by Olivia Cooper | Jul 14, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Honors College, Summer
Before I start sharing my stories of these past few days, I want to explain why I chose to study abroad and the UK in particular. My name is Olivia, and I am an upcoming Junior, studying Public Health at the University of Alabama. I have always been interested in the...
by Zachary M. | Jul 9, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Faculty-Led, South America
UA in Peru students pose outside of the Sacsayhuaman fortress in Cusco, Peru Imagine this scenario: You are a visitor in a city you have never been to, in a new country and continent thousands of miles away from home. As you emerge from a cozy alleyway lined with the...
by Cassidy G. | Jul 9, 2026 | Africa, Engineering, Europe, Internship, Summer, _
July marks the beginning of my third and final month abroad this summer. Over the past two months, I’ve traveled to France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, and Morocco, with plans to add Italy and Hungary before the month is over. The chance to...
by Ava T. | Jul 8, 2026 | Africa, Asia, Europe, Human Environmental Sciences, Semester, UA-Affiliate
Have you ever really wanted to do something but found that actually doing it is terrifying? If so, you aren’t alone. Ever since I was a freshman in high school I have wanted to study abroad, specifically through Semester at Sea. In December of 2024, this idea of...
by Tyler D. | Jul 8, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer
Returning home from Belize has been an eye-opening experience. Immediately missed were the warm sunshine, constant sea breeze, and most of all the friends I made there. As I went on a fishing trip with my family, I even missed the Belizean heat that I had grown...
by Ella B. | Jul 6, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Outside of the tours built into the program, my classmates and I spend many hours wandering around the city and exploring on our own. Before the trip, I spent a lot of time researching Rome and watching TikToks for ideas about what to do, where to eat, and which...
by Jackson H. | Jun 30, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Semester, _
Today I arrived at my study abroad host institution, the Harlaxton College Manor. This place has been on the periphery of my life for years. My older sister studied here, and hearing about the magic of walking around the manor gardens, studying in the state rooms, or...
by Valeria P. | Jun 30, 2026 | Commerce & Business, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
When I decided to study abroad, I knew I wanted a program that connected with my Marketing major while also giving me the opportunity to experience something completely new. I chose the UA in Europe: Marketing, Sales, and Retail faculty-led program because it aligned...
by Mia L. | Jun 9, 2026 | Africa, Faculty-Led, Nursing, Summer
Deciding to study abroad isn’t something that happens in a single moment. For me, it was a slow build—a mix of curiosity, timing, opportunity, and a desire to stretch myself beyond the familiar. Now that the countdown to departure is getting real, I’ve been reflecting...
by Kayln C. | Feb 2, 2026 | Education, Internship, Semester, South America, UA-Affiliate
Nothing can quite capture the feeling of stepping off a plane in a foreign country and realizing this unfamiliar place is about to be your home. To be honest with you, I did almost zero research before landing in Brazil, let alone São Paulo, because deciding to study...
by Jones T. | Jan 28, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Exchange, Semester, _
It only took a few weeks of settling in while abroad to decide I was ready to travel outside of my host city. Sitting only an hour train ride away is the small town of Stratford-Upon-Avon. This town, most well known as the birthplace of Shakespeare, bolsters a wide...
by Tyler L. | Jan 23, 2026 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
It has been a month since I returned to the US from my semester abroad in Budapest, Hungary and I have been reflecting on how this unique opportunity has changed me. I realize that I’ve now fundamentally changed from the version of myself who departed for Europe five...
by Emmett D. | Jan 23, 2026 | Commerce & Business, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Hey all! I am Emmett and I am studying in Barcelona, so far it’s been amazing! I went to Madrid the second weekend and loved it! Choosing to study abroad was something I had thought about for years since my mom studied in Rome for a year, but it became a real...
by Macy M | Jan 8, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
Coming back home was bittersweet. Though I was only in Germany for a month, it felt like I lived a small lifetime in that short span. It is crazy to remember how I almost did not go on this trip just because of anxiety. I was so worried about going abroad not knowing...
by Eloise C. | Jan 8, 2026 | Comm & Info Sciences, Europe, Semester, UA-Affiliate
As a young woman, I was nervous to travel around Europe by myself. But as I’ve pushed my boundaries and stopped waiting for other people to join me before traveling somewhere, I’ve found out how fulfilling solo travel can be. Solo travel is a...
by Johanna N. | Jan 8, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Starting a new semester is always exciting. A study abroad semester is even more so, and I was thrilled when I first read the syllabi for my classes (called papers in New Zealand). There was no homework/busy work and just 1-3 big assignments or exams for each course....
by Johanna N. | Jan 8, 2026 | Arts & Sciences, Australia/New Zealand, Semester, UA-Affiliate, _
Generally speaking, I love to research before traveling somewhere new. I want to be fully prepared for unfamiliar customs, as well as find recommendations for food or activities. Before going to New Zealand, I learned about popular slang, common Māori phrases,...
by Katrina F. | Jan 5, 2026 | By College, Commerce & Business, Duration, Europe, Honors College, Program Type, Region, Semester, UA-Affiliate
I’ve officially been back in the US for one month. I wish I had more time there, but I’m glad I’m home at the same time. One thing I will say for anyone going abroad – eat as much as you want because the food is to die for. I miss Italian food...
by Andrew W. | Dec 16, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer
From the beginning of my study abroad trip to Germany for German Language and Culture, things were not going how I expected. Prior to this trip, I had never left the US, so I was determined to make myself as prepared as possible before I left. The weeks before my trip...
by Andrew W. | Dec 16, 2025 | Arts & Sciences, Europe, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Two weeks into my month abroad in Freiburg, Germany, I have seen so much of the city and have improved my German language skills. I have German class Monday through Friday afternoons, and I have had a great experience with the class so far. Each day of class lasts...
