• About the Program

  • iCharleston Staff
  • Our Site Directors
  • History, Impact and Goals
• Dublin
• London
• Rome
• Academics
• FAQs
• Transition to Charleston
• Program Orientation
• Program Departure Information
• iCharleston Next Steps

iCharleston is a revolutionary, first-year bridge program. It encourages future College of Charleston students to grow as individuals, develop an affinity for the College and actively engage in a high-impact educational experience. It all takes place within a supportive community that emphasizes global citizenry through a holistic academic experience abroad.

iCharleston participants live and study in Dublin, Rome or London  where the College  has set up academic programs with partner institutions. Whether you want to soak up the culture of Ireland, admire the historical buildings of central London or enjoy Rome’s many cultural delights, iCharleston has something for everyone.

In Dublin and London, our partner is the Foundation for International Education, which has been providing high-quality educational experiences to the global community since 1998. In Rome, it's the American University of Rome, which hosts our program in the Eternal City’s beautiful Trastevere neighborhood.

At each location there will be a dedicated iCharleston site director – a College of Charleston graduate who has several years of experience working with first-year students. He or she will be a mentor, program coordinator and sounding board. iCharleston staff will escort you and your peers to and from your home away from home, and help you make the transition to your new educational environment.

As the semester progresses, the site director will also organize events and coordinate visits that College of Charleston faculty and staff will make to your location. Once you return to the College for your spring semester, you'll immediately transition to living on campus and enrolling in classes like any other second-semester freshman. During those months, your site director will continue to be part of your support system on campus, helping you settle in and excel in college life.

Experience indicates that the students who complete the iCharleston program are more comfortable with the challenges of post-secondary education because of their time abroad. They also tend to make lifelong friends who've shared those experiences. And the maturity gained from their first semester experience increases their success on campus.