Veritas Christian Study Abroad



What is Veritas?

Veritas Christian Study Abroad combines a traditional WorldStrides study abroad program with Christian mentorship, spiritual support, ministry service opportunities, and faith-focused academics. Students take unique courses with a Biblical perspective, gaining insights into cross-cultural ministry and global faith perspectives. Beyond the classroom, students immerse themselves in local communities, partnering with churches and ministries to serve and learn and are supported by their Veritas Mentor. This program fosters academic, spiritual, and personal growth while helping students explore their role as global followers of Christ.

Ministry Opportunities & Academics

Students work with the local church and established ministries while studying abroad, serving others in the host community. Students will get a broader understanding of the joys and challenges of cross-cultural ministry. Engaging with the local community also provides unique immersion and perspective of their host culture.

To further enrich the study abroad experience, semester and summer Veritas Christian Study Abroad students also explore faith and life abroad through an additional course taught from a Biblical worldview. In addition to being a full-time student at a host institution abroad, semester students take a 3-credit Comparative Religions or Global Ministry Practicum course and summer students a 1-credit Global Ministry Practicum course.

Our Values

Veritas Christian Study Abroad is an inter-denominational study abroad program committed to helping students become culturally-aware people of faith who recognize their opportunities to live as global followers of Christ. We affirm the Apostle's Creed as a historically understood statement of basic Christian beliefs. Veritas Christian Study Abroad is not a church. We strive to help students identify a church home while abroad that honors and fosters their identity as a follower of Christ.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out to our team by phone +1(512)480-8522 or email veritas@studiesabroad.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • About Veritas

    How is Veritas different from other WorldStrides programs?

    Veritas Christian Study Abroad enhances the traditional WorldStrides program by adding comprehensive Christian support. You will study at a host university and participate in excursions with other WorldStrides students, while also connecting with a local church, participating in service opportunities, and working with a Christian mentor. Veritas aims for holistic development by emphasizing academics, spiritual health, and social well-being, empowering students to live as global followers of Christ through learning, serving, and community.

    How is Veritas different from other Christian Study Abroad programs?

    By joining a Veritas program, students immerse themselves in the host culture through local university attendance, living with host families, and adapting to daily life. This holistic experience supports their faith journey while embracing the culture authentically. Veritas offers high-quality academics across various disciplines at renowned universities in Africa, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, accommodating almost any academic field.

    Will my host family or roommates be Christian, too?

    We cannot guarantee that your host family or roommate will be Christian. However, we do our best to house Veritas students with other Veritas participants or other students with similar interests based on their housing questionnaire.

    Can I study with Veritas in a location that isn’t currently offered?

    We are not able to expand Veritas support to individual students outside of our current program locations. However, if you are a university partner, staff, or faculty member and are interested in supporting a short-term program with Veritas elements, please reach out to veritas@studiesabroad.com!

    What is the Denominational Affiliation of Veritas Christian Study Abroad?

    We affirm the Apostle's Creed as a historically understood statement of basic Christian beliefs. The leadership of Veritas Christian Study Abroad and the Veritas Mentors in each of our locations identify as Protestant Evangelical Christians. We recognize that within this identification, there are a variety of denominations and doctrinal distinctions that we hope will lead to students having healthy inquiry and faith discussions as they explore the world on an ISA Veritas program.

    What is the Veritas Cancellation Policy?

    As a division of WorldStrides, Veritas follows the WorldStrides cancellation policy. You may view the policy here.

    Are you a university partner, staff, or faculty member interested in learning more about how Veritas can support your short-term custom or faculty-led program?

    Reach out to us at veritas@studiesabroad.com for more information!

  • Academics

    What are the Veritas courses?

    All Veritas students will take an online Veritas-specific course in addition to the full-time course load at their host university. Veritas-specific courses are taught by a Christian professor who understands the mission of Veritas Christian Study Abroad. The professor encourages students spiritually and academically and helps students gain a missional perspective through their studies. The Veritas-specific academics allow students to process their experiences through research, reflection, and critical thinking as students experience first-hand the challenges and opportunities of living out their faith in a cross-cultural context.

    Semester programs include the 3-credit Comparative Religions course or the 3-credit Global Ministry Practicum.

    Summer programs include the 1-credit Global Ministry Practicum.

    Comparative Religions (HUM 353)
    This course is an introduction to the major religious traditions of the world—particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—and indigenous, new, and secular religions. The historical development, key figures, as well as major doctrines and practices are explored.

    Global Ministry Practicum (HUM 490)
    This course provides upper division credit for international ministry opportunities and an extended ministry experience designed to acquaint students with the implementation of missions principles in an international context through Veritas Christian Study Abroad programs. 

    Is it possible to participate in the Veritas program without taking the Veritas-specific course?

    In order to participate in the Veritas program without taking a Veritas course, you must receive special permission from both your home university Study Away Advisor and the Director of Veritas Christian Study Abroad. Please email veritas@studiesabroad.com for more information.

  • Veritas Mentor

    Who is my Veritas Mentor?

    Veritas Mentors may be local believers or long-term missionaries. Whether they are long-term American missionaries serving abroad or are native to your host city, each mentor has spent time outside of their home country, so they are each able to bring their own unique international/intercultural experiences to their spiritual discipleship of students.

    Will my Veritas Mentor speak English?

    Yes, all Veritas Mentors speak English fluently along with the local language of your host country! All Mentor meetings will be conducted in English.

    How often will I meet with my Veritas Mentor?

    Students will meet with their Veritas Mentor on a weekly basis throughout the duration of their program. Exact meeting times will be established once the student is onsite.

    Will I meet with my Mentor on-on-one?

    Students will meet with their Veritas Mentor as a group to foster community and friendship with other Veritas peers.

  • Ministry Service

    Is this the same thing as a mission trip?

    While we encourage students to support long-term mission work through their local church, we want to be clear that this is not a mission trip and Veritas is not a church. Veritas is first and foremost an academic program. We offer students who are eager to study abroad during college the chance to engage in a program that supports and nurtures their faith while they are overseas. Many of our participants aspire to pursue long-term missions or ministry after graduation, making this an excellent opportunity for them to experience life in another country and serve alongside current missionaries.

    What are the service opportunities with Veritas?

    Our goal is to support the long-term goals of the local community. For this reason, we are very intentional about partnering with organizations that are well-established in the area and have a deep understanding of the needs of the local community. Depending on organizational needs, students may serve directly with communities in need or support activities behind the scenes. Service opportunities vary by location and season, allowing students to gain experience in cross-cultural service while building relationships and sharing their faith. Past opportunities include, but are not limited to support for local churches through events, prayer teams, and youth ministry.

    Where will I be serving and how often?

    We feel that serving is a great way to live out our faith and give back to the local community. While all students are encouraged to serve as much as possible, students may choose to serve as much or as little as they want. While the Veritas Mentor will connect students to local opportunities, it is up to each individual student to take the initiative to serve.

    What will my church be like?

    Veritas students will quickly find that international churches can come in all shapes and sizes! Veritas Mentors will connect students to local Protestant churches of various denominational backgrounds, but students ultimately have the freedom to choose which church to attend. We encourage students to keep an open mind as Christian community and expressions of faith may look different overseas. While Protestant and evangelical communities may be small in certain parts of the world, we firmly believe that the quality of a student’s Christian community far exceeds the quantity.

  • Accreditation

    Academic Sponsor: California Baptist University

    Veritas Christian Study Abroad welcomes California Baptist University as our official academic sponsor. Veritas Christian Study Abroad is a unique opportunity for students who are mission-minded to engage in cross-cultural ministry while fulfilling degree requirements. Our desire is to offer academic programs of the highest quality while supporting a student's spiritual needs. Students who study abroad with Veritas will receive course credit from fully-accredited universities abroad and from our academic sponsor, California Baptist University (CBU). CBU provides transcripts for the Veritas course (Comparative Religions) and practicum (Global Ministry Practicum). See the Veritas Statement of Faith.

    About California Baptist University

    Founded in 1950, CBU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Today, CBU boasts an enrollment of over 4,100 campus students in 90 undergraduate majors and 25 graduate programs. Named "2011 Best Regional University" by U.S. News and World Report, CBU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, as well as the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, the National Association of Schools of Music, the State of California Board of Registered Nursing, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the Board of Registered Nurses.

    Standards of Best Practices

    Additionally, Veritas Christian Study Abroad is committed to all programs adhering to the recognized standards of best practices in the field of study abroad. Therefore, all programs will be regularly assessed on the basis of the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, developed by the Forum on Education Abroad. These standards include baseline expectations regarding academic integrity, learning environments, health and safety, student conduct and advising, and student learning and development.

    Summary Information Regarding Academic Transcripts

    • Veritas students take courses at accredited universities in each host city
    • Only the Veritas-specific courses are transcripted by CBU
    • Veritas-specific course professors are approved by CBU
    • Veritas students receive two transcripts on each program (one from the fully-accredited host institution and one from CBU)
    • Transcripts are accompanied by a cover letter explaining credit equivalency.

Your Discovery

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Program Inclusions

On a Veritas program, students receive on-site spiritual support from a Veritas Mentor who helps make their time abroad a spiritually engaging and growing experience. Their Veritas Mentor also engages students in Christian community through connecting them with a local church and other ministry opportunities.

Comprehensive Advising and Support

24-Hour Emergency

Comprehensive Health, Safety, and Security Support

Airport Reception

Visa Support

Tuition at the Host University

Housing

Bridging Cultures Orientation

Full-Time Resident Staff

On-Site ISA Offices

Internet Access

ISA Discovery Model

Excursions

Cultural Activities

Insurance

Official Transcript from the Host University

Professional Development Toolbox

Scholarship Opportunities

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