Texas Global Education Abroad

"These few moments are just a glimpse of the wonderful time I have had so far in Ireland. Every day is filled with so many discoveries and instances that definitely show I’m a tourist...I know that there is much more waiting for me. I’m now ready to embrace this with open arms. Not looking forward to this Irish goodbye."

Read more about Global Ambassador Reese Gorden's experience on the "Documentary Photography Storytelling" faculty-led program in Dublin, Ireland: https://utx.global/4aDdbB1

Moody College of Communication - UT Austin, School of Journalism and Media - University of Texas at Austin, Radio Television Film - UT Austin

Meet Global Ambassador Trinity Nguyen, studying in Geneva, Switzerland through the faculty-led program "A Cognitive Neuroscience Immersion."

"When joining this program, I had no idea what to expect besides exploring Geneva, gaining a more global perspective, taking a new course, and trying traditional Swiss fondue. Since arriving, I’ve had the opportunity to study cognitive neuroscience in a city that is a global leader in scientific research and diplomacy, which has made this experience truly immersive.

One of my favorite parts of the program has been learning something completely outside of my major. Coming in with little knowledge of neuroscience, I’m leaving with a deeper understanding of the intricacies of the brain, human behavior, and the ways people shape the world around them while preserving culture and history.

Some of the greatest learning experiences, however, have come from traveling beyond Geneva and taking advantage of its location in the heart of Western Europe. In just a few weeks, I’ve visited cities such as Lyon, Annecy, Montreux, and Amsterdam, with many more ahead. Through these experiences, I’ve learned to appreciate different cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives simply by hopping on a train and arriving in a new place, even if only for an afternoon.

There is so much to learn from living in a new city, especially through the small habits and routines that become part of everyday life. My morning runs around the lake have given me insight into a slower pace of life and taught me to appreciate the quieter moments before the city comes alive each day.

This experience has been incredibly eye-opening and I’m so grateful I found this program. I encourage everyone to explore interests outside of their major because you never know where those opportunities might lead or what new passions you may discover. I’ve had an amazing time already and I can’t wait to see what the rest of my experience has to offer!"

College of Natural Sciences, UT Austin, ut_neuroscience, Diversity in Psychology at UT Austin

"Experiences like these have pushed me beyond simply learning about history and international relations in a classroom; they have allowed me to feel immersed within them. By engaging directly with unfamiliar perspectives, environments, and experiences, I have come to understand that growth is not found in comfort or certainty, but rather in the willingness to step into spaces that challenge the way we think and see the world."

Read more about Global Ambassador Maris Bouché's experience studying in London, England at King's College London through the faculty-led program "Past, Present, and Future of the Transatlantic Alliance": https://utx.global/4o7EYz0

College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas at Austin, History Department - University of Texas at Austin, Clements Center for National Security, Center for European Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, The LBJ School of Public Affairs

"Morocco keeps reminding me that there's a difference between being from somewhere nearby and actually understanding it. I came here thinking proximity and grouping were the same as familiarity, but it's definitely not. I’m excited to learn more about what else I’ve been wrong about."

Read more about Global Ambassador Lujein Abdelwahed's experience studying in Amman, Jordan through the faculty-led program "Multiculturalism in Morocco": https://utx.global/3REYyXz

College of Natural Sciences, UT Austin, UT Austin Human Ecology, Middle Eastern Studies at The University of Texas, College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas at Austin

"My time abroad in Greece has shown me that stepping outside your comfort zone does not always have to mean feeling completely lost and alone. Growth comes from expanding your comfort zone little by little through new people, new places, and new experiences! Greece started as a place I thought I could only experience through a window, but it has become so much more through the memories I’ve made here. Studying abroad will broaden your perspective and leave you eager to step outside your comfort zone for a new adventure."

Read more about Global Ambassador Alexandra Couoh's experience studying across Greece through the Faculty-Led May Term program "Ancient Greece in Situ": https://utx.global/3PFuOcr

College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas at Austin, Linguistics at The University of Texas at Austin, UT Classics

Meet Global Ambassador Ciara Burns, participating in the faculty-led program "A Cognitive Neuroscience Immersion" in Geneva, Switzerland!

"My time in Geneva has been shaped by constantly saying yes to new places, new people, and new experiences. Even in what feels like such a short amount of time, studying abroad has quickly become one of the most valuable decisions of my college career.

Between spontaneous daytrips to nearby mountain towns, running along lakes and parks, and wandering markets and shops filled with local foods and artwork, life in Switzerland has pushed me beyond the limits of my own familiarity, encouraging a version of myself that is far more confident and adaptable than when I first arrived.

More than anything, this experience has given me incredible friendships and a sense of connection in a place that once felt completely unfamiliar. I’m so incredibly grateful to be returning with memories, lessons, and relationships that I know I will carry with me long after my program comes to an end!"

College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas at Austin, Diversity in Psychology at UT Austin

Meet Global Ambassador Meredith Buchhorn, participating in the faculty-led program "Critical Works of Modern and Emergent European Architecture" in Copenhagen, Denmark!

"Hoi from Zürich! I’ve been studying abroad in Switzerland and it has been such an incredible experience. This May Term program began in Copenhagen, and will finish in Basel. Every day, I’ve had the opportunity to study the architecture of these amazing places and their surrounding cities including Malmo, Sweden and Bern, Switzerland.

If you couldn’t tell from the photos, the views have been spectacular. My favorite place we’ve visited so far has been Peter Zumthor’s thermal baths in Vals, Switzerland. We spent the whole day unplugged and relaxing in the various pools within the bathhouse. I studied this building during my first year at The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture and I never imagined I’d one day get to experience it in person.

As I continue exploring new places, I’ve been learning how to capture spaces through different mediums, including sketching, watercolors, and photography.

This program is flying by, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of this trip holds!"

"I can truly say that my time in Madrid has transformed me into a better person. I’m now so much more confident in myself. I have learned to enjoy my own presence, embrace other ways of living, and, most importantly, kindness. Spain has shown me immense kindness as a foreigner; I’ve been met with nothing but respect. It truly shaped this experience for me because it is scary going somewhere new where you do not even speak the language, but I now know that if you practice courtesy, it will come back to you. Leaving everything you know and love behind for six months is never going to be easy, and there will be hard times, but those hard times really shape you into the person you want to be."

Read more about Global Ambassador Kira's experience studying in Madrid, Spain at IE University: https://utx.global/4uFYR2U

Moody College of Communication - UT Austin

"The one thing I remember from my cultural anthropology class my freshman year is that 'culture exists in the space between.' As in, you don’t notice culture until you’ve crossed boundaries into something that is not your own.

With this study abroad, I’ve come to cross that line quite comfortably. There are times when you should respect the lines, boundaries, and rules of the culture you’re exhibiting, but sometimes blurring those boundaries can lead to excitement and something new and creative."

Read more about Global Ambassador Sofia Johansson's experience studying in Tokyo, Japan at Waseda University: https://utx.global/4adEvFN

College of Liberal Arts - University of Texas at Austin