Student Identities Abroad

Whether or not you identify with a particular religion, spirituality, or belief system, religion plays an important role in shaping cultures, societies, and daily life around the world. Studying abroad can provide opportunities to learn about different faith traditions, religious practices, cultural values, and worldviews while gaining a deeper understanding of your host community.

In many destinations, there may be a dominant religion alongside minority faith communities and individuals who identify as atheist, agnostic, secular, or non-practicing. As a result, your religious beliefs, practices, or non-religious identity may be understood differently abroad than they are at home. You may encounter new cultural expectations, religious holidays, customs, or traditions that influence daily life, academics, business operations, and social interactions.

For some students, studying abroad provides opportunities to strengthen existing religious or spiritual practices. Others may explore new traditions, engage in interfaith dialogue, or reflect on how their beliefs shape their experiences. Each person's experience is unique. The questions and resources below are intended to help you think through how religion, spirituality, and worldview may influence your time abroad. Your Education Abroad Advisor is available to discuss any questions or concerns as you prepare for your experience.

Questions to Ask Yourself and/or Your Education Abroad Advisor

• What are the dominant religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions in my host country?
• How might my religious, spiritual, or non-religious identity be perceived in my host community?
• Will I be part of the religious majority or minority while abroad, and how might that affect my experience?
• Are there any laws, social customs, or cultural expectations related to religion that I should be aware of?
• What religious holidays or observances might affect my daily routine while abroad?
• What accommodations or resources will I need to maintain my religious or spiritual practices, including dietary requirements, worship, prayer, or holiday observance?
• Are there places of worship, faith communities, or spiritual resources available in my host city?
• How can I respectfully engage with religious traditions, sites, and cultural practices that differ from my own?
• Are there aspects of my religious or spiritual practice that I may need to adapt while abroad?

Religious Dietary Considerations Abroad

For some students, religious or spiritual practices may influence food choices and dietary requirements. Depending on your host country, it may be easier or more challenging to find foods that align with your beliefs and practices. Researching local food options before departure can help you prepare and identify resources available in your host community.

If maintaining a specific diet is important to you, consider discussing meal options, housing arrangements, and access to grocery stores or restaurants with your program before departure.

Helpful Dietary Resources

Halal

• Zabihah – Global directory of halal restaurants, markets, and prayer spaces.
• Have Halal Will Travel – Travel advice and destination guides for Muslim travelers.
• HalalTrip – Muslim-friendly travel resources, including halal dining guides and destination information.

Kosher

• Kosher Check - Searchable database and mobile app that helps users identify kosher-certified food products and certifications
• Yeah That's Kosher (YTK) – Travel guidance and resources for maintaining kosher practices abroad.
• Totally Jewish Travel – Information on kosher dining, Jewish travel resources, and communities around the world.

Tips

Approach differences with curiosity and respect. Religion and spirituality are deeply personal and often closely connected to culture, history, and identity.

Research your destination before departure. Learning about local religious traditions, holidays, customs, and places of worship can help you better understand your host community.

Plan ahead for religious observances. If you anticipate needing time, space, dietary accommodations, or other support for religious practices, communicate with your program staff before departure.

Plan ahead for dietary needs. If you follow a halal, kosher, vegetarian, vegan, fasting, or other faith-based dietary practice, research local food availability and speak with your program provider about any accommodations that may be needed.

Remember that religious practice varies within communities. Individuals may observe the same faith in different ways depending on their background, beliefs, family traditions, or region.

Be prepared for your routine to change. Religious holidays, prayer schedules, fasting periods, and cultural observances may affect transportation, business hours, meals, classroom schedules, and daily life.

Seek out community if it is important to you. Many students find comfort in connecting with local faith communities, places of worship, or others who share similar beliefs.

Reflect on your own beliefs and values. Studying abroad can be an opportunity to deepen your understanding of your own worldview while learning from others.

