Embark on a Global Journey: University of Wisconsin-Madison Study Abroad Programs

Study abroad is an integral part of a UW-Madison education and can be one of the highlights of a student’s time here. It's an incredible opportunity to travel, explore, and broaden your experience and perspectives while staying on track to meet your degree requirements, no matter what your major is. To maximize your study abroad opportunities, it’s best to start planning as early as possible.

Why Study Abroad?

When you study abroad, you gain extensive insight into yourself, your host culture, and the world. It’s an exhilarating challenge of academic and cultural immersion, plus a whole lot of fun.

Types of Programs

Students choose from short-term, summer, and semester programs. It is not necessary-or even advisable in some cases-to wait until your junior year to study abroad. Many programs require just 24 credits before you leave. Going earlier in your academic career gives you more flexibility in course selection-and allows you to bring your broadened perspective back for the rest of your college career.

Getting Started

If you’re thinking about doing a study abroad program, start by making an appointment with one of our advisors. Exploration advisors can help you learn more about study-abroad options and narrow down the best programs for you. Enrollment managers can help you navigate the application process, eligibility and course equivalencies. It’s important to find a program that fits your academic needs-so check out the major advising pages. They’re a guide to your major’s (or certificate’s) requirements as they relate to studying abroad-and an excellent way to help you stay on track with your academic requirements.

Open your online application by clicking Apply Now on any program page. Select your top-choice program and correct term. You are encouraged to rank up to three additional programs in order of preference in case you are not selected for your top choice. You are offered one space in one program only.

Key Steps

Inform your academic advisor: Inform your academic advisor when you begin to think about studying abroad.
Explore Programs: Find study-abroad programs that offer engineering coursework. In addition to the major advising pages, you can filter for all programs offering engineering courses through the program search.
Online Application: Open your online application by clicking Apply Now on any program page. Select your top-choice program and correct term. You are encouraged to rank up to three additional programs in order of preference in case you are not selected for your top choice.
Essays: You will write responses to two essay questions. These will be used to evaluate how your goals and preparedness for study abroad align with your top choice.
Transcript: You must submit your transcript.
Acknowledgement: You will complete an acknowledgement of UW and study abroad academic policies and resources.

Special Programs

WSB offers the International Business Certificate, which requires studying abroad in a semester-long program.

Financial Aid

UW Study Abroad hopes to make this possible for as many Badgers as possible with Study Abroad Scholars awards, starting with $2,500 towards summer and short-term programs; $5,000 towards semester programs; and $8,000 towards year long programs.

Study Abroad Scholars Awards

UW Study Abroad hopes to make study abroad possible for as many Badgers as possible with Study Abroad Scholars awards.

\$2,500 towards summer and short-term programs
\$5,000 towards semester programs
\$8,000 towards year long programs

Special for Wisconsin School of Business Students

Wisconsin School of Business students must apply for Study Abroad Scholars in order to be considered for any of the following business school scholarships: James C. Jay L. & Patricia H. Ernell F.

Eligibility for Study Abroad Scholars

Be in the process of applying, or have already applied, to a UW Study Abroad program for Summer 2026, Fall 2026, or Academic Year 2026-27 (studying abroad both Fall 2026 and Spring 2027).

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Application Details

Application is open. The deadline is March 2, 2026. Students who wish to be considered for this scholarship must have a started program application by March 2, 2026. We understand program applications can have later deadlines than this scholarship application deadline of March 2, 2026. Therefore study abroad program applications have to be started, but not completed with all required forms, by March 2, 2026 in order to be eligible for this scholarship. Incomplete scholarship applications or applications submitted to the office will not be considered. Completion of the study abroad program is a requirement of the scholarship. For WSB students, from the time recipients are awarded this scholarship until they graduate, they will be expected to participate in International Programs outreach activities. Recipients will also be expected to complete any post-study abroad surveys administered by International Programs.

Are you a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student at UW-Madison?I understand that if I receive the Study Abroad Scholars award, I am required to complete an engagement activity. There are a variety of activities available and scholarship recipients will indicate their preferences after they receive a scholarship offer.

CIEE Scholarships and Grants

To ensure students get the highest quality academics and most culturally immersive experience possible, we’ve partnered with CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange, the non-profit world leader in international education. CIEE offers one-of-a-kind programs across academic areas in fascinating cities around the world!

CIEE is committed to helping every student - regardless of socioeconomic background or academic major - access a transformative study abroad experience. As a result, CIEE offers more scholarships, grants, and other funding opportunities than any other provider to help make your study abroad experience a reality. Simply fill out the CIEE Scholarships and Grants application along with your program application. You will be considered for every scholarship and grant you are eligible to receive.With proper planning and a commitment to exploring funding resources, studying abroad can be affordable for any budget.

Public University Grant

As a UW Madison student, you automatically receive a $1,000- $2,000 Public University Grant for a semester IES Abroad program.

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IES Abroad

Studying abroad with IES Abroad is more than going from here to there. It’s an exhilarating challenge of academic and cultural immersion, plus a whole lot of fun.

Important Considerations

Eligibility

*Class standing is measured by college credit earned by the time you go abroad. If you do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements, you must explain the academic rationale for applying to a business study abroad program within your application.

Non-UW-Madison Approved Programs

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Here’s what you need to know about studying abroad on a non-UW-Madison approved program.

Student Experiences

“I had a remarkable semester abroad in London. I loved my housing accommodations, all the friends I made, and the different opportunities available within the city of London and the surrounding cities.” - Caroline K.

Julia Kranz shares her personal experiences studying abroad through the CIEE Rome Open Campus Block program. She explains what it was like for her to request her housing accommodation and be abroad as someone with OCD and Major Depressive Disorder.

Final Thoughts

“If I could offer one piece of advice to anyone considering studying abroad, it would be this: ‘For the love of all things good-do it." Studying abroad is an integral part of the UW-Madison academic experience. There's more to study abroad than just getting on a plane.

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