Egypt (J-Term)
Ownership and (DE)Nile: World Hertiage in and Beyond Egypt
Program Dates: Program will run again in January 2027. Exact dates TBD.
Click here to read the 2025 program blog.
Academic Focus: Politics, the Economy, and Tourism in Egypt
On this trip, we will explore museums and cultural heritage sites in Egypt and explore the mass tourism model dominant in the country. Preliminary prep work in the fall will include readings detailing current politics in Egypt and discussions on dynasties and ancient sites that we’ll visit on our trip. While in Egypt, you will be required to keep a journal and upon our return, you will write an assessment of something you found interesting about our travels for the class blog. For example, maybe you were very interested in the post-Arab Spring politics, the government’s destruction of Gurneh (a local village in Luxor) because of antiquities under the village, or how the UNESCO Heritage Site Committee began after the moving of Abu Simbel and the Philae Temple for the building of the Aswan High Dam in he 1960s.
It is recommended that students consider taking the International Tourism class in the 2026 fall semester OR access the reading material from the class to help their understanding of politics, the economy, and the tourism industry in Egypt.
Application Information
Trip Application deadline: TBD in 2026
Click here to apply for the program.
Note from Dr. Kirsch, Director, Global Learning: "When the question about which program you are applying for comes up, simply click ‘other’ and then write in the professor and country (Ashleigh Breske, Egypt J-term trip).
Trip Fee: $3,000 (does not include international flight cost to/from Cairo); funding is available through the Global Learning International Travel Awards. Please see the details below.
Notification of acceptance: In March (exact date TBD).
Application Information
Trip Application deadline: TBD in 2026
Click here to apply for the program.
Note from Dr. Kirsch, Director, Global Learning: "When the question about which program you are applying for comes up, simply click ‘other’ and then write in the professor and country (Ashleigh Breske, Egypt J-term trip).
Trip Fee: $3,000 (does not include international flight cost to/from Cairo); funding is available through the Global Learning International Travel Awards. Please see the details below.
Notification of acceptance: In March (exact date TBD).
Funding Opportunities: Hollins provides the opportunity for experiential learning scholarships for students with demonstrated financial need. These scholarships are not guaranteed and require a student be admitted into a program and complete the scholarship application process. Click here to visit the Hollins Experiential Learning Funding Opportunities landing page on Hollins' SharePoint site, where you'll find detailed information about eligibility, application timelines, and more. Still have questions about scholarships? Reach out directly to elapps@hollins.edu.
Eligibility: Students must be in good academic standing and have a minimum 2.5 GPA at the time of application (and maintain that GPA minimum the semester before the program). We have 10 slots available for this trip. All rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are welcome to apply.
Faculty Leaders: Ashleigh Breske, breskeam@hollins.edu
Additional Information
Eligibility: Students must be in good academic standing and have a minimum 2.5 GPA at the time of application (and maintain that GPA minimum the semester before the program). We have 10 slots available for this trip. All rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are welcome to apply.
Faculty Leaders: Ashleigh Breske, breskeam@hollins.edu
Additional Information
Because of the location and the nature of our activities, it is critical that the students who participate in this J-term course are prepared physically, emotionally, and mentally for the experience. You will need to be:
- Open to different cultures and foods. Your diet will not offer the choices Americans are accustomed to (we can make requests for some choices, i.e., vegetarian, vegan, etc., but this may limit the choices available).
- Physically able to walk in an urban setting that may lack accessible architecture (e.g., no curb cuts, no sidewalks, frequent physical obstacles), as well as rough terrain at cultural heritage sites.
- Able to live in multiple types of lodging, including hotel rooms (double room with bathroom) and boat stateroom (a double room with bathroom).
- Adaptable and flexible, because things will not always go as planned or move slower than you may desire. You should be able to go with the flow.
- Curious and ready to expand your understanding of the world and of yourself.
All students going on this trip are expected to abide by the Hollins Code of Conduct and always remember that they are representatives of Hollins University. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Please submit the following by email to Dr. Breske:
A current copy of your Hollins transcript (unofficial printouts from the Hollins Information System are acceptable.)
A recommendation from a current faculty/staff member at Hollins (see attached form.)
Permission to inquire about your abilities and maturity from other university officials, e.g., Professors, Student Services staff, etc.
Please write a 500- to 750-word personal statement explaining why participating is important to you academically, intellectually, and personally (part of the Forms application).
Travel info: Students are responsible for booking their travel to and from Cairo. Domestic flights while in Egypt will be part of your travel package as listed in the above costs.
If you have ANY questions, please email Ashleigh Breske, breskeam@hollins.edu.
For questions about study abroad in general, contact Dr. Ramona Kirsch, Director of Global Learning at kirschrr@hollins.edu