ON-CAMPUS RESOURCES

• Talk to your Education Abroad Advisor
• Reach out to a Global Ambassador
• Campus organizations and groups
• Connect with the Office of Equity and Inclusivity
  • Center for Spirituality and Social Justiice

General Resources

Understanding Religion and Spirituality Around the World

These resources can help you learn about religious traditions, practices, and diversity in your host country before departure.

• BBC Guide to World Religions – Brief overviews of major world religions with links to additional resources.
• Harvard Pluralism Project – Extensive information on world religions and religious diversity.
• Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project – Data and research on religious demographics and trends worldwide. 
• U.S. Department of State International Religious Freedom Report – Annual country-by-country reports on religious freedom worldwide.

Finding Faith Communities Abroad

Exploring your religious, spiritual, or philosophical identity abroad can be an enriching part of your experience. The resources below are intended as a starting point to help you connect with faith communities, places of worship, and sources of support. While this is not a comprehensive list, we hope it helps you begin finding the communities and resources that are meaningful to you in your host location.

Bahá'í Resources

• Bahá'í World Community: National Communities Directory – Find Bahá'í communities and contact information in countries around the world.

Buddhist Resources

• World Buddhist Directory – Searchable database of Buddhist centers and organizations worldwide

Christian Resources

• Church Finder – Directory of churches around the world.
• MassTimes – Search for Catholic churches, Mass schedules, confession, and adoration times worldwide.
• Anglican Communion Member Churches Directory – Find Anglican churches and provinces around the world.
• Orthodox World Directory – Global directory of Orthodox churches, monasteries, and communities.

Latter-day Saint (LDS/Mormon) Resources

• Meetinghouse Locator (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) – Search for congregations, worship services, and church facilities around the world.

Muslim Resources

• Islamic Finder – Directory of mosques, Islamic organizations, and prayer times worldwide.
• HalalTrip – Includes a global mosque finder, prayer times, Qibla direction, halal restaurant locator, and travel guides designed specifically for Muslim travelers.
• MosqueFinder – Global mosque directory that helps travelers locate mosques, prayer rooms, halal restaurants, and Muslim community resources.  

Hindu Resources

• Hindu Temples Directory – Global directory of Hindu temples, with searchable listings by country and location.

Humanist, Secular, and Nonreligious Resources

• Humanists International (formerly International Humanist and Ethical Union) – Global network of humanist, secular, ethical culture, atheist, and freethought organizations.
• Center for Inquiry (CFI) – International organization promoting science, critical thinking, secular values, and freethought. Provides local groups and community connections in many locations.
• Sunday Assembly – A global network of secular communities that gather for social connection, service, reflection, and community building without a religious affiliation. Chapters exist in multiple countries.

Jain Resources

• Global Jain Centers Directory – Directory of Jain communities and centers that can help students connect with local Jain populations while abroad.

Jewish Resources

• KAHAL: Your Community Abroad – Connect with local Jewish communities while studying abroad
• Chabad Locator – Find local Chabad houses, synagogues, holiday programming, Shabbat meals, and community resources worldwide.
• Hillel International – While most known for campus communities, Hillel International can help students identify Jewish resources and connections in many countries.

Pagan, Wiccan, and Earth-Based Spiritual Traditions

• Pagan Federation International (PFI) – International organization with chapters in numerous countries that helps Pagans connect with local communities and events.

Sikh Resources

• The Gurdwara Atlas – Directory of more than 3,000 gurdwaras in dozens of countries.
• World Gurudwara Directory – Searchable directory of Sikh gurdwaras worldwide.

Student Perspectives and Study Abroad Blogs

Hearing from other students can provide valuable insight into navigating religion and spirituality abroad.

• Finding Pieces of Home in Rome as an Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christian
• What Remains: Discovering the Traces of Jewish Life in Morocco
• Observing Ramadan Abroad
• Finding a Religious Community while Studying Abroad in Sydney
• How I Found Christian Community While Studying Abroad in the French Riviera
• Say Mashallah: Studying Abroad as a Pakistani Muslim American