Published February 05, 2026

Around the World in a Week: Spring Break While You Study Away

Kelly McHugh-Stewart

Assistant Director of Content Strategy and Development

Current Students Student Voices Study Abroad

A bird's eye view of clear ocean and green islands.

With 13 global sites and three campuses on six continents, NYU ensures that students become active global citizens. In addition to the classroom and experiential learning offered at each site, students use spring break at NYU to venture near and far on their own adventures.

Student Anna Lipiec stands on the Great Wall of China.

Crowds of visitors approach a large traditional Chinese building.

Let NYU Plan Your Trip For You

For some, taking an NYU-sponsored trip during the break is the right call. Anna Lipiec, a Political Science major at NYU Abu Dhabi from Warsaw, Poland, was studying away at NYU Shanghai when she decided to attend a school-organized trip to the Chinese province of Shandong. For Anna, the academic aspect was a real highlight.

“The most exciting part of the trip was learning Chinese in a real-life setting,” she says. “As I traveled to Shandong and its more rural areas, I interacted with the language at all times. It was very different from Shanghai, where a higher proportion of people speak English. The trip also elevated my cultural knowledge of Chinese religious diversity, making me realize the long history of Chinese religious philosophies and their evolution. By familiarizing myself with the cultural background of its speakers, I now better understand the language.”

Two monkeys sit on branches, partially hidden among dense green leaves in a forest.

Learn More About the Country Where You’re Studying

Fatima Romero, an International Relations major at the College of Arts and Science from Columbus, Georgia, also studied away at NYU Shanghai. While there, she joined a Dean’s Service Corps (DSC) trip to Yunnan focused on environmental conservation.

“The DSC coordinated the whole trip, from creating the itinerary to booking all the accommodations, which made it all really easy,” Fatima notes. The practical experience left an impression. “One of the most meaningful experiences for me came from interacting with the local rangers, who shared their stories and often showed us plants and fruits that were local to the area. We helped them clear invasive species and planted trees,” she says. “The people I met were so welcoming, and the fresh air and clear sky helped me relax. Slowing down allowed me to take in the different views and experiences with much more ease and clarity.”

Student Isabela MacClemmy stands next to a small airplane.

Bring What You Learn in Class to Life

Others chose to adventure on their own, like NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development student Isabela MacClemmy. The Media, Culture, and Communication major planned a trip to the Whitsunday Islands while studying at NYU Sydney and snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef.

“I was taking an introduction to sustainability course at the University of Sydney, where I learned about environmental principles and issues such as coral bleaching,” she explains. “In the water, I was surrounded by bright coral in shades of orange, pink, green, and purple. I saw schools of fish darting between the coral, and I realized that the reef is a living creature. You can see it move and breathe. I found myself thinking more critically about ecological and ethical tourism. These places rely on tourism for their local economies, but tourism also puts stress on the surrounding environment. It made me think about the challenge of finding a balance in sustainability and helped me connect classroom concepts to real-world situations.”

Student Angelina Gerlich holds out her hand for a small kangaroo to sniff.

Student Angelina Gerlich walks through a large group of rocks on a shore.

Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Angelina Gerlich, a Social Research and Public Policy major at NYU Abu Dhabi from Frankfurt, Germany, visited Tasmania on a solo trip during her spring break while she was studying away at NYU Sydney.

“This was my first time traveling alone, so I’d say it definitely taught me a lot about myself,” she says. “I learned how to just be happy and comfortable in my own company. Standing on a beach looking out at the Southern Ocean one morning, I realized I was as far away from home as anyone in my family had ever been. I just felt really lucky to have the opportunity to go this far.”

Looking for more stories like this? Check out Global Notebook, a biannual online magazine for students considering studying abroad, with sections on Academics, Student Life, Community, and Advice.

Kelly McHugh-Stewart

Assistant Director of Content Strategy and Development

Kelly McHugh-Stewart is Assistant Director of Content Strategy and Development for NYU’s University Relations and Public Affairs Office of Marketing Communications. Through her writing, she seeks out and enjoys telling stories that help people understand the world through a new lens. Kelly holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University. Her reporting and personal essays have appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Reader’s Digest, CNN Opinion, and Sports Illustrated, among others.