The School of Education recognizes the importance of study abroad and international internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, and works closely with the International Academic Program (IAP) Office.
Exploring outside your home culture is an opportunity to:
Expand your world view
Cultivate international understanding
Help you be more competitive in the global workforce
Improve or develop language skills
We are excited about the School of Education faculty-led study abroad opportunities that are currently available! Read more about them and how they connect to your interests and School of Education majors below.
Information about funding your study abroad can be found below.
Dive in: UW Team Building in Costa Rica
Explore community development through a variety of adventure activities. Step out of your comfort zone. Learn theories of group dynamics. Develop team and leadership skills.
Join program leaders Luis Columna and/or Cindy Kuhrasch from the Department of Kinesiology.
Credit: Kinesiology 325, Management & Human Resources 365, or Sociology 464.
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
Be part of the audience: UW Theatre in London
British Theatre. What more can you say? Experience the history and modern realities of the theatre. Engage in readings and discussions. Gain understanding of the social and cultural contexts. See a variety of shows!
Led by Colleen Conroy, Audrey Standish, and/or Jim Stauffer from the Department of Theatre and Drama.
Credit: Theatre and Drama 595 or Anthropology 455
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
Dig deep: UW Education, Diversity and Community in the Galapagos Islands
Visit local schools. Broaden your understanding of the local educational system. Consider the importance of language diversity.
Program leader, Diego Roman, is from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
Credit: C & I 375, INST 402, or Community & Environmental SOC 400
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
Sense your way: UW Exploring Cuba Through Art
Examine the history, mystery, and culture of Cuba. Journaling is a form of reflective activity. You’ll journal about your experiences, drawing upon your creative and intellectual interests.
Led by Faisal Abdu’Allah from the Department of Art.
Credit: Art 448 or Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies 440
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
Move: UW Dancing Cultures in Greece
Conduct an ethnographic study of dance. Examine how dance can be used to create a sense of identity and national belonging. Attend workshops. Watch performances. Dance! Look for future offering of this course.
Program leader, Liz Sexe, teaches in the Dance Department.
Credit: Dance 368, Anthropology 455, or Folklore Program 315
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
Examine: UW Movement as Medicine in Portugal
Learn about and compare physical activity and health outcomes cross-culturally. Learn about theories of behavior change as they relate to cultural beliefs. Design a sedentary behavior intervention.
Join program leaders Dane Cook and/or Morgan Shields from the Department of Kinesiology.
Credit: Kinesiology 250 or Community and Environmental Sociology 400
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
Diversify: UW Inclusive Physical Activity & Sports in Ireland
Explore fitness, sports, and public health for individuals with diverse abilities.
Join program leaders Andrea Mason and/or Kecia Doyle from the Department of Kinesiology.
Credit: Kinesiology 260
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
Journey: UW Youth Engagement and Teaching ESL in the Dominican Republic
Develop and co-teach ESL curricula while learning about educational NGOs and the challenges they face.
Travel with program leader L.J. Randolph Jr. from the Curriculum & Instruction Department.
Credit: Education Policy/Int’l Studies 335 or Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies 440
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
Compare: UW Disability Rights and Access in Australia
Compare the experience of citizens with disabilities in the United States and Australia by examining their rights and access to services.
Led by Susan Smedema from the Department Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education.
Credit: RPSE 311
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
Applications are open now for this Winter Session Course!
Explore: UW Crossroads of Culture & Health in New Zealand
Explore the interaction between the environment, culture, and human physiology amidst the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand.
Led by UW-Madison Professors Gary Diffee and/or Bill Schrage from the Department of Kinesiology.
Credit: Kinesiology 214
Click program link for eligibility and additional details. Application deadline: Friday, September 6, 2024, at 4:30pm.
Immerse yourself: UW Disability, Access, and Inclusion in Belize
Gain cross-cultural insights into education, disability, and inclusion in the U.S. and Belize.
Travel with program leaders Andrea Ruppar and/or Susan Syverud from the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education.
Credit: RPSE 300
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
(Re)Define: UW City as Studio: Drawing in Portugal
Drawing in public spaces and seeing urban environments with new eyes will allow you to gain a deeper connection to Portugal’s culture, history, and daily life.
This program will be lead by professors Sarah FitzSimons and/or John Baldacchino.
Credit: Art 448
Click program link for eligibility and additional details.
School of Education Signature Programs Study Abroad Scholarship
The School of Education’s (SoE) study abroad programs support students in achieving academic goals and developing global skills to thrive personally and professionally in a diverse and interconnected world. UW–Madison students report that cost is the number one barrier to study abroad participation. Thus, the School of Education Signature Programs Study Abroad Scholarships expand access to study abroad for SoE undergraduate majors with demonstrated financial need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Scholarship awardees will be awarded funding to participate in a SoE faculty-led, short-term study abroad program during the summer of 2025. This funding can apply to the program fee, room/board, and airfare. If you are not eligible to complete a FAFSA form, please contact us: global@education.wisc.edu.
