East Asia (Horizons)

If you study abroad with Cru in East Asia, you will spend a semester on a major campus in one of the most influential cities in the world.

Along with the incredible cultural exposure and educational advancement, you will be on mission under the guidance of a seasoned team of Cru staff. You will study the local language, meet students, share the gospel, and start spiritual movements in a city with almost a million college students. You will dive into the rich and storied culture of East Asia and open doors for the gospel to change lives, all while growing in your own walk with God and living in community with other believers!

A spiritual awakening is happening in East Asia unlike any we have seen before. Millions of people are coming to know Jesus Christ. East Asians are now carrying the good news into countries that are difficult for Westerners to enter. Even so, there is still much work to be done. Is God calling you to the harvest?

Note: If you are not currently a student it is still possible to join this study abroad program. If you join this team for the purpose of missions only and not college credit, you will be able to raise support to cover the full cost of your semester. We will give you the same training and tools to raise support that Cru has used to help thousands of college students take part in our Summer Missions. Like the others on your team, you will be a full-time student once you arrive.

Where can I study?

In order to maintain the security of missionaries and believers in the area, we do not disclose this information publicly. We will let you know individually as you go through the application process, but we cannot post it on the web. You will be expected to be conscientious in your communication about the location and to follow a set of guidelines we will give you.

What types of classes can I take?

You will have class each morning, Monday through Friday, to focus on learning the local language. This is incredibly helpful with ministry! You can also enjoy learning about local history and culture and possibly take a martial arts class. You will have about 1-2 hours of studying to do each day, spend the afternoons doing ministry, and then have your evenings free to explore the city and having fun with friends.

When can I go?

You can choose to study either during the fall or spring semester. Most universities in East Asia do not set their semester dates very far in advance. However, the fall semester is generally from September 1st to December 20th and the spring semester typically runs from March 1st through late June.

What kind of ministry will I be doing?

Students on campus are generally friendly and eager to get to know the handful of Americans on campus. They are also incredibly open to learning about Jesus. Our previous teams have found that if you make yourself available, you will usually get a chance to share the gospel.

We have also found that being a full-time student and living on campus opens many doors for ministry that are hard to come by otherwise. You’ll walk out of class and you’ll already be in a field ripe for the harvest…think of it as just living your life on mission.

East Asia is a sensitive country, which means ministry is carried out with a degree of discretion, but there are also a lot of similarities to home and it is safe for Americans. You will meet students, build relationships with them, and share the gospel with them all within a few weeks.

Where will I live?

The entire team will live in a dorm for international students. It is really nice and right on campus (only about two minutes from your classroom building). Picture a typical American dorm and then add your own bathroom, enclosed porch, refrigerator and TV. Most meals will be in the school cafeteria or at a variety of restaurants only five minutes from your dorm. You will also have a hot plate to cook simple meals in your room.

Will there be a language barrier?

All your classes will be taught in English, and it is fairly easy to engage people in English on the college campus. By the time they reach university, most students have already studied English for 6-8 years and are at least conversational. Many students actually speak English extremely well. We also use bilingual tools that are a great resource for explaining more complicated matters.

How much does this cost?

Depending on the study abroad program you choose, EA is often one of the more inexpensive study abroad destinations. $9,000 is a typical semester cost, including airfare, tuition and books, food and housing, in-country expenses, administrative fees and supplemental insurance.

When is the application deadline?

• For fall semesters, please apply here by August 1st.
• For spring semesters, please apply here by December 1st.
• For summer terms, please apply here by May 1st.