Each year, the University of South Florida Judy Genshaft Honors College invites students on an immersive, six-month study abroad experience in the United Kingdom. As part of the Honors Semester in Exeter program, students explore English culture, visit storied landscapes, and embark on a journey of self-discovery while studying at the renowned University of Exeter.
Led by Honors Associate Professor of Instruction and Director of U.K. Programs Dr. Benjamin Scott Young, the program offers Honors Bulls the opportunity to trade the sunny climes of central Florida for the pastoral towns and countryside of southwest England. While aboard, students become ingrained in the local community, culture, and customs as they engage in regular excursions and explore Honors courses aimed at enhancing their understanding of authentic leadership and the human experience.
“The Semester in Exeter program is, in many ways, an extension of the Judy Genshaft Honors College curriculum,” explains Young. “We offer students the chance to develop practical skills, combining their disciplinary focus with teamwork in solving emergent problems. There’s really no better way to understand what it means to be a human experiencing the world than through travel and study abroad.”
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
As part of USF’s commitment to expanding global opportunities, the Judy Genshaft Honors College offers a wide array of study abroad programs across Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. The Semester in Exeter program stands out for its immersive experience, open to students of any major. This program allows participants to fully integrate into the life of an English university student, offering a transformative experience due to its extended duration and unique academic and cultural environment.
“I chose Exeter because it’s a six-month-long program,” said Breno Nery Dantas, a third-year industrial engineering student. “I wanted to study abroad for a long time, and I felt that if I was there for just a week or a month, I wouldn’t learn as much as I could with a full semester.”
“I think the location made a huge impact on our decision,” said Reva Gandhi, a 2024 program participant, about what made her apply. “There was just something so magical and appealing about going to the U.K.”
For students considering the Semester in Exeter program, it’s important to start planning early. Young recommends visiting the Honors website to research available courses and think about how the trip can align with long-term academic goals.
“Most of the preparation involved getting the paperwork done,” said Jamie Powers, a microbiology and criminology major. “Since the language is the same, it was mostly about researching English customs and making sure all of our classes were set.”
THE EXETER EXPERIENCE
Students in the program enroll at the University of Exeter as exchange students, live in campus housing alongside fellow USF Honors students, and take three courses that count toward their USF major and graduation requirements.
While abroad, they also enjoy custom-designed courses unique to the program, including Wonder, Wander, and Belonging. This course encourages students to draw from their personal experiences during the trip, connecting educational theory and practice in the context of higher education and lifelong learning.
“Wonder, Wander, and Belonging is really where we tell the story of the program,” explains Young. “For the first three months, students take courses at the University of Exeter and Honors courses with me. We meet in the classroom on Tuesdays and explore England on Wednesdays. Everything that happens outside the class is actually part of the class.”
Each week, students join Professor Young on excursions around England, weaving these trips into their Honors coursework, often concluding with a shared meal.
Nery Dantas, Gandhi, and Powers all participated in Wonder, Wander, and Belonging and Flourishing: Cultivating Persons, Cultures, and Environments of Well-being. Their studies were enhanced by trips to iconic locations like Dartmoor, St. Ives, and medieval cathedrals, deepening their engagement with British culture and connecting their coursework to real-world experiences.
“I’ve learned that the most important conversations happen outside the classroom, typically on the train or over meals,” said Young. “Over the years, I’ve worked to enhance that experience by focusing more on the real action happening outside of class.”
“My favorite excursion was Lynton and Lynmouth, because I love being outside,” recalls Gandhi. “I think it was one of the more challenging walks that we had been on, but there was something cool about that, because we ended up laughing about how different it was from other experiences while having good conversations along the way, and we shared a really good meal together. It was amazing.”
When asked about the biggest differences between life in Tampa and southwest England, Nery Dantas highlighted the topography and transportation.
“The biggest difference is walkability. In Exeter, barely any students have a car, so you have to walk everywhere, and that’s a big difference. You take the train to go to other cities, and there are a lot of hills.”
For Powers, the standout difference was the social aspects of student life.
“Socially, there is a much bigger pub culture. People go out on weeknights,” said Powers. “When one pub was dying down, we’d go to another one. We’d just sit, talk, and laugh in a way that we don’t really do here.”
LASTING IMPACT
Shared challenges, such as navigating new environments and unfamiliar situations, foster a deep sense of camaraderie, making the memories from the program some of the most meaningful and lasting in students' college experiences. For Nery Dantas, Gandhi, and Powers, it was the moments outside the classroom that resonated most.
“We’d talk about the big themes of field, food, and friendship, and the next day, we’d say, ‘Oh, Dr. Young would say this,’ and suddenly everything would click,” said Gandhi.
Living, studying, and exploring new places together helped the students build lasting bonds that continue beyond their time abroad.
“We knew that we had created a bond while we were there, but we didn’t realize how strong it was until we came back and we weren’t around each other anymore,” said Powers. “We’ll remember this experience forever, so I think we’ll be bonded forever.”
The application process for next year’s Honors Semester in Exeter program is now open. Several scholarships are available to help offset the cost, and students are encouraged to explore financial aid options through USF Education Abroad, the Honors College, or the USF Office of National Scholars. Since enrollment is competitive, students should prepare early and work closely with their Honors advisors.