Hoo's Abroad? An Overview of Study Abroad at UVA

Hoo's Abroad?

An Overview of Study Abroad at UVA

by Veronica Mercado

Niki Shumaker (CLAS '17) in Peñíscola, Spain.

We've heard from a number of students who have shared their personal experiences regarding studying abroad as undergraduates at UVA. Now, maybe you're interested in experiencing all that a global education can offer. Let's go through some frequently asked questions regarding study abroad.

During the past academic year (2013 - 2014), how many students went abroad?

1617 undergraduate and 645 graduate students went abroad.

What if I am an engineering student (or pre-med, or engineering)? Can I still go abroad?

Yes! Included in the top 10 most popular majors studying abroad this past year were Commerce, Biology, and Systems Engineering. Even if your course requirements or the way your schedule works out makes it inconvenient for you to go abroad for an entire semester, January Term and Summer Session are both great options to consider if you want to have some sort of study abroad experience. 

What if I want a more intensive program? Is there any way I can have a more fully-immersed global experience?

Absolutely. If you are looking to dive straight into a new culture, you should consider an exchange program. UVA has long-standing exchange programs with many countries, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, India, Israel, Canada, Brazil, and Australia, among many others. This past year, 114 students studied abroad through an exchange program.


How much does it cost to study abroad?

Your federal and institutional aid that you would have during a normal school year or semester carries over to your time spent abroad. Expenses such as tuition and fees, transportation, housing, meals and the costs associated with obtaining a passport or visa are eligible for aid.With all that said, keep in mind that costs will vary from program to program, as cost of living and exchange rates factor into the final price.

How do I get started?

If you think you definitely want to study abroad, the first thing you should do is complete the Education Abroad Workshop. This is a PowerPoint presentation hosted on UVA's study abroad website that covers almost everything you will need to know about studying abroad. Safe travels!

Hoo's Abroad? Melissa on Semester at Sea!

Hoo's Abroad?

Melissa on Semester at Sea!

by Veronica Mercado

Today we're hearing from Melissa Sanford, a rising fourth year majoring in English and Religious Studies. She studied abroad with the Semester at Sea (SAS) program, which during the spring and fall semesters allows up to 720 undergraduates to travel across the globe on a cruise ship for up to 100 days. Melissa's voyage included travel to nine different countries over the course of 66 days. I studied on a cruise ship that went to England, Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Malta, France, Spain, and Portugal. We took classes when we were at sea, but in port we were free to explore either on our own or sign up for SAS-organized trips.

What made you choose this place?
I had heard so many great things about Semester at Sea from friends who had done the program in the past, and I knew that I wanted to use my study abroad experience to visit as many different places as possible. SAS allowed me to explore a region of the world that I had never seen before and learn about each place in a unique setting, all while providing a home base to come back to at the end of the day.  

What classes did you take? 
I took three classes - Travel Literature, Comparative Religion, and The United States and the Contemporary Mediterranean World. Semester at Sea offers a whole host of courses, ranging from sciences to Comm to literature and everything in between, but these were the three that most piqued my interest. Each class was tailored to the itinerary of the program, so the material we focused on was relevant to the next country we were visiting. It was really incredible to learn about something in the classroom and then step off the ship and experience it first-hand.

What was the biggest learning experience you had?
Besides learning about so many different people and cultures, I think the biggest learning experience I had was a lesson in independence. Never had I done something like this before, and I didn’t realize just how much I was capable of until I was hopping on last-minute trains to Sevilla or figuring out how to get back to the ship during a labor strike in Athens. Even after returning home this new self-confidence has stuck with me, and I definitely look at the world through different eyes after doing this program. Studying abroad changed my life, as cheesy as that is to say, and I’m so glad to have had this opportunity! I also now work for Semester at Sea here in Charlottesville, which is just another way that this experience has opened doors for me.

Introducing: Veronica Mercado

Introducing: Veronica Mercado

2014 Office of Admission Summer Intern Bio

Year: Second
Hometown: Oak Hill, Virginia
School: School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Major(s): Systems & Information Engineering
Blog: Hoos Abroad?

Hi! My name is Veronica, and I'm a rising second year in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. I'm currently interning with the Office of Admissions at UVA and I'm super excited to experience Grounds as well as the city of Charlottesville over the summer! Studying abroad and gaining a global perspective on a variety of subjects is something UVA encourages of all of its students, so I'm going to be writing about the international experiences of different UVA students. Studying abroad is an awesome way to supplement in-class education, and UVA makes it so easy for students to do so! 

Favorite UVA memory...

One of my favorite UVA memories is Trick or Treating on the Lawn which takes place on Halloween every year. All the little kids from all around Charlottesville (and some alumni even bring their children back!) come dressed in costumes and go door-to-door asking for candy from all the students and faculty who live in the lawn rooms and pavilions lining the Lawn. It's so much fun to see all the adorable little cats, dogs, bumblebees and so on wandering through the heart of the one of the country's oldest and most historic institutions.

More information and blog posts...

Veronica's Admission Survey

Coming soon!

Veronica's Blog Posts

1. 6/3/2014: Allison in Florence!
2. 6/17/2014: Molly in Germany!
3. 7/1/2014: Melissa on Semester at Sea!
4. 7/15/2014: Emily in Italy!
5. 7/29/2014: An Overview of Study Abroad at UVA
6. 8/12/2014: Niki in Valencia!