For students wishing to experience other cultures during their education, UCCS offers study abroad opportunities. The programs vary from 10-day-long trips led by faculty to yearlong academic programs.
Applying to study abroad can be intimidating, but each Tuesday and Thursday, the International Affairs office hosts Abroad 101 online sessions that outline the steps to study abroad. For any in-person questions, International Affairs also hosts Waffle Wednesday where students can make waffles and chat about study abroad programs.
Telma Frumholtz, the Education Abroad Program Director, encourages everyone to travel abroad. “I truly think that every individual should leave their home country at least once, if they’re able to,” Frumholtz said.
Frumholtz says any students interested in studying abroad should look into the programs offered at UCCS. For Frumholtz, the best part of her multiple abroad journeys is “getting to experience new things, getting to try new food. I never would have eaten deep-fried tarantula if it was not for study abroad.”
The Abroad 101 session outlined the steps to studying abroad: search for a program, pick a specific offering, then apply for the program.
Finding a program
The first step for students to study abroad is to find a program that’s interesting and offers courses that match their graduation requirements. All programs can be found in the study abroad search portal.
Programs available to students are either organized through the UCCS Education Abroad Program or provider programs run by third-party organizations.
Provider programs offer complete study abroad packages, including the location of study, subject of study and any housing requirements needed for the program. “Because our providers package it all together, it’s a really nice opportunity,” Frumholtz said.
UCCS also offers an exchange program that allows students to pay UCCS tuition for a semester or year abroad, swapping places with students at a partner university. Exchange programs tend to be “a little more independent,” Frumholtz said.
Exchange programs require more organization from the student attending, including ensuring housing and visas are secured for the year or semester of study. The most popular UCCS exchange programs are in the United Kingdom and Japan.
For students not ready to commit to semester or year-long programs abroad, UCCS offers summer programs. Each summer program is either 4 or 8 weeks. Frumholtz recommends summer programs to students who have elective credits to fulfill for their degree. The programs offer classes such as “French cooking and Wine.”
Secure Funding
After choosing a program, students should research funding availability for the program they chose. Frumholtz encourages students to apply to study abroad even if funding is an issue. “Don’t let price be the biggest ‘no,’” she said. The International Affairs office helps connect students with funding through their website and information sessions.
UCCS exchange program costs are equivalent to the cost of a full-time load for a UCCS student that pays for on-campus housing. For external provider programs, outside funding is available.
Apply for a program
After choosing a program and ensuring funding is available for that program, the final step for students is to fill out the UCCS study abroad application. Though the deadline for summer and fall applications was March 1, International Affairs can work with students who find a provider program with a deadline later in the year. “Students can still unofficially apply to go this fall,” Frumholtz said.
Students who find a provider program they’re interested in are encouraged to reach out directly to the International Affairs office to discuss study abroad options.
Students wishing to study abroad should ensure that they have a valid passport. The International Affairs office is unable to apply for passports on behalf of students, but they can support students during the application process. To apply for a US passport, students must visit the Department of State website.
If students at UCCS hold non-American passports and want to study abroad through the school, the International Affairs office can help them with the logistics of studying abroad.
For students who want to travel abroad but aren’t interested in studying in another country, the International Affairs office hosts virtual sessions on Tuesdays to help the planning process.
Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash.