Study Abroad Fair showcases opportunities from across campus, around the world

Thinking about studying abroad? Perhaps you haven’t made up your mind yet about whether going overseas is right for you. Or maybe you’ve decided to go abroad, but aren’t sure where, for how long, or what type of experience would be best for you.

Regardless of how far you’ve come in your decision-making and planning process, the 2015 Study Abroad Fair can take you farther. Each year, more than 2,000 students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison come to the fair to explore a world of opportunities and begin to discover which international experiences might be right for them.

This year’s fair will be held on Wednesday, September 16, noon-6 p.m., in Varsity Hall, at Union South, sponsored by International Academic Programs (IAP), part of the UW–Madison International Division.

IAP staff are available to help students sort through the options and process.
IAP staff are available to help students sort through the options and process.

Here, you can get questions answered and gather information about more than 200 programs in 60 countries. While browsing the exhibits, you can chat with faculty members who lead programs, students who’ve recently returned from abroad, study abroad advisors, and representatives from a range of programs.

Plus, informational sessions are offered to help guide you. For instance, you can pick up some insights on how to get the most from the fair, choose a program, fund a study abroad experience, and intern abroad.

“The programs you’ll find at the Study Abroad Fair show that ‘study abroad’ encompasses an incredible variety of experiences that reflect the unique academic needs and interests of UW–Madison students,” says Dan Gold, IAP director. “This is an event for students of all majors and academic levels.”

You’ll find programs for students of every major and level – for undergraduates from first-year through senior, graduate, and professional students. Offerings range in length – full or academic year, semester, and short-term – and also include internships, service-learning, language learning, and English-language instruction.

Wondering how study abroad can fit within your academic goals? All programs featured at the fair grant graded in-residence credit, which enables students to find options that count toward their major and help them graduate on time.

The opportunities available include more than 200 programs offered through IAP, plus a range of others from International Engineering Studies and Programs, Wisconsin School of Business and the International Internship Program.

This year’s fair highlights a new partnership between IAP and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), which are working together to offer experiences that enhance on-campus curricula and academics. More than a dozen new tables/exhibits will feature CALS faculty-led programs, staffed by faculty and returned students.

Students have been going to Varanasi, India for more than 50 years, one of UW-Madison's longest-running programs.
Students have been going to Varanasi, India for more than 50 years, one of UW-Madison’s longest-running programs.

The fair also will feature programs that reflect the diversity of experiences available:

  • UW in India: Learn about India’s history, culture and society and conduct an independent research project for a semester or full academic year in Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest cities. ($2,000 scholarship for Spring 2016 participants)
  • UW in Paris: Take courses taught by a UW–Madison faculty member and enroll in Directed Independent Research or Community Service Learning courses. ($2,000 scholarship for Spring 2016 participants)
  • UW in Florence: This English-language program in Italy offers opportunities for students studying a wide range of subjects, from arts and humanities to business and social sciences. ($2,000 scholarship for Spring 2016 participants)
  • UW Global Gateway in Rio de Janeiro: Led by UW-Madison Professor Kathryn Sanchez, this program will introduce first- and second-year students to issues of modernization and globalization in one of South America’s leading cities. All participants receive a scholarship that fully covers the program fee and airfare.

The annual Study Abroad Fair also highlights the guidance and resources that students can access throughout the year. IAP staff and peer advisors are regularly available to help you evaluate program choices to find the best fit.

Information about specific programs, as well as general information about studying abroad and assistance, is available at IAP’s Study Abroad Resource Center in 106 Red Gym, weekdays, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Or, visit the IAP website: http://www.studyabroad.wisc.edu.

– by Kerry G. Hill