The SoE Signature Programs Study Abroad Scholarship is supported through the generous donors to the School’s Impact 2030 Initiative.
To apply for the SoE need-based scholarship, you must:
- Complete a FASFA form by December 1, 2025. If you are not eligible for a FAFSA, please reach out to global@education.wisc.edu for assistance in completing an alternative form.
- Complete your desired program application as early as possible. Your completed program application is also your SoE Signature Programs Study Abroad Scholarship application if you are student whose EFC falls below $24,000. There is no need for you to complete a separate application.
You will be notified of program application and scholarship decisions in late January/early February 2026.
Scholarship Resources
All School of Education majors who start an application for an SoE Signature Study Abroad Program are encouraged to apply for the Early Bird Scholarship of $2,000.00 — regardless of the expected family contribution (EFC) levels stated on the IAP Early Bird Scholarship site. This funding is limited so apply early.
Scholarship opportunities to fund your study abroad experience are available through the IAP/Study Abroad Office. This includes the Pre-Departure Loan Program. Apply as early as possible. Review application deadlines carefully. We strongly encourage students to apply for all UW and external funding resources.
Complete an application to all scholarships offered through International Academic Programs in the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH).
Are you a Teacher Pledge student?
The Teacher Pledge program may provide support toward summer term study abroad costs for teacher education students who participate in University of Wisconsin-Madison credit-earning programs including the School of Education faculty-led programs listed above. If you are a Teacher Pledge student and have questions about studying abroad, please contact the program manager, Carly Marco.
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Frequently Asked Questions regarding the SoE Scholarships
How much do the programs cost and when do they run?
- Visit the program page for the study abroad course for which you intend to apply. On each program page, you will find information about eligibility, academics, costs, dates, logistics and how to apply. International Academic Programs is populating the program pages as soon as they have the appropriate information. If something is missing, please check back.
I cannot complete a FAFSA. Is there any way that I can apply for the scholarship funding?
- Yes, contact the Global Engagement Office and they will work with you to complete alternative paperwork (global@education.wisc.edu).
Who can I talk with to find out more information about the programs?
- Each program has a different International Academic Program Advisor. Please see the program information above and look for the name of the IAP advisor. They can help you with program specific information.
If I complete the application process for the scholarship and program, am I guaranteed a spot?
- Applications will be reviewed by IAP and the School of Education. Priority is given to School of Education majors. The School of Education wants to make its programs accessible to everyone, so please apply. As with all application processes, we cannot guarantee a spot.
When will I know whether I have been accepted into a program?
- Study abroad and scholarship applications are both due on the designated program deadlines. You will receive confirmation of admittance by late January/early February for summer programs, and scholarship decisions shortly after. If you are applying for a winter program, you will receive confirmation of admittance by mid-to-late September.
I am graduating before the start to one of these study abroad programs. Am I eligible to participate or get a scholarship?
- No, graduating seniors are not eligible to participant or to get the School of Education Study Abroad Scholarship. Please contact the Global Engagement Office if you are interested in pursuing international experience post-graduation (global@education.wisc.edu).
If I apply to more than one SoE Signature Program, can I get more than one SoE Study Abroad Scholarship?
- Priority will always go to those SoE students who will attend the Signature Study Abroad Programs for the first time.
Where do I go with more questions?
- If you have a question regarding the SoE Study Abroad Scholarship, please contact the Global Engagement Office (global@education.wisc.edu), and they will put you in touch with the appropriate staff member.
- If you have program specific questions, please contact the following IAP Advisors through Starfish: Kate Hamoonga for Ecuador, Ireland, and the Dominican Republic; Jessa Boche for the UK, Greece, and Australia; and Kristin Calkins for Portugal and Costa Rica; Ella Quinn for Cuba.
Undergraduate Students
If you are an undergraduate student in the School of Education planning on studying abroad, please keep the following things in mind:
- Plan ahead. It is never too early to meet with advisors in the International Academic Programs Office and Educational Academic Services.
- You will receive in-residence academic credit while studying abroad. See Major Advising Pages (MAPs).
- Scholarships are available. The IAP Office has a number of scholarships solely for UW–Madison students, and there are external scholarships as well. Do not rule out study abroad or study away based on cost. Make sure to meet with IAP to find out what scholarships are available.
- You aren’t in this alone! There are people in the International Programs Office and School of Education to support you throughout the process.
Study Abroad or Study Away
Are you ready to get started? Visit the IAP website for next steps and to schedule a meeting with a study abroad advisor to talk about:
- Program options (short-term, faculty-led, semester, academic year)
- Credit transfer
- Costs
- Scholarships/Financial Aid
- And much, much more!
International Internships
If you wish to pursue an international internship, the Intern Abroad Advisors at IAP can help. Start by filling out the Pre-Advising Worksheet to hone in on your interests, then explore the different types of internship options. You can schedule an advising appointment to learn more and make your plan.