The University’s summer study abroad offerings are shifting for 2025 after a multi-year pause for some summer programs and the addition of new faculty-led opportunities. With expanded destinations and increased scholarship funding, students will see both returning programs and new options across multiple continents.
Each term, the International Studies Office determines which study abroad programs will run and which will not. Margaret Walter, associate director for Education Abroad, said these determinations are based on faculty proposals, institutional support and factors such as student interest and location viability.
As new programs are proposed and approved each year, cost remains a key consideration for many students. Walter said the University offers several new funding opportunities to reduce financial barriers and increase access to study abroad. For the Summer 2025 term, the University will offer study abroad funding supported by a $2 million gift, which was used to create the Walker Global Experiences Scholarship program.
The Walker scholarship will provide financial support to students enrolled in a University-led, credit bearing study abroad program. Students who receive need-based financial aid through AccessUVA — the University’s financial aid program which meets 100 percent of demonstrated need — may be eligible for up to $5,000 in study abroad funding through this new scholarship. Additional scholarships, which vary in amounts depending on the applicant pool, are also available through the ISO, as well as other University and national programs.
One of two programs now supported by the Walker scholarship, the U.Va. in London program gives students a chance to study the social and political shifts shaping contemporary Britain. Through site visits, workshops and engagement with community groups and NGOs, students will examine topics such as immigration, inequality and civil society.
The second Walker-supported program, U.Va. in Scandinavia, will take place in Copenhagen and focus on sustainability and environmental innovation. Students will explore local solutions to challenges like renewable energy, waste management and sustainable food systems. Coursework will emphasize sustainable development by looking at Denmark’s green initiatives and policies, while also helping students build critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Alongside these funding opportunities, the University is adjusting its study abroad programs based on increased student interest for summer 2025. Walter said the ISO has announced several additions for the upcoming summer term, expanding options for students across multiple disciplines and locations.
This summer, two programs in China that have not run since 2019 are returning, as well as a new internship program in Cape Town and two programs in London and Scandinavia for students who receive the Walker scholarship.
One of the returning programs is U.Va. in Shanghai: Chinese Language & Culture, an eight-week intensive language immersion experience hosted at East China Normal University that was put on hold in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions.
According to the Education Abroad website, this program will empower students to improve their Chinese language skills and understanding of Chinese culture in an immersive and experiential way. Students will have ample opportunities to learn the language via community engagement activities, weekend stays with host families in Shanghai and various field trips and volunteer events.
Ran Zhao, professor of Chinese and program director for the Shanghai summer abroad program, said that this program has had a lasting impact on past participants, many of whom have shared how meaningful the experience was to their academic and personal growth.
“Students all reported [this program] as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, [that] gives them valuable experiences and lessons they can carry out for their entire life and career,” Zhao said.
Beyond daily coursework, the program also includes a week-long excursion to Chengdu and Beijing, giving students the opportunity to explore China beyond Shanghai. In Chengdu, students visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base and an archaeological site, while in Beijing, they climb the Great Wall, tour the Forbidden City and experience local cuisine, including the city’s famous Peking duck.
Zhao said students are particularly excited for the travel component, as it offers them a deeper connection to the history and culture of China outside the classroom. She also described the program’s main location in Shanghai as an ideal setting for cultural immersion, giving students a chance to engage with the city in a meaningful way.
“It’s a very beautiful campus right in the heart of Shanghai,” Zhao said. “This gives us a really good advantage … we get to see [not only] the most beautiful parts of the city, but also the regular neighborhoods, where local people are just doing their daily life. We’re going to have a very authentic experience, not just a touristy one.”
Zhao noted that the program will also include graduate students from ECNU assisting as tutors, which will allow connections between University undergraduates and ECNU graduate students.
In addition to the Chinese language program, the University will also lead the U.Va. Architecture: China program this summer. According to the Education Abroad website, the program will take students to Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, where they will explore Chinese spatial and architectural traditions through site visits, workshops and design exercises.
A new academic internship program in Cape Town, South Africa, called U.Va. in Cape Town: Global Internships, will offer students the chance to gain professional experience while exploring broader cultural and global themes. This program will be run through the U.Va. Global Internships programs. According to the program’s description on Education Abroad’s website, participants will also engage in cultural excursions and coursework examining the intersections of work, culture and globalization in a multicultural setting.
While some programs are returning for the first time in years, some remain paused due to rotating schedules, shifting faculty availability or changing conditions at program sites. For example, the U.Va. in Italy: Photography and Italian Art History program is not running this summer, as it typically operates on an alternating-year schedule.
Walter said there are a range of reasons why a program may not be offered in a given year, including faculty preferences or location considerations.
As program availability shifts, student interest in study abroad has also evolved. Walter said that while summer programs remain popular, there has been growing demand for January Term courses and study abroad opportunities in traditionally favored destinations.
“We’ve seen high interest in January Term, as well as traditional locations such as Spain, Italy, and the UK,” Walter said. “We do encourage students to consider semester programs abroad for a more sustained experience, and because financial aid is most portable in the semester.”
The International Studies Office encourages students to research their options early and consider a range of destinations, including semester-long experiences. Application deadlines are typically set in February or March, with students receiving their decisions soon after. The deadline for students to commit to summer study abroad programs is typically set within a week of the decision date.
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