What will the course be like? Will I be able to keep up with lectures? I've heard terrible stories about the exam system… Will my cash machine card work there? And will there be a church there that speaks my language?

Welcome
This is a section of the web site of Intercontinental Church Society (ICS) designed to help students going abroad to find Christian fellowship in the place they are going to. For more information about ICS, please go to our home page. We hope this site helps you.

The opportunity
Going abroad brings lots of questions…but many possibilities. Learning new things, improving your language, making new friends and, for the Christian, a chance to serve and learn about God somewhere different. The Old Testament book of Daniel starts with the story of a group of teenagers who knew their God, were sent to a foreign country, and who learned that God was with them even hundreds of miles from home. The God who enabled Daniel and his friends to remain true to their faith is the same God that Christians know today through Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons that Daniel survived his exile spiritually was that he teamed up with fellow believers (see Daniel 2:18). You need to find a church whilst you are away from home in order to continue to grow as a Christian and serve God. And you would be wise meet other Christian students in the university or college you are going to.

But what sort of church? You could go to a Local language church - ideal for improving your languages - or an English-speaking one. Or you might attend both sorts, one to improve your language, and the other to worship in your own language. But how will you find one? And will there be a Christian Union in the college/university you are going to?

Finding a church
Our Churches Abroad facility will help search for English-speaking churches in many university cities in Europe. We also list a number of web sites that can help you find churches in other places in the world. Some of the sites also list local language churches.

College or university Christian Unions (Called InterVarsity chapters in the US or Canada) often have details of the local churches. See Contacting other Christian students below as to how to get in touch with them.

Contacting other Christian students
In many countries in the world, you will find Christian Unions in colleges and universities. You can track down their national organisation and local groups via the following sites:

www.ifesworld.org
IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) will be able to tell you about Christian Unions in university/colleges in most countries in the world, and link you to them.

Coming to study in the major English-speaking countries?
These links will also help you contact Christian groups on campus

www.ifesireland.org
Coverage: Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom) and Ireland

http://www.intervarsity.org/
Coverage: USA

www.ivcf.ca
Coverage: Canada

www.uccf.org.uk
Coverage: UK (England, Scotland, Wales)

If you have found this section of our web site helpful, or if you have any suggestions to improve it, please let us know on communications@ics-uk.org