Four Years. Four Continents. A Global Education Reimagined.

What does it mean to belong everywhere, lead anywhere, and learn here?

From day one, our answer has been clear—an education that both recognizes and transcends national, cultural and geographic borders. Aspiring global leaders need and deserve an authentic global learning experience. Today, I’m thrilled to share the next step in that journey: Minerva University is reaffirming its commitment to global immersion through a four-continent rotation model available to all undergraduate students. 

Starting with the Class of 2029, all undergraduate students will follow a four-continent global rotation model that offers students the chance to spend full academic years immersed in some of the world’s most culturally and economically vibrant cities. Year-long stays in San Francisco and Tokyo will anchor the first two years. Thanks to a strategic $50 million philanthropic investment from The Nippon Foundation, Tokyo is our first donor-funded rotation city and a cornerstone of our global program. 

The plan also preserves expanded semester and summer opportunities, allowing third- and fourth-year students to choose from other long-standing rotation cities—including Berlin, Buenos Aires, Hyderabad, Seoul and Taipei—all offering hands-on civic projects, research, and internships.

Why this change—and why now?

Over the years, we’ve listened closely to students, alumni, and faculty. While the original seven-city model was bold and visionary, it also presented challenges—from frequent transitions to limited time for building deep relationships or securing longer-term internships and research. Our new approach addresses those concerns directly:

• More time in each city means deeper local connections, stronger internships and projects, and more stable community life.
  
  
• Fewer transitions reduces stress and expenses, supporting well-being and inclusion.
  
  
• A year’s notice ensures every student has the time and support they need to plan their journey.

Importantly, we’re not scaling back our vision—we’re refining it. Our rotation model remains a defining feature of a Minerva education, and we will continue to explore ways to expand learning opportunities through semester options in years 3 and 4, additional summer programs, university labs, and city-based projects.

What remains constant?

• Global immersion on four continents, guaranteed.
  
  
• Civic projects, internships, and research in every city rotation.
  
  
• An innovative, active-learning curriculum designed to engage with the real world.
  
  

As students seek more meaningful and practical global experiences, Minerva is responding with a model that is both bold and sustainable. Our global rotation empowers students to engage deeply with the world—and emerge ready to lead it.

I’m grateful to everyone in our community who has contributed to this evolution. As always, our students inspire us to go further.

Let’s keep going.

‍

Mike Magee
President, Minerva University