See the World
"My biggest accomplishment while studying in Hong Kong was being able to communicate with people even though I do not know how to speak Cantonese. With the help of my Chinese background (and the fact that many people there can speak English), I am proud to say that I learned how to get around, how to look up good places to eat and found great shopping districts. More importantly, through this experience I developed my independence and now do not have to rely on others as much as I had to prior to my trip."
---Wannie Wang, BBA 2009, Marketing
"I LOVED my study abroad experience. I never realized how much of an impact it would have on my life; not only while in Italy, but even after I returned home. I learned so much about appreciating differences in cultures. Also, however cliché this may sound, I learned so much about myself (my character, my limits, my drive, etc.) through my study abroad experience. I recommend studying abroad to anyone interested."
---Ashley Joseph, BBA 2009, Finance
"My semester abroad in Belgium opened so many opportunities and experiences I never would have encountered in the US. In six months, I gained much more than information from my classes- I learned to be more culturally sensitive, to quickly adapt to various situations, and to relax at a different pace of life. In addition, I loved being able to travel on weekends throughout Europe on a whim; it was an amazing semester that I will never forget!"
---Joy Wang, BBA 2009, Marketing
"Two of my friends came to visit me and travel for the last two months that I was in Europe, and it was such a learning experience to see their faces and reactions when they first arrived, and realize how much I had changed since I first arrived in Paris. I was exactly like them in their confusion and insecurity about functioning in a foreign environment, but by the time that they showed up, I had accustomed myself not only to Paris, but to the idea of foreign situations in general. I was no longer scared of getting on a plane or a train to a city I'd never been to before, because I guess I had become used to the idea of being completely lost! This really is one of the best benefits of studying abroad - it takes away your fear of the unknown, and greatly increases your sense of adventure! So, that, combined with the two months I got to spend with my friends as we made our way across Europe, traveling to amazing places like Greece and all over Italy was my best memory of study abroad!"
---Alison Krusee, BBA 2008, International Business
"My time abroad at the National University of Singapore exposed me to a truly global classroom environment as I learned from international professors, worked alongside classmates from Europe, Asia, and South America, and experienced first-hand a multitude of Southeast Asian countries, cultures and cuisines. It was an amazing experience."
---Michelle Lin, BBA 2009, Business Honors, Finance and English
McCombs offers many opportunities to study abroad. You can participate in one of the BBA international programs, obtain an internship abroad or participate in one of the international programs offered by the university. The best part? You don’t have to know a foreign language, you can still graduate on time and the cost is comparable to attending UT. Whether you spend a summer, a semester or an entire year in another country, you’ll come away with more than school credits and great travel photos. Studying abroad gives you a window into other cultures and a valuable understanding of the international business climate, an ear for other languages and a sense of how people interact outside the U.S. Studying abroad gives you a greater maturity, independence and will build your confidence. And employers find these skills vital. When you study abroad you enhance your career preparation by learning in a cross-cultural environment, opening up to different perspectives and embracing change, all qualities that are sought after by employers. Want to hear firsthand what it's like to live and study in a foreign country from McCombs students currently studying abroad? Visit our award-winning blog.
Why Study Abroad?
1. Find out more about yourself
As Brenda Jimenez states about studying in Spain after her first-year at UT, the experience enables you “to try new things and step out of your comfort-zone so you can test your limits.” You will have the opportunity to learn to be flexible, humble, and patient in an unfamiliar culture. Risking change deepens intellectual maturity, encourages independent thinking, and builds confidence.
2. See the world, while earning UT credit
When you study abroad with a BBA exchange program, you earn UT credit and pay UT tuition! Study abroad can be integrated into your degree plan. Ann Batdorf, a UT junior who studied in South Korea, notes: “I was able to get a glimpse of the world AND get college credit.”
3. Study at an elite business school
McCombs students have an opportunity to study at highly ranked business schools around the world. With 28 partner universities in 23 countries to choose from, BBA and undergraduate MPA students can enhance classroom experience by taking courses taught by foreign professors alongside students from around the world.
4. Broaden your UT classroom experience
Live and learn in an educational environment not confined to a classroom. Experience the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of places you have only read about. Living in a foreign country and taking courses that offer a different international perspective, you can become a more globally-conscious citizen with real-world experience of interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
5. Improve a foreign language
Immersion is the best way to learn a language. Living and learning on a daily basis in a foreign country enables you to become fluent. Viridiana Herrera, a McCombs School of Business student, writes about her experience in Vienna: “I enjoyed the times our German teacher walked with us to the market and helped us with our German when speaking with locals.”
6. Gain a global perspective
Observe the inter-relatedness of other cultures and nations. Living in another culture brings you face-to-face with different perspectives about world events and your own country. When you return home you will have a broader perspective and will be more tolerant of other cultures. Eric Hui, a McCombs student states that his experience in Hong Kong “expanded his cultural horizons, took him out of his comfort zone, and instilled in him a desire to experience all that the world has to offer.”
7. Make international friends
Before you even step foot in a foreign country, McCombs students have an opportunity to meet and interact with returning study abroad students and current international exchange students studying at McCombs who can help prepare you for your experience abroad. Plus, when it’s your time to go overseas, you’ll have a chance to meet many more students from around the world!
8. Set yourself apart and impress prospective employers
Today’s workplace is increasingly global and requires knowledge and experience that transcends national boundaries. Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson encourages students to study abroad to enable them “to assume leadership roles in the global arena.” When you study abroad you enhance your career preparation by demonstrating willingness to learn in a cross-cultural environment, to be open to different perspectives, and to risk change. All of these skills are valuable to employers. Plus, Study Abroad looks good on a resume!
9. Serve as a U.S. cultural ambassador
Studying abroad is not only about being immersed in a new culture or improving a foreign language. It is the perfect opportunity to openly share with others about what your culture and life is like in the U.S. Stereotypes and negative perceptions about the U.S. and Americans are often dispelled through the positive interaction U.S. study abroad students have overseas.
10. Have a once in a lifetime experience! Do it now!
This is the best time in your life to travel abroad. After you graduate it will be more difficult to juggle the responsibilities of work and family to travel extensively. Check out the opportunities to study abroad on a BBA exchange program or search for the numerous programs available through the UT Study Abroad Office http://www.utexas.edu/student/abroad/. There is financial assistance available too! Do it now!
Funding
Studying abroad can be affordable! McCombs undergraduate students participating on a BBA exchange program can continue to use their financial aid and existing scholarships toward their summer or semester abroad. In addition, numerous study abroad scholarships are available to help fund other study abroad-related costs such as your airfare, visa, passport, and international living expenses. It is never too early to start thinking about how to finance study abroad!
Students are encouraged to start researching their funding options early on as some scholarships require students to apply a semester or a year before departing overseas. Familiarizing oneself with the scholarship requirements and deadlines is an important step in preparing a successful application for scholarship consideration.
General Study Abroad Scholarships
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for study abroad programs approved through the Study Abroad Office and BBA International Programs office at The University of Texas at Austin. Interested students seeking financial aid for their program should complete the FAFSA for the appropriate academic period. The BBA International Programs office will send the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS) the estimated cost for your study abroad program. OSFS will revise your financial aid awards based on these costs and send you a Financial Aid Notification. Additional grant funding is not available from the OSFS office for study abroad. Study abroad students are offered additional loans — student, parent, or private — as eligibility permits.
For additional information about using financial aid to study abroad, visit the UT Study Abroad Office Funding Web site and the Office of Student Financial Services Web site.