Skip to content

Pam Hendrix Center for Education Abroad

What is Global Start?

*All Global Start Programs are closed for Summer 2024. Complete the Study Abroad Interest form if you would like to be considered for the waitlist or email globalstart@clemson.edu*

Are you interested in getting a head start on your college experience? Clemson University is excited to offer Global Start, a pre-freshman program including campus-based instruction and a study abroad experience designed exclusively for incoming first-year students.

Through Global Start, students will:

  • Earn credit for one, 3-credit hour Global Challenges course during Summer II (July).
  • Spend a week on campus at Clemson settling into campus and adjusting to college life.
  • Travel with a peer cohort, faculty member and staff mentor to an international location for over one week.

Who is Global Start for?

Global Start is exclusively available for first-year students admitted to Clemson for the fall or summer terms.

Global Start Timeline

Global Start Timeline
Time Frame Action
April 10, 2024 Deadline to commit to your Global Start Program*
June 2024 Meet with Academic Advisor and Register for Fall Coursework
July 7, 2024 Check-in to Clemson Accommodations for week on campus
July 8-9, 2024 Ready, Set, ROAR! orientation program
July 10, 2024 First day of on-campus classwork
July 16, 2024 Last day of on-campus classwork
July 17, 2024 Check out of Clemson Accommodations and Depart for abroad location
July 25, 2024 Return from abroad location and return home

*Global Start commitment deadline may vary from Clemson University's deadline to commit. Please refer to Clemson Admissions for more information. 

A group of students pose in Italy with the tiger rag

Destinations

Destinations are carefully selected to take advantage of Clemson’s partners around the world and to match faculty expertise. For Summer 2024, Global Start programs will be hosted in:

  • Rome, Italy
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Stirling, Scotland
  • Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • Regensburg, Germany

Transportation

    1. Getting to Clemson
      Students will be responsible for coordinating their arrival to Clemson on July 7, 2024. Arrival options include:
      a. Drive to Campus and park car on campus for duration of program
      b. Drop-off on campus by family or friend
      c. Flight to GSP airport with provided shuttle to campus
    2. Transportation from Clemson to Host Location
      a. Shuttles will be provided to transport participants between Clemson’s campus and the departing/arriving airport. Shuttle service is included in the program fee.
      b. Roundtrip airfare to the host location is NOT included in the program fee. Airfare estimates are on the program brochure page under the Program Costs tab.
      c. The Pam Hendrix Center for Education Abroad has collaborated with an airfare vendor to reserve roundtrip airfare from Clemson to the program’s host city. Each participant will be responsible for liaising with the airfare vendor to book and pay for their ticket. Approved program participants will receive instructions on how to proceed with airfare booking when appropriate.
      d. Frequent flyer miles cannot be used as a payment method. However, travelers will be eligible to accrue miles with their airline rewards programs as applicable.
    3. Returning Home
      The program will end upon return to the U.S. To officially depart the program, students have the options to:
      a. Be picked-up from the arrival airport by a family member or friend
      b. Return to Clemson’s campus on a provided bus, where they will need to be picked up or drive home
      c. Depart the arrival airport on a flight to their final destination

Students who are flying from the arrival airport to the final destination are responsible for purchasing tickets to their final destination.

Program Benefits

As a Global Start student, you will be able to earn college credit before starting your first Fall semester. While living on campus and during your experience abroad, you will have the opportunity to learn about campus resources, explore Clemson and develop relationships with peers, faculty and staff. Our goal is to support you as you embark on your Clemson Journey!

Earn course credit
Complete three out of six Global Challenge credits required for graduation

Join a cohort
You will know 15 students, one faculty member, and one staff mentor from your program, plus up to 60 students from the other programs, even before starting your Fall semester.

Start your Clemson experience early
Get to know your way around campus, familiarize yourself with campus services and get some of the paperwork out of the way before the busy rush and longer lines in Fall.

Explore future options
Get a feel for the broad range of options Clemson offers, particularly in the area of experiential learning…maybe you’ll decide to do more global work, or may find that a Creative Inquiry or internship is in your future.

Build a foundation for success
Early study abroad programs have a positive impact on students GPA, time to graduation & sense of belonging.

Application Process

Spots are limited! Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Students interested should complete and submit an application through the Global Start Program brochure page.

Learn more about the Global Start Withdrawal Policy.