Campus Life

Study abroad opportunities at UWF

Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” That’s exactly what 30 University of West Florida students plan to do this summer through the Study Abroad program. UWF students will have the opportunity to study in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom during the summer.

“Students gain so much from a study abroad experience,” said Sara Brake, Study Abroad program coordinator. “Not only do they earn academic credit, but they grow as individuals and gain awareness of new cultures.”

Rebecca Sullivan, a senior majoring in elementary education, said that she learned a lot about herself and different cultures in Costa Rica last year.

“Studying abroad was always a dream of mine,” she said. “The program I attended through the University of Costa Rica was a month long, so it fit perfectly into my summer work plans and allowed me to become fully immersed in the language and culture.”

Summer Study Abroad programs offer students the benefit of studying for a shorter term and are less expensive than traditional semester-long programs. Expenses vary by program.

Applicants for Study Abroad programs must have a minimum 2.5 GPA for consideration. Eligibility requirements were recently updated to allow transfer students the opportunity to study abroad upon their second semester at UWF. Many programs are still taking applications and have spaces available, including the Irish Studies Program.

The Irish Studies Program offers the opportunity for a UWF professor to complete research while five students will receive awards to cover the program fee, housing and travel for the International Summer School offered by the University College Cork in Ireland. The application deadline is Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. Decisions will be announced by March 19.

The Office of Diversity and International Education and Programs will host a study abroad information session Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. in the International Center, Building 71, Room 133. On Tuesday, March 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be an information table set up in the University Commons, Building 22. Students who are interested in studying abroad are encouraged to attend one of the sessions to learn more about Summer Study Abroad options, the application process and requirements.

For more information, visit uwf.edu/intered/studyabroad or contact the Office of Diversity and International Education and Programs at (850) 474-2479 or e-mail intered@uwf.edu.

By Lauren Smith, University Marketing Communications