You can earn academic credit on any IVHQ program, in all 50 countries we run. It works out at one credit for every 40 volunteer hours, or three credits per online course if you would rather stack them, up to a full semester. That is the short answer if you landed here looking for a study abroad option that costs less than a semester of tuition.
Below are 10 programs across nine countries that work well as a study abroad alternative. For each one you get the projects that actually run there right now, the Program Fee it starts at and who it suits.
Fees below are Program Fees for the shortest duration each project allows. Your Registration Fee is separate and is paid first.
Study abroad as a volunteer in Cusco, Peru
If your course requires something specific, this is the program most likely to have it. Cusco runs 14 projects, from Medical and Healthcare and Dentistry through Archaeology, Andean Immersion, Eco-Agriculture Conservation, Women’s Empowerment and Amazon Jungle Conservation.
Quick facts:
- Price: From $453 (approximately $453)
- Eligibility: 16+ on six projects, 18+ on the other eight
- Durantion: 1 to 24 weeks
Check the age limit on the one you want, because it does not follow the obvious pattern. Archaeology, Special Needs Care and Women’s Empowerment are all 18+, alongside the medical and conservation projects.
Archaeology and Andean Immersion map most directly onto anthropology and Latin American studies coursework. Amazon Jungle Conservation is the one to plan around: it starts at $905 and needs 2 weeks minimum, where most Cusco projects start at 1 week.
As nursing students, we learned so much with the project! It’s unbelievable that as a group we helped over 1,000 Peruvians. The project was more than I could have ever imagined! I came back a more confident nursing student because of the IVHQ program. Rebecca Sackman, IVHQ volunteer in Cusco
Study abroad as a volunteer in Lima, Peru
The other half of the Peru program is in the capital, and it starts cheaper. Six projects run in Lima: Animal Care, Childcare, Community Support, Construction and Renovation, Medical Outreach and Teaching English.
Quick facts:
- Price: From $330 (approximately $330) Construction and Renovation and Medical Outreach $370 (approximately $370)
- Eligibility: 16+, Medical Outreach 18+
- Durantion: 1 to 12 weeks
Pre-health students should read the project name literally. Medical Outreach is community clinic work, not a hospital ward placement.
The placement that I was volunteering at was wonderful. The staff were very helpful and encouraging. The other volunteers during the time I was there were also wonderful. I have grown both personally and professionally as a result of volunteering through IVHQ, and I felt that my time was greatly appreciated by all the community and staff that I worked with. Hannah Nauth, IVHQ volunteer in Lima
Study abroad as a volunteer in Antigua, Guatemala
Spanish is the reason most students pick Antigua, and the project list backs it up. There are 13 projects here, including Medical and Healthcare, Dental, Special Needs Care, Working with the Elderly, Mayan Cultural Immersion, Eco-Agriculture Conservation and Animal Care.
Quick facts:
- Price: From $453 (approximately $453), Medical and Healthcare and Dental $548 (approximately $548), Medical Campaign $750 (approximately $750)
- Eligibility: 16+, five projects are 18+
- Durantion: 1 to 24 weeks
One project here does not work for individual bookings. The Medical Campaign is a 1-week format for groups of eight or more and costs $750 (approximately $750), so it is not an option if you are traveling on your own.
Five projects are 18+: Dental, Medical and Healthcare, Special Needs Care, Working with the Elderly and Women’s Empowerment. The rest take volunteers from 16.
This was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have learned so much and I am so grateful for this opportunity. My project was excellent; it was everything I could have hoped for and more. I feel like the doctors and staff appreciated my help, and they did a great job of getting me as involved as possible with the skills I do have. One of my favorite moments was witnessing the birth of a baby girl at my clinic, which was an incredible experience! My advice to other volunteers is to embrace the experience, see as much as you possibly can and stay as long as you are able to! Jamie Jarett, IVHQ volunteer in Guatemala
Study abroad as a volunteer in Kandy, Sri Lanka
Students early in a health science degree should look here before anywhere else on this list. The Medical project in Kandy accepts volunteers from 16, where the medical projects in Peru, Guatemala and Tanzania all require 18+.
Eight projects run across Kandy, Hikkaduwa and Ambalangoda: Childcare, Community Support, Construction and Renovation, Medical, Special Needs Care, Teaching, Turtle Conservation and Women’s Education.
Quick facts:
- Price: From $390 (approximately $390), Medical $435 (approximately $435)
- Eligibility: 16+, Women’s Education 18+
- Durantion: 1 to 12 weeks
Turtle Conservation in Ambalangoda is the exception on duration at 2 to 4 weeks.
I was fortunate in that I got to take part in a few different projects during my time in Sri Lanka, and I absolutely loved all of them! I learnt so much from each project. I felt like all the projects I partook in were hugely appreciated by the community. I have learnt so much about myself, other people and different cultures. I definitely came home a happier and more realistic person, and 100% want a future career in which I help people and have an impact. Ella Gault, IVHQ volunteer in Sri Lanka
Study abroad as a volunteer in Arusha, Tanzania
Eight projects run out of Arusha in northern Tanzania: Animal Welfare, Childcare, Construction and Renovation, Maasai Immersion, Medical, Sustainable Agriculture, Teaching and Women’s Education. Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are all reachable from there, though the safari trips are booked separately.
