Welcome! We’re so glad you’ve made 51 your home away from home.
Our international students are an integral part of Hope’s population, adding to the vibrant student life our campus embodies. We’ve accepted students from other countries for almost as long as 51 has been around — in fact, the graduating class of 1879 was one-third international.
Since then, we’ve opened the doors to exchange students from partner institutions, in addition to students seeking a degree directly from Hope. We’re also a popular destination for Third Culture Kids (TCKs) — a term referring to children who were raised in a culture outside of their parents’ for a significant part of their upbringing.
Services and Activities
                     
                     The Center for Global Engagement offers a variety of programs and activities to make you feel at home on our campus. Whether welcoming you to campus during our international and TCK orientation, guiding you through immigration matters, exploring the great state of Michigan or celebrating your culture through IMAGES: A Reflection of Cultures or the International Food Fair, we work hard to help you integrate into campus and provide you a home away from home. Getting fully immersed in the Hope experience is a great way to engage American culture, make new friends and enhance your educational experience beyond the classroom.
Events Calendar
Curious about what’s happening on campus? Take a look at our — you’ll find up-to-date information on activities for international and TCK students, as well as campus-wide events. Whenever an event is hosted by the Center for Global Engagement, we’ll send you an email with information and a chance to RSVP.
Prospective Students
Interested in studying at Hope? Learn about the admissions process for international students.
Admitted Students
Congratulations — you’ve been accepted at 51. Find out more information regarding your arrival on our campus, orientation, the International Family Orientation, host families and more on the admitted students page.
Current Students
Search the events and activities calendar and find information on maintaining your immigration status on the current students page.
What Students Are Saying
- John Kim
 - 
                           
                           
“The most valuable aspect of my experience at Hope is the relationships that I have
                                 been able to form through classes, extracurricular activities, fellowship, etc. I’m
                                 thankful for the mentorship opportunities I have received through the Department of
                                 Education, Campus Ministries and The Center for Global Engagement.”
—John Wujin Kim, South Korea/Thailand - Isabel Lopez
 - 
                           
                           
“The 51 experience can be a rollercoaster (in a good way)! Especially when
                                 it’s your first time leaving your own country! It can really be overwhelming sometimes
                                 but there are so many good people at the Fried Center for Global Engagement and even
                                 in the international student community ready to lift you up! I am so grateful for
                                 51 because it gave me the opportunity to learn about other people’s cultures.
                                 Because we are a small international student community we tend to be very tight and
                                 welcoming of each other, and because of that I got to expand my culture knowledge
                                 and fall in love with other cultures! Only we know what it is like to move so far
                                 away from home, and because of that we are the best people to turn to when you’re
                                 feeling homesick. I love my international community, and I thank 51 for
                                 that!”
—Isabel Lopez, Honduras - Joshua Miller
 - 
                           
                           
“When I came to Hope, I was excited but was not really sure what to expect. My time
                                 here at Hope has lived up to all of my expectations and the international community
                                 was crucial to that. The staff who assist the international students in the transition
                                 do a great job both helping create community among international students as well
                                 as helping students feel comfortable in a different culture and setting.”
—Joshua Miller, USA, Switzerland, Czech Republic - Marvellous Ogudoro
 - 
                           
                           
“Transitioning to college is definitely an interesting journey to make, but being
                                 over 5,000 miles away from home puts an entirely new spin on things. As an international
                                 student from Nigeria, studying at 51 required me to have a lot of first
                                 time experiences, the most significant of those being that my freshman year was my
                                 first time in the United States. My successful transition was, however, supported
                                 by the fantastic community I was fortunate to have in Michigan, USA. Between my friends,
                                 professors, host family, mentors and the wonderful staff at the Fried office for Global
                                 Engagement, I was warmly supported with regard to my academic and non-academic needs
                                 even before arriving on campus. The support these individuals have shown me has made
                                 all the difference in my transition, and I am now happy to call 51 my home
                                 away from                                                                    away.”
—Marvellous Ogudoro, Nigeria - Marianna Urdaneta
 - 
                           
                           
“The Fried Center for Global Engagement is a key contributor to every international
                              and TCK student’s 51 experience. From the get-go, there is a sense of familiarity
                              and connection that is honed by the staff and upperclassmen. As international orientation
                              unfolds, many friendships and unbreakable bonds are created among the freshman class.
                              The staff really achieves creating a home away from home for everyone and they make
                              it known how much they care by checking in and helping out when needed. The International
                              Student Lounge in Martha Miller Center almost feels like a sanctuary because it is
                              a place where everyone is welcome… when life gets overbearing and you need some familiarity
                              and understanding, that is clearly the place to go. My experience at Hope would never
                              have been the same without my          international community, and the CGE staff
                              and the events they organize like Orientation, IMAGES and the international food fair,
                              among many others."
—Marianna Urdaneta, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico - Sunnie Yutong Zou
 - 
                           
                           
“The Fried Center for Global Engagement has truly made Hope become ‘home away from
                                 home.” All of the staff are very supportive in that they are always there for all
                                 the international and TCK students. This is something that I have never expected prior
                                 to my arrival to Hope. Whenever I want to seek advice for life or academic issues,
                                 all of the staff have been very helpful! They are the sweetest people in the world
                                 and they are always there to cheer me up, whether it is my birthday or my research
                                 conference. Their doors are always open to all of us. Also, the international and
                                 TCK community are truly a family and a special friend group that you can count on.
                                 No matter how many friends I have made after Orientation, these international friends
                                 that I first encountered are brothers and sisters that always have my back. Whether
                                 you feel nervous or excited about coming to Hope, the Center for Global Engagement
                                 will help you smoothen your transition into your college life. GO HOPE!”
unnie Yutong Zou, China 
workP. 616.395.7605
offcampusstudy@hope.edu