Exploring Global Horizons: UCLA International Education Office Programs
Study abroad represents a transformative academic experience, offering college students invaluable opportunities for personal and intellectual growth. The UCLA International Education Office (IEO) serves as the central hub for students seeking to embark on such journeys. The IEO provides a comprehensive array of services tailored for both UCLA students and visiting international students aspiring to study abroad. A dedicated team of study abroad advisors and program coordinators offers guidance on a spectrum of considerations, encompassing academic, cultural, and financial aspects.
UCLA acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands).
UCLA's Three Study Abroad Programs
The UCLA International Education Office (IEO) offers three distinctive study abroad programs, encompassing a selection of over 180 opportunities.
Travel Study Programs: Immersive Learning on the Go
Travel Study programs combine the excitement of study abroad with the academic rigor of classes taught by UCLA faculty. These programs provide an immersive learning experience, allowing students to study on the go for three to five weeks during the summer. These customized programs are designed in collaboration with faculty and onsite partners. Most major logistical components are pre-arranged aside from airfare (such as housing and program activities). Participants earn direct UCLA credit, which can be applied towards degree and/or general education requirements. Travel Study is open to everyone, but you must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma by the start of the program.
Aiken embarked on his first Travel Study experience after his freshmen year, enrolling in European Politics with Professor Mike Lofchie, which took him through London, Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris. It was his first time out of the country and the experience taught him about so much more than just politics. “It was transformative,” he said. Even now, Aiken credits the program with helping him build the confidence to take risks in his professional life. Not only has Aiken experienced the transformative benefits of travel firsthand, he’s seen how travel can open up new outlooks and perspectives for his travel companions. “I’ve traveled with a lot of people who had never been abroad before,” Aiken said. “Watching them get to experience it and see everything they brought home with them, it’s awesome to watch. Obviously, there is a financial barrier to getting that opportunity.
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*Note: Due to unforeseen administrative delays, some programs will begin accepting priority applications late. Please see program brochures for updates. Delays will not impact priority processing- applications received by Dec. 1st will be processed beginning Dec.
Global Internship Program: Gaining a Competitive Edge
The Global Internship Program offers students a competitive edge in the international job market through immersive eight-week summer internships in their respective career fields. These internships provide opportunities to gain professional work experience while exploring new cultures. All internships are for academic credit only and are non-paid. Students earn direct UCLA credit, which can be applied towards degree requirements.
Students looking to immerse themselves even more deeply in the local culture can consider the Global Internship Program, which pairs Bruins with international organizations for eight-week internships, giving them a chance to gain professional work experience while exploring new cultures. “Before I went abroad, I had interned at a clinical research lab, but I had never seen behind the scenes of setting up a study with a sponsor and all the administrative work that goes into it,” Banitaba said.
“Each year, student returnees share with us remarkable accounts regarding the impact that their study abroad experience has had on shaping their personal, academic and professional perspectives,” Global Internship Program associate director Andrew Bottom said.
UCEAP: Expanding the UC Experience
UCEAP offers a wide range of international opportunities: immersive learning, language studies, internships, research, and educational trips with a selection of 160+ programs. As a University of California program, UCEAP expands on the UC experience. It introduces you to the people and places where ideas are born. Journeying to a new country, you'll encounter cultures, traditions, languages, and stories that surprise, delight, and expand your intellect. As you shift your view of the world, you'll test the boundaries of who you are and what you're capable of achieving. You'll discover unknown abilities that fuel your confidence and empower you to seize new challenges. Choose from summer, quarter, semester, and year-long options. The world is full of new and unfamiliar possibilities. When you study abroad with UCEAP, those possibilities become yours.
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Kailani Kainoa-Rivas, a pre-global studies major and Latin American studies minor, studied abroad in The Hague, Netherlands. “Traveling, connecting with new people and navigating a new country pushed me to grow,” she said.
The Transformative Power of Study Abroad
Studying abroad extends beyond simply residing and studying in a different country; it demonstrates to future generations the possibilities of experiencing such opportunities. For students across the globe, studying abroad opens up a world of new possibilities. Sometimes, students have never been out of the country. Other times this is the first time they’ve traveled without friends, family or another support system.
“As a first-generation student, coming to college was very scary. Going abroad was my first time traveling outside of the country - that was even scarier,” said Natalie Carrillo Andrade, a second-year psychobiology major and global health minor who studied patient care for minorities and Indigenous populations in Australia. “I have no regrets."
“Studying abroad gives students an international perspective,” McGillen said. “My initial interest was in marketing. I switched to sociology because I loved learning about people,” Ohwobete said. “This course had the perfect lens for me to learn more about marketing and get some hands-on experience.
Though nine months sounds like a long time to be away from home, it seems to have flown by in an instant. Studying abroad pushed me far beyond my comfort zone. I never imagined living alone in a foreign country, navigating daily life in my fourth language. What made the experience especially meaningful was the personal connection to my research: my aunt’s diagnosis with Parkinson’s inspired me to focus on better tools for understanding neurodegenerative diseases. My time in Rio de Janeiro was truly transformative. It taught me that success has many paths and inspired me to be a lifelong learner through travel, culture, and human connection.
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The study abroad impact doesn't end when students arrive back on campus. Students carry the lessons learned well into their professional careers.
Overcoming Barriers and Embracing Opportunities
While study abroad can be a life-changing experience, cost presents a barrier for many students. “Apply to everything,” said Ohwobete, whose study abroad experience was funded in-part by scholarships. “I've heard from a lot of other pre-med students that studying abroad isn't that feasible because of the heavy course load. But it definitely is feasible and I would highly encourage it,” Carrillo Andrade said.
We recommend students apply during the Priority Enrollment window (11/24-12/1) for best availability.
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