Quick facts:
- Price: From $370 (approximately $370), Medical $420 (approximately $420)
- Eligibility: 16+, Medical and Maasai Immersion 18+
- Durantion: 1 to 16 weeks
Maasai Immersion has a 2-week minimum and costs $870 (approximately $870), which makes it the most expensive project in the country.
I absolutely feel I have grown and developed as a person as a result of volunteering. I genuinely think it was the best time of my life, and the best decision I have ever made. This has been the start of my gap year, and I don’t think it could have started any better. I have realized how fortunate I am to have been able to do something so important at such a young age, and I really think it has changed my outlook on life. Volunteering has shown me so much about a completely different culture and has made me want to explore as much of the world as possible. This trip has shown me that volunteering is the best way to immerse oneself into another culture, and I am truly grateful for that! Olivia Donovan, IVHQ volunteer in Tanzania
Study abroad as a volunteer in Ubud, Bali
The same project costs $40 (approximately $40) a week less depending on which town you are placed in. Childcare, Health Education and Teaching are all $395 (approximately $395) in Ubud and $$435 (approximately $435) in Lovina, for the same work. If your placement town is flexible, say so when you apply.
Seven project types run across Ubud, Lovina and Nusa Penida: Childcare, Construction and Renovation, Environmental Education, Health Education, Sea Turtle Conservation, Sports Education and Teaching.
Quick facts:
- Price: From $395 (approximately $395)
- Eligibility: 16+
- Durantion: 1 to 12 weeks, Sea Turtle Conservation 2 to 12 weeks
In Ubud, I participated in the Teaching English project, where another volunteer and I taught English lessons to local children, aged between 10 and 11 years old. Normally, the other volunteer and I would organize the lessons in the morning, planning games that included English terms and vocabulary, printing worksheets, and creating activities to make the lessons as interactive as possible. In the afternoons, we would go to the school to conduct the lessons, which lasted about two hours, in a class of around fifteen children… The experience was extremely positive, both for my personal growth and for the tangible impact on the local community’s development. Filippo V., IVHQ volunteer in Ubud, Bali
Study abroad as a volunteer in Medellin, Colombia
Medellin replaced Bogota and Cartagena as the base for this program, so check the date on anything else you read about volunteering in Colombia. Bogota and Cartagena now appear only as stops on an optional tour add-on.
Six projects run here, five in Medellin and one in nearby El Carmen de Viboral: Childcare and Youth Support, Elderly Care, Environmental Conservation, Special Needs Support, Women’s Empowerment and Teaching English and Youth Development.
Quick facts:
- Price: From $380 (approximately $380)
- Eligibility: 18+
- Durantion: 1 to 24 weeks
My IVHQ experience was wonderful. I was volunteering in Medellin helping with childcare and teaching English. IVHQ arranged everything for me and continually supported me with program guides and checklists on how to prepare for the trip, information about my support people in and out of Colombia, information about my volunteer projects, information about my host family and living accommodations, information about travel destinations and much more. Anytime I had questions, they immediately responded answering my questions. Once in country, they checked in with me to make sure everything was going well. I think volunteer travel is one of the best things you can do in life and IVHQ makes it easy to do. They are organized, efficient, helpful and friendly. Scott W., IVHQ Volunteer in Medellin, Colombia
Study abroad as a volunteer in Rome, Italy
Europe is the expensive option, and Rome is where the Italy program now runs. Seven projects are available: Animal Care, Childcare, Community Support, Food Rescue, Sustainable Farming, Teaching English and Youth Support.
Quick facts:
- Price: From $1035 (approximately $1035), Teaching English $1705 (approximately $1705)
- Eligibility: 18+
- Durantion: 1 to 12 weeks, Teaching English 2 to 12 weeks
Food Rescue is the standout for anyone studying food systems, sustainability or public health. Teaching English is the outlier on price and the only Rome project with a 2-week minimum, so budget for it separately if that is the one you want.
I loved teaching, and it was the perfect balance for a beginner like myself in which the teacher provided the lesson and gave ideas on how to teach the students outside of the book. Towards the end of my time teaching, I’d become comfortable and confident in being in front of the class and taking charge under the head teacher’s supervision. Volunteering in Italy has changed the course of my life, and while that sounds dramatic, it’s how I feel. I found direction and passion, and those two things are hard to come by. It’s all a result of the great work the IVHQ team provides, putting me into my placement and giving me the tools to help. I was always excited to go, and now I am home and ready to move on to the next step that IVHQ has inspired in me. Taylor Flanagan, IVHQ volunteer in Italy
Study abroad as a volunteer in Luang Prabang, Laos
At $295 (approximately $295) for 1 week, this is the lowest entry price on the list. Three projects run in Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the north of the country: Childcare, Teaching English and Construction and Renovation.
