Scotland offers a wealth of cultural options, scenic beauty ,and just a hint of mystery as home to the legendary Loch Ness (and perhaps the even more beguiling kilt and bagpipe). Consider Glasgow for a big-city experience complete with haggis in gastropubs, friendly locals, and one of the liveliest indie music scenes outside of London. For a truly student-centric experience, coastal St Andrews strikes a fine balance as a small town with a big name, drawing scholars from all over the world. Those interested in politics will have a unique vantage point in the capital, Edinburgh, as Scotland decides its status with the United Kingdom in the coming years.
Academic Planning for Study Abroad
Stay on Track to Graduate
Studying abroad integrates into your degree when you plan ahead. Discover how UC credit transfers, explore courses that satisfy major or general education requirements, and read student tips on planning what courses to take abroad. Connect with your campus advisor early to build a schedule that aligns with your graduation timeline.
Planning Steps to Study Abroad
Mapping Your Study Abroad Journey
Preparing to study abroad takes up to a year, and the best way to avoid missing out is to start right now. Deadlines for program applications, travel documents, course approvals, and scholarship applications arrive quickly. Check our interactive timeline to pinpoint your next step for this term and keep your plans on schedule.
Questions about study abroad?
Get Application Support
Connect with our advising team to get your questions answered and start planning your study abroad experience:
- Interactive workshops: Attend a live Thursday session of A Beginner's Guide to UCEAP to set goals, explore academic and funding resources, and prepare your application.
- Drop-in advising: Join casual virtual Q&A sessions available Monday through Friday to speak with region-specific advisors and learn alongside fellow students.
- One-on-one appointments: Book an individual virtual session with an advisor for general questions or specialized guidance focused on your target region.
- UC campus advisors: Meet with advisors at your home UC campus for guidance on academic planning, major credit petitions, campus financial aid, and registration.
Family and Support
Involve Your Support Network
Bringing your family into your study abroad plans early helps everyone feel confident and prepared. Share key details about health, safety, finances, and academic credit using our family and support network guide. For advice on starting informative and constructive conversations, check out our tips for talking with your family and friends about your global goals.
Funding and Affordability
Paying for Study Abroad
Your UC financial aid, grants, and scholarships travel with you, and some programs cost less than a term on campus. Explore the Making Study Abroad Affordable Guide (written by UC students who've done it) for budgeting tips, estimating your expenses, and making your global experience fit your financial plan.
The Summer Research in Glasgow program gave me the opportunity to conduct a laboratory research project with a degree of independence that would be challenging to acquire elsewhere. Doing research abroad gave me a glimpse into the research culture of Scotland and, more broadly, Western Europe, which is particularly useful given the current state of life sciences research in the States.
I moved to Scotland wholly unprepared. I didn't become a new person, but I learned new ways to view time passing. I learned how to call a place home and say goodbye. Studying abroad was not the story I thought I would tell - there was no jetting off to other countries or falling into a whirlwind romance. I walked and walked and learned how to say yes to the unexpected. I learned to be okay with the temporary and to embrace the fleeting moments.
