortressed in their castles and palaces, towering cathedrals, woodland fairies, mystical Stonehenge, and extraordinary authors. This BreakAway will focus on London, the heart of the British Empire while also including day trips through the beautiful countryside to Bath and Salisbury Cathedral/Stonehenge. We will visit many sites that are symbols of British culture and power, attend a play at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, sample the eclectic, international fare of a world-class city, and enjoy a "high tea." Throughout our journey, we will compare and contrast English and American histories and cultures.

Credit:  1 credit course in spring semester

Estimated Cost:  $3,250 ($2,250 with one-time BreakAway "coupon")

Payment Schedule

• $500 deposit by December 5, 2025
• $2,750 placed on your spring semester invoice ($1,750 if using College BreakAway coupon)

Study Abroad app link to more information and application -

studyabroad-ic-edu.via-trm.com/program_brochure/31298

The Sankofa Journey: Rediscovering History, Memory, and Culture in Accra, Ghana

Tentative Dates: May 4 -13, 2026

Led by Professor Brittney Yancy (History and African American Studies) and Squire Prince (Asst Director of Student Engagement and Belonging)

This BreakAway invites Illinois College students to learn about the enduring legacy of one of the most important West African nations, Ghana. The Sankofa Journey is a 10-day immersive experience that makes the pilgrimage from the United States to Ghana. The Sankofa Journey Breakaway aims to explore the history and culture of Ghana, particularly in the capital of Accra and along the Atlantic coastal region. It will examine the intersection of history, economics, politics, education, and culture. Students will learn about Ghana’s slave trade past and reflect on how the memory of hard history manifests in public spaces–monuments, museums, and landmarks. While visiting these historic institutions and sites, students will learn how they shape the economic and cultural landscapes of Ghana. By visiting these institutions–universities, historical sites, and political institutions–students will gain an understanding and reflect on the complexities of Ghana’s reconstruction and growth into a modern, thriving nation.

Credit: 1 credit course in spring semester

Estimated Cost:  $2,900 ($1,900 if using one-time BreakAway "coupon")

Payment Schedule:

• $500 by December 5, 2025
• $2,400 placed on your spring semester invoice ($1,400 if using College BreakAway coupon)

Study Abroad app link to more information and application -

studyabroad-ic-edu.via-trm.com/program_brochure/28072

Views of Japan

Tentative Dates: May 5 - 20, 2026

Led by Professor Gwendolyn Gillson (Asian Studies) and Abhishek Nanavati (Asian Studies Visiting Fellow)

Have you ever watched anime, read about samurai, or gamed on a Playstation? Then join us to explore the culture, history, and world of Japan! We’ll go to a digital art museum from a Japanese art collective, watch sumo champions wrestle in the National Stadium, relax and eat a feast at a traditional Japanese inn, and travel around the country to experience Japan’s past, present, and visions for the future. In addition, you’ll be able to connect with students from Ritsumeikan University and Kanazawa University, our sister schools. Our trip will go west to east across the main island: Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Tokyo. Get ready for the trip of a lifetime!

Credit:  1 credit course spring semester

Cost: $3,980 ($2,980 if using one-time BreakAway "coupon")

Payment Schedule:

• $500 by December 5, 2025
• $3,480 added to your spring semester invoice ($2,480 if using College BreakAway coupon)

Study Abroad app link to more information and application -

studyabroad-ic-edu.via-trm.com/program_brochure/27312