Quick facts:
- Price: From $295 (approximately $295), Construction and Renovation $345 (approximately $345)
- Eligibility: 16+
- Durantion: 1 to 12 weeks
Teaching English here runs in primary schools and in monasteries, so you may be teaching novice monks. It is a short project list, so check that one of the three fits your course requirement before you commit.
The project pushed me to do my best and there was a great atmosphere. This experience was totally fulfilling and it helped me realize how important it is to help any way you can. It was amazing to get closer to a completely different culture and to get to know the local community better. I also got to know myself in a different circumstance, which I think helped me develop important new skills. Benjamin Rodriguez, IVHQ volunteer in Laos
Study abroad as a volunteer in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Three projects, all in Siem Reap, with Angkor Wat nearby: Childcare, Teaching English and Construction and Renovation.
Quick facts:
- Price: From $305 (approximately $305), Construction and Renovation $365 (approximately $365)
- Eligibility: 16+
- Durantion: 1 to 8 weeks
The list used to be longer. Cambodia no longer runs Medical, NGO Support, Computer Support or Special Needs Care, and older guides (including an earlier version of this one) still list them. If you need a healthcare placement in Asia, Sri Lanka is the one that runs.
I felt very lucky to be placed at a wonderful project in Siem Reap! The local staff were extremely warm, welcoming and grateful; it was an honor to work with them. I enjoyed my time volunteering far more than I thought I would, it was such an awesome experience and one that I will hold close to my heart for the rest of my days! Leah Walsh, IVHQ volunteer in Cambodia
How the academic credit actually works
Credit is not bundled into the Program Fee. You add it, and you can do it on any program.
Placement hours credit gives you one credit for every 40 volunteer hours, plus reflection work, from $599 (approximately $599).
The other route is online course credit. Each course is worth three credits and you can take them before, during or after your program, also from $599 (approximately $599). A full semester of up to 16 credits costs $1999 (approximately $1999).
Credits are issued through University of Montana, Warren Wilson College or Hartwick College. It is open from age 15, to any nationality and any field of study. Your own institution decides whether the credit transfers, so ask them before you enroll.
If you want a standalone qualification rather than transferable credit, the Diploma in International Volunteering is worth 41 UK credits or 10 US credits.
The academic credit page has the full detail, and you enroll there.
Who this suits, and who it does not
This works if you want field experience, a lower bill and credit you can attach to it. It fits a gap year block, a summer or a semester break.
It does not work if your college requires classroom contact hours at a partner university. That is a different product, and no amount of volunteer hours substitutes for it. Check your requirements first.
If your faculty is organizing the trip, or you are applying as a group, start at study abroad with IVHQ or service learning trips instead. Those pages cover the group formats.
Before you choose
Compare all 331 projects across 50 countries on the destinations page, or read how it works first.
If your semester dates are not locked in yet, book anyway. You can change your dates, duration, destination or project as often as you need up to 14 days before you start, at no cost. That is zero risk booking.
Study abroad volunteer program FAQs
Yes, on every IVHQ program, in all 50 countries. There are two routes. Placement hours credit gives you one credit for every 40 volunteer hours plus reflection work, from US$599. Online course credit stacks alongside your program at three credits per course, up to a full 16-credit semester for US$1,999. Credits are issued through University of Montana, Warren Wilson College or Hartwick College. Check with your own institution before you enroll, since transfer rules are set by them. Full detail is on the academic credit page.
Program Fees on this list start at $295 USD for 1 week in Laos and reach $1,705 USD for Teaching English in Rome, which has a 2-week minimum. Your Registration Fee is separate and is paid first.
On a study abroad semester you sit in a classroom at a partner university and pay tuition for it. When you volunteer abroad you join a project in the community, and the learning is what you do rather than what you are taught. IVHQ is somewhere between the two: you volunteer, and you can attach academic credit to it if you need the transcript. If your college requires classroom contact hours specifically, ask them before you book.
Cusco alone has 14 projects, the most of any single location on this list. Antigua in Guatemala is next with 13, and it is the strongest pick if you want a Spanish-speaking environment. If cost decides it, Laos and Cambodia start lowest.
No. None of the project listings on those three destination pages set a Spanish requirement.
Yes. Most projects on this list start from 1 week, which fits a spring break or a summer block. Five have longer minimums: Amazon Jungle Conservation in Cusco (2 weeks), Maasai Immersion in Arusha (2 weeks), Sea Turtle Conservation in Nusa Penida (2 weeks), Teaching English in Rome (2 weeks) and Turtle Conservation in Ambalangoda (2 to 4 weeks).
You can change your dates, duration, destination or project as many times as you need up to 14 days before you start, at no cost. Australia, Galapagos Islands and South Africa (Kruger) need 30 days’ notice instead. Cancel at least 14 days out and your paid Program Fee is held as credit toward a future trip. See zero risk booking for the full terms.
There is a qualification option. The Diploma in International Volunteering is an accredited online course you complete around your program. It is worth 41 UK credits at Level 3, or 10 US credits through Warren Wilson College, and takes 56 hours of study across five modules. You need to be registered on an IVHQ program before you start it.
