Fall 2026 CEPA Newsletter

Program Launch:
Engineering/STEM Summer 2027
at the ESC Heidelberg in Germany

• Now Accepting Applications for Pre-Enrollment
• Special Scholarships Available for Your Students!

We are excited to share the launch of our new ESC Heidelberg Summer STEM Program, giving students the opportunity to study in one of Europe’s leading university cities while combining academic learning with cultural exploration and professional discovery. Since 2011, Heidelberg has been an important part of CEPA’s story, and we are excited to return with a brand-new study center.

Program Details

We are launching a 6.5-week Summer 2027 program (mid-May to early July) that combines academic rigor and affordability with meaningful engagement in the local community and European culture.

Program highlights include:

• $7,995 program fee, with Affiliate Grants and scholarship opportunities available through the CEPA Foundation
• Up to 7 U.S. credits, featuring core STEM courses plus an elective focused on the history, culture, and science of beer brewing in Germany
• Modern student housing, just a 10-minute walk from the CEPA ESC, with all participants living in the same residence
• An unlimited public transportation and regional train rail pass for Germany
• 3 excursions, including an overnight stay in France, that combine cultural experiences with STEM-focused visits
• A co-curricular program highlighting career pathways and Germany’s automobile industry
• 10 scholarships valued between $500 and $1,000 are available for the 2027 inaugural program

More details, including course syllabi, information about student housing, program inclusions, scholarships, and sustainability, can be found on our website:

Learn more about ESC Heidelberg

A Front-Row Seat to Democracy:
Studying in France During the 2027 Elections

Few experiences bring political science, history, and language study to life quite like witnessing a national election firsthand, and students taking part in the Spring 2027 CEPA ESC Strasbourg semester program in France will have exactly that opportunity as France heads into its next presidential race.

CEPA’s ESC Strasbourg is based at the Château de Pourtalès, where students have the opportunity to live and learn in a castle and participate in a full program of guided visits, lectures, and professional meetings that deepen students’ learning and support professional growth while studying abroad in Strasbourg.

Learn more about the elections and ESC Strasbourg

Beyond the Capital:
Rethinking the Itinerary

Everyone knows the draw of major cities like Paris, Rome, London, and Amsterdam. They anchor study abroad programs for a reason.

We increasingly find success by incorporating lesser-known European destinations into our program design where appropriate, which offer students an authentic and transformative experience.

Learn more about second cities

Behind the Program:
Conversation with a Milan Native

In a featured interview with CEPA’s Program Manager and Milan native Eleonora Ubaldi, we go behind the scenes to see how she creates an unforgettable study abroad experience for design students while building a bridge between participants and Italian culture.

Eleonora shares her approach to crafting the itinerary and the challenges involved. Along the way, she shares her local tips, design spots, and cultural traditions, like mastering true espresso etiquette, that only a native can provide.

She reflects on the magic of seeing her hometown through the participants’ eyes, revealing the moment their perspectives shifted, the biggest misconceptions, and her ultimate piece of advice for young designers dreaming of making it in Milan’s world-renowned design scene.

Read the full interview

CopenPay:
Do Good. Get Rewarded.

CEPA is thrilled to share this exciting opportunity with you! We encourage all study abroad students and faculty leaders visiting Copenhagen to take advantage of this initiative. Please find the details below, sourced directly from the official EU Tourism Platform:

“CopenPay is Copenhagen’s green initiative, which encourages tourists to use public transport or bikes instead of cars or taxis. Tourists who participate are rewarded with perks such as free coffee, museum admission, and extra ski time.

The initiative aims to promote sustainable tourism by transforming green actions into currency for cultural experiences, hoping to inspire visitors to adopt eco-friendly habits even after they leave Copenhagen.”

Excerpt from the EU Tourism Platform. Content source: Euronews.

Read the full article

Learn more about CopenPay

Cast Your Vote for the
New Euro Banknote Designs

Curious about what’s happening in Europe right now? Take a look at this recent announcement from Deutsche Bundesbank concerning the euro banknotes:

“This summer, the European Central Bank (ECB) unveiled the shortlisted design proposals for the next series of euro banknotes and launched a public survey inviting people across Europe to provide their feedback. These design proposals are based on two different themes, ‘European culture’ and ‘Rivers and birds,’ and on the associated motifs chosen to illustrate them.

The shortlisted proposals are the outcome of a European Union-wide design contest. Over 1,200 applications were received from graphic designers.

Now, everyone in Europe is invited to have their say in an online survey on these ten design proposals until September 21, 2026.”

Source: European Central Bank, via Deutsche Bundesbank.

Read the full article

Browse the shortlisted designs

Important Dates & Details

European Study Center (ESC) Open Enrollment Programs

Scholarships & Affiliate Grants

We strongly believe that the opportunity to study abroad should be accessible to all. That’s why we offer merit- and need-based scholarships and grants to students from affiliate partners at our ESC Strasbourg and ESC Heidelberg locations.

To celebrate the launch of the inaugural ESC Heidelberg STEM Summer 2027 Program, CEPA is offering a new scholarship opportunity:

10 ESC Heidelberg Scholarships with values between $500 and $1,000 each

Scholarship Deadlines:

• Spring Semester 2027: October 15, 2026
• Summer 2027: March 1, 2027
• Fall Semester 2027: May 1, 2027

Learn More

Student Ambassador Program

European Study Centers

You lived abroad. Now help someone else take the leap.

Turn your study abroad experience at the European Study Center into real marketing and leadership experience, the kind that shows up on your resume and in your interview answers. Be the reason another student finally says yes to studying abroad.

Learn More

Student Photo Contest 2026

Did you participate in a study abroad program with CEPA?

Have you submitted your best photos?

There is still time to enter!

The 2026 photo contest deadline has been extended! Submissions will be accepted until October 31, 2026!

Submit a photo

Follow us @cepastudyabroad

The Untranslatable:
How Culture Shapes Our Wordplay

French turns simple life lessons into inspiring (and often romantic) statements. Here is an inspiring French phrase, what it means literally, and a funny twist on it:

“La vie en rose”

Literal translation: “Life in pink”

Meaning in French: Viewing the world with optimism, happiness, and romance. “La vie en rose” is often associated with romance, dreamy happiness, and the famous song by Édith Piaf.

English: “Seeing life through rose-colored glasses” is maybe the closest translation, especially since both expressions evoke happy optimism and describe an attitude or perspective on your view of the world or your experiences.

Did you know?

A funny twist on this phrase is “La Vie en Vosges,” a wordplay campaign used by the Vosges region of Alsace to entice people to visit their beautiful, impressive mountains, the Vosges. If you haven’t been there yet, it is well worth a visit!

Learn more

We appreciate being part of your inbox!

We’ll return with more insights next spring. In the meantime, feel free to reply with your thoughts or any topics you’d like us to cover.

See you in the next issue!

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