SFS-Cambodia: Freshwater and Forest Ecosystems
Program Details
| Program Location |
Siem Reap, Cambodia
|
| Sponsor |
School for Field Studies |
| Program Type |
Co-sponsored |
| Course # |
SA 35010
|
| Duration |
Semester
|
| Upcoming Program Dates |
| Fall 2026 |
08/31/26 to 12/10/26
|
| Spring 2026 |
01/26/26 to 05/08/26
|
| Past Dates |
| Fall 2025 |
09/01/25 to 12/12/25 |
Please Note: Programs may be altered or adapted with little notice
Overview
Trace Cambodia’s freshwater network from the swift channels of the Mekong to the flooded forests where rising waters transform entire landscapes. Follow the pulse of a river system that ties ecology to culture as you move through wetlands, chart tributaries, and track the seasonal migrations of fish that feed millions. Spend time in upland communities observing elephants and gibbons in evergreen forests, then step into the energy of Phnom Penh, a capital shaped by water, history, and rapid change. Students measure water quality, trace patterns of habitat change, and collaborate with communities navigating the realities of a changing climate. Each week builds toward Directed Research, where your findings contribute to strategies for protecting Cambodia’s living waters in a changing world.
- Map freshwater and forest dynamics through GIS, field surveys, and community-based data collection spanning farms, floodplains, and upland springs.
- Study elephant and gibbon behavior while engaging with conservation efforts in Cambodia’s highland forests.
- Collaborate with scientists, fishers, and Bunong leaders to turn ecological insight into restoration solutions.
- Explore the forest temples of Angkor Wat to understand how ecology, religion, and empire shaped the Khmer world.
- Conduct Directed Research with faculty mentors, collect, analyze and interpret data, and present your findings to partners and stakeholders driving conservation decisions.
For more program information, please visit the
program website.
This program is sponsored by:
School for Field Studies.
Eligibility
The program is open to Purdue students who have completed at least two semesters of university study by the start of the program. Successful candidates will demonstrate academic success, maturity and a desire to experience another culture.
Prerequisite: one semester of college-level ecology, biology, or environmental studies/science.
GPA Requirement:
2.8 on a 4.0 scale
Language Requirement: none
Purdue Credit
Direct Credit
available from the following:
[
College of Agriculture] [
College of Liberal Arts]
Students interested in completing courses while abroad from Purdue colleges or departments that are not listed above should discuss this with their study abroad advisor before applying to the program.
Academic Program
You will take three 4-credit disciplinary courses, one 2-credit language and culture course, and a 4-credit capstone Directed Research course. Courses are participatory in nature and are designed to foster inquiry and active learning. Each course combines lectures, field exercises, assignments, tests, and research. All courses are taught in English.
Course options may include: Freshwater Ecosystems in Cambodia, Environmental Ethics and Development, Conservation Science and Practice in Cambodia, Directed Research, and Language and Culture of Cambodia.
Please see the SFS website for the course descriptions and syllabi.
Excursions
Course-related excursions/field work are included in the program fee.
You will visit different ecosystems and communities including freshwater ecosystems of the Tonle Sap Lake and Mekong River, multiple wildlife sanctuaries, fishing and farming villages, protected community forests, semi-evergreen rainforests, the ancient temple complex of Angkor, historical and cultural sites in Phnom Penh, and the bustling markets of Siem Reap.
Housing
Participants live at the SFS field station in Cambodia. Students can expect to share a room with 2-4 people with twin size bunk beds, shared desks and shelving. Air conditioning is in each room with an en-suite shower and toilet.
Estimated Program Costs
Students pursuing program participation accept financial responsibility. Purdue will take measures to mitigate financial risks, although will not be liable for loss. Students should carefully note what costs need to be paid to Purdue University or to a co-sponsor or agency, and what costs need to be paid at the overseas study location. This will vary by program. The program and housing fees include: program advising and orientations, tuition and research fees, airport transfers, housing and meals during program time, field excursions and cultural activities, official transcript processing, and evacuation and 24/7 support in case of emergencies.
Costs for this program are estimated and subject to change. The cost figures listed below are
for: Fall 2026
|
Costs per semester to be billed by Purdue
and Co-sponsor
|
| Program Fee |
$16,425.00
|
| Study Abroad Fee |
$914.10 |
| Housing |
$5,125.00 |
| Purdue International Insurance (per month) |
$32.00 |
|
Approximate additional costs per semester
|
| To be paid by the student.
|
| Round-trip Airfare |
$2,000.00 |
| Visa |
$120.00 |
| Meals |
$400.00 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses |
$0.00 -
$1,400.00 |
| Travel Documents (passport, photos) |
$175.00 |
Financial Aid
SFS offers many scholarships and/or 0% interest loans (no FAFSA form required). Please see the SFS website for more details. Purdue University financial aid may be applied to the costs of studying abroad. Students interested in receiving financial aid should
NOTE: Recipients of certain tuition remission and scholarship programs should pay careful attention to the regulations for using those benefits for study abroad. Ask your financial aid advisor about any limitations.
Click here for a list of scholarships and grants available to assist with the costs of studying overseas.
Application Deadlines
For full consideration, students must submit all supporting documents (typically an essay, transcripts, 1-2 recommendations, and copy of passport) before or by the application deadline. Popular programs fill quickly, often before the deadline. To ensure a place in a program, apply early.
As soon as a student submits an online application, a My Study Abroad account is created. Applicants should consult this page often to check on the status of the application.
| Program Application Deadline
|
| Fall Semester Programs |
Mar 1 |
| Spring Semester Programs |
Sep 15 |
Returnees Information
Click below to search for Purdue students who have participated in this program and are willing to be contacted. If you get no results, you can use the search form to find people who studied in the country you are interested in.
Resources
The websites listed below contain information about this program. The accuracy of information at external sites cannot be guaranteed.
For more information on this program, please contact the Study Abroad Office by phone (765) 494-2383
or email
studyabroad@purdue.edu.
