Sunday, November 3

Logistics of applying to, participating in UCLA study abroad programs


UCLA offers study abroad opportunities through which Bruins can immerse themselves in different cultures. The application and time abroad include logistical steps to ensure the quality of experience. (Zimo Li/Photo editor)


As the academic year approaches, many Bruins are eager to study abroad and immerse themselves in a different culture for a quarter or semester.

UCLA offers three main study abroad opportunities: global internships, travel studies and exchange programs. Global internships offer the opportunity for students to work with international organizations, travel studies allow students to take UCLA-taught courses abroad, and exchange programs allow students to take classes at universities worldwide. Additionally, UCLA students can participate in the University of California Education Abroad Program, which is a systemwide program bringing UC students to international universities. Further details about these programs can be found through UCLA’s International Education Office.

Christopher Looby, a professor of English and director of a summer travel study program in Florence, Italy, said in an emailed statement that the IEO promotes summer travel study programs through emails and leaflets. He also said in the statement that some professors like himself visit classes to make announcements and distribute flyers.

Jennifer Rivera, a fourth-year Chicana and Chicano studies and labor studies student who studied abroad in Rome through UCEAP, said she found out about the program through information sessions, webinars and social media. She added that she also did her own research as a way to see how the experience was for different people by consulting friends about application tips and experiences.

Fourth-year global studies student Leila Chiddick said her decision to study abroad in Japan was influenced by her major requirements and personal interests.

“I had three options with the global studies major. It was Japan, The Hague and … Paris,” she said. “My parents had lived in Japan before, so I had some idea what it was like there, but not personally, just from them. And I was like, ‘I really want to go. I really want to experience it.'”

Making the choice to study abroad is only the first of many steps to take.

Looby said in the statement that the IEO helps students through logistical concerns before and during their visit. He added in the statement that apart from the IEO, program-specific resources exist, such as the staff at the Accent Center in Florence.

Rivera said she felt that the program’s faculty and staff were attentive in providing her information that she may have needed during her time abroad.

“They sent us PDFs and guides on how to navigate Italy itself, the culture, and then also what to do when we got there, and then how to navigate ourselves around there,” Rivera said. “If it wasn’t school-affiliated, I think it would have been a lot harder to know my way around.”

However, Chiddick said she experienced several challenges during her time abroad, one of them being the IEO’s insufficient level of assistance in preparing students and communicating agendas.

“The program itself was very chaotic. I don’t think they had anything planned until a few weeks before we got there,” Chiddick said. “Even when we were there, people were very confused about where we were supposed to go.”

She added that once students arrived in Japan, many were concerned about the program’s organization and management. For example, there were issues in providing students with enough funds for transportation and overcharging fees that had to be disputed, Chiddick added. Despite these setbacks, Chiddick said she appreciated the on-site staff that helped to resolve the issues.

Beyond logistical challenges, safety and inclusion is also a consideration for Bruins abroad. In fact, a study from the United States Department of State found that over a decade, there has been an increase in students who come from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who study abroad – from 17% of all students in 2005-2006 to 28.4% in 2015-2016.

Looby said in the statement that maintaining a safe space for all students is a priority while abroad.

“It’s impossible to control circumstances in public places, … but in the past the diverse groups of students who have joined the program have felt safe and welcomed,” Looby said in the statement. “All of UCLA’s policies governing diversity, equity and inclusion are in force during study abroad.”

Safety precautions and procedures are established for each program in case of concerns and emergencies. For example, UCLA study abroad programs require Bruins to register their trips to a U.S. embassy as an additional safety measure, Chiddick added.

Chiddick also said the IEO takes travel safety seriously. For her program, all participants had to fill out multiple forms providing information for their emergency contacts, she added.

While logistical and safety risks exist, Rivera said she would recommend Bruins interested in studying abroad to do it because of the valuable experiences and memories the program brought her.

In fact, a study from the Institute of International Education found that employers see international studies as important because it shows a candidate’s global awareness and competency in their field of study. Moreover, the same study found that, for first-generation students, the chance of graduating within the first four years of college is 11.6% higher for those who study abroad than those who don’t.

Looby added in the statement that studying abroad can help students fulfill major requirements and create opportunities to meet peers pursuing different majors.

Additionally, Rivera said her experience in traveling across continents has helped her grow as a student and as an individual.

“I did take the plane by myself from LA to Rome, so that was something that was a very big step for me,” Rivera said. “Because of that, I’m more comfortable doing things alone or getting out of my comfort zone at UCLA, outside of UCLA as well.”

Chiddick added that her experience exposed her to new global perspectives and cultural customs.

“The professor and TA did a really good job of teaching different cultural values, and they connected us with different alumni who work in Japan, so it was really cool to engage in different things in a country that way,” Chiddick said.

Overall, studying abroad comes with difficult choices throughout the application and program process. Rivera said she encourages students to look for solutions to concerns that may be hindering their decision to study abroad – the best solution being talking to other students to learn from their experiences.

“Talk (to them) about their experience, how they were able to afford it financially,” Rivera said. “There’s always resources.”


Comments are supposed to create a forum for thoughtful, respectful community discussion. Please be nice. View our full comments policy here.

×

Comments are closed.