Herron’s study abroad programs offer unforgettable experiences that connect you with global art, design, and history—while building lifelong friendships. Past destinations include France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Denmark, the UK, and Southeast Asia.
Programs run during spring and summer, and scholarships are available. Scroll down to learn more.
Love all things global? Herron offers global programming beyond study abroad—including artist residencies and more.
Discover the world through art with Herron’s Spring and Summer 2026 Study Abroad Programs. These immersive experiences invite students to expand their creative practice while exploring global cultures and gaining fresh perspectives. Whether you're exploring design in Denmark or studying Roman Imperial era art and architecture in Italy, each program offers a unique opportunity to grow as both an scholar and a global citizen.
Exploring Art and Design in Denmark is a 1.5-credit course wrapped around a week-long spring break study abroad visit to Copenhagen, Denmark, one of the capitals of Modernist design in Europe.
Students will attend lectures from leading design organizations, visit sites of cultural significance, and experience public and private spaces that typify user or people-centered design. This trip is unique in its access to leading design organizations and the opportunity for immersion in everyday experiences, such as grocery shopping, meal preparation, and commuting.
The program is an experiential art history course covering the art and architecture of two principal Italian cities; Florence and Venice. We will focus our studies on artwork from the Medieval and Renaissance period to the Modern era, with a special emphasis on the 2026 Venice Biennale.
This 12-day course will be taught on-site in Florence and Venice, as well as the nearby medieval city of Siena. Instructional time will be spent in museums and at historic sites, architectural monuments, and urban spaces. The mission of the program is to expose art and art history students to historical and modern works of art and to understand the relevance of that art to the contemporary world.
Students may participate on the first or second session of this program, or complete the entirety of the program:
This program is an experiential art history course covering the art, architecture, and history of two eternal Italian cities: Rome and Pompeii. Our studies will be structured around the development of Rome as an imperial and religious capital, with special emphasis on artwork from the Ancient, Renaissance, and Baroque periods.
This 12-day course will be taught on-site and centered in Rome, with additional trips to archaeological sites such as Pompeii. Instructional time will be spent in museums and at historic sites, architectural monuments, and urban spaces. The mission of the program is to expose art and art history students to historical works of art and architecture and to understand the relevance of that art to the contemporary world.
Students may participate on the first or second session of this program, or complete the entirety of the program:
Students may participate on the first or second session of this program, or complete the entirety of the program:
This summer program is a three-and-a-half week tour of art and architecture in Italy. This study abroad program is an experiential art history course covering the art, architecture, and history of the major Italian cities: Rome, Florence, and Venice. Our studies will focus on the art and architecture of Italy from the Roman Imperial era to our own Contemporary period.
The course will be taught on-site and centered in the major cities with excursions to other sites such as Pompeii and Siena. Instructional time will be spent in museums and at historic sites, architectural monuments, and urban spaces. The mission of the program is to expose students to historical works of art and architecture and to understand the relevance of that art to the contemporary world. We will be studying artistic evidence from the Roman Republic's roots in the 7th c BCE Etruscans, up to contemporary art of 2026.
Clockwise from top: Guidance (detail), 2022, by Lydia Amos — polyester, cotton, ink, 28 x 35 in. — created as part of Away, an exhibition chronicling art-making during 2022 study abroad trips | Students from the 2025 India design study abroad trip | Students from the 2024 Italy Art Biennale study abroad program Lydia Amos, Amrita Datta, Anita Giddings
Art in context
18 students covered nearly 160 miles on foot and consumed countless gelati while exploring art history and European culture across various destinations in Italy. Enjoy a few of their highlights and some post-study reflection.
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Spring break abroad
Two students chronicle their spring break exploring all that London and the surrounding area has to offer, including museums, galleries, and historical sites, guided by a painting professor and Herron's gallery director.
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Design and culture
See how 22 students and two faculty members traveled to Copenhagen to experience one of Europe's modernist design epicenters and embrace "hygge," a defining characteristic of Danish culture.
Read moreBecause our faculty-led programs are supported by lectures, readings, and group discussions, you will earn credits in art history or studio art while reflecting and making sense of your experiences abroad.
Herron awards an average of $45,000 in scholarships each year for students participating in Herron's study abroad program. Students also can apply for campus-wide scholarships that can be used for any study abroad experience.
The Reverend A. G. Fraser International Travel Scholarship awards Herron students approximately $2,000 each to travel with a Herron-sponsored international program. Applicants must be full-time Herron students with a minimum overall GPA of 3.30. The application for this award is included in the application to all Herron study abroad programs through Via. The deadline to apply is identical to the deadline for program applications.
The Huston/McDermed Gay Men's Study/Travel Scholarship awards a minimum of $500 for up to five Herron undergraduate or graduate students who identify as gay men and are traveling to pursue creative knowledge in locations beyond Indianapolis, Indiana. Applicants must be full-time Herron students with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and agree to have their names listed on the scholarship's recognition list, which resides in a prominent hallway near Herron's Office of Admissions and Student Services. The application for this award is included in the application to all Herron study abroad programs through Via. The deadline to apply is identical to the deadline for program applications.
The Miller Student Travel Award awards approximately $500 each to Herron students who have demonstrated superior talent and skills, and an interest in pursuing art studies in the United States or abroad. The application for this award is included in the application to all Herron study abroad programs through Via. The deadline to apply is identical to the deadline for program applications.
The Carol S. Stayton International Studies Scholarship awards Herron undergraduate students approximately $500 each to travel with a Herron-sponsored international program. Because, as part of its mission, Indiana University is committed to diversity, special consideration will be given to underrepresented populations, including but not limited to financially challenged students and/or students with diverse cultural experiences. Preference will be given to female students. The application for this award is included in the application to all Herron study abroad programs through Via. The deadline to apply is identical to the deadline for program applications.
The Margaret R. Watanabe M.D., Ph.D., International Studies Scholarship awards Herron undergraduate or graduate students approximately $1,000 each to travel with a Herron-sponsored international program. The application for this award is included in the application to all Herron study abroad programs through Via. The deadline to apply is identical to the deadline for program applications.
The Julia Z. Wickes Award awards approximately $1,500 each to full-time, undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree in fine arts and participating in a residential artistic studio environment abroad. The deadline to apply is February 1. For more information on how to apply, contact Herron Student Services.
The scholarships, grants, and subsidized and unsubsidized loans you receive from Student Financial Assistance for study at IU Indianapolis may be used to pay for study abroad programs.
You may also be eligible for study abroad scholarships through the IU Indianapolis Study Abroad Office.
Since 2009, Herron School of Art and Design has been an official educational partner for the Venice Biennale Sessions. Students on the "Exploring Art in Italy" trip in the summer of 2024 attended La Biennalie di Venezia's prestigious 60th Annual International Art Exhibition.
