Q: My major is kind of specific, can I study abroad?
A: Yes! Any UC student can study abroad – we have send chemical engineering majors abroad, as well as violin majors. We have an extensive Study Abroad Resource Library to help students find the perfect study abroad program.
Q: I was looking on your website and I wanted to go to a country that wasn’t listed – is this possible?
A: Yes! You can study abroad anywhere in the world. In our Study Abroad Library we have information about programs on every continent, except Antarctica. If UC does not have a program that meets your academic goals, we will help you find one that does.
Q: Is it possible to study abroad in countries where UC does not have a specific program?
A: Yes. You can study abroad through any other university or study abroad company. You will need approval from your academic advisor and a transcript from the host instutition to help faciliate credit transfer. For example, if you studied at Lorenzo de' Medici University in Italy you will need an official transcript from that university to earn credit at UC.
Q: Will a study abroad experience delay my graduation?
A: No. Work closely with your academic advisor to ensure that the courses you take abroad are compatible with the courses you would have taken at UC for that quarter/semester. Most students complete a Course Pre-Approval Form before they study abroad. The form must be signed by an academic advisor and shared with the Financial Aid Office for review.
Q: How long can I study abroad?
A: You can chose a program as short as a one week or as long as one year. There are also opportunities to study during the summer and spring break. Short term one to three week programs are often study tours led by UC faculty members.
Q: I can’t decide where I want to go; can I study abroad more than once?
A: Yes! Many students study abroad multiple times at UC. Just work with your advisors to make sure it all fits into your academic plan.
Q: I’m not exactly rich, how am I going to pay for this?
A: First of all, you can apply for a UC International Programs Student Grant. We give over $100,000 in grant money to UC students studying abroad each year. Also, almost all financial aid can apply to your program. We will work with you to make sure that you can apply all of your grants, loans and scholarships. We also help students apply for national study abroad scholarships. UC students have received awards for up to $20,000 to pay for their program overseas. Also, some programs abroad even cost less than UC tuition!
Q: Is it possible to find a job or volunteer abroad?
A: Yes! Some co-op students at UC participate in the International Co-op Program and are paid to work in Chile, Germany or Japan. Other co-op students find job placements in other countries or participate in a travel quarter. If you aren’t a co-op student, there are many opportunities for international internships where you can receive academic credit. There are also service learning programs where you can get academic credit to do service abroad, such as Habitat for Humanity in Costa Rica. Again, we have information about international internships, jobs and service learning opportunities in our Study Abroad Library.
Q: Will I be all alone?
A: If you want to travel with a group of UC students, there are many opportunities where you will be with UC faculty and students at all times. On many other programs you will be in classes with students from other US universities. However, if you are looking for something more independent, you can enroll directly into a foreign university to really integrate with local students.
Q: I’ve never been to another country before, will I be okay?
A: Yes, we give pre-departure orientations for all students before they depart to give health and safety information and travel advice. We will provide you the current Consular Information about the country you are going to and answer any questions you have about safety.
Q: What if I don’t speak any other languages?
A: Studying abroad is a good time to learn a new language; however there are many programs in English – even in non-English speaking countries!
Q: When is a good time for me to study abroad?
A: You can study abroad as early as your freshman year on some programs. Other programs will require that you have taken prerequisite courses or obtained a certain level of proficiency in a foreign language. We recommend planning as early as possible if you need to meet these prerequisites for your desired program.
Q: So I decided I want to study abroad, what do I do next?
A: Read the information on this website and make an appointment for a First Timers Session. During this meeting an Education Abroad advisor will discuss your plans with you and show you our Study Abroad Library to help you search for a program. Also sign up for our List Serve!
