Public Policy
Public Policy Heading link
Students in Public Policy should study abroad to learn from and immerse themselves in foreign culture, including experiencing other nations’ histories, cultures, and languages. By studying public policy abroad, this will allow you to see today’s global challenges and to develop international competence. Students who study abroad in quality policy programs for academic credit, engage in service and experiential learning, internships, and research, and study foreign areas and languages are far better prepared for the workforce upon graduation because of the many skills that are gained from all the experiences abroad that would have never been able to be taught in the classroom.
Message from Sharon Hayes Heading link
It is important to study abroad in the Public Policy major because it will give students the chance to see today’s global challenges and to gain international competence firsthand. It will give students the opportunity to improve language skills, experience a different style of teaching, and enhance their networks. Students will learn about new cultures, perspectives, government and policies while developing confidence through leadership, communication skills, and cross-cultural awareness. In college, it may be the best time to go see the world and discover career opportunities abroad while benefitting from experiential learning. I encourage all students to study abroad!
| Director of Undergraduate Programs and Academic Support Staff
Planning to Study Abroad Heading link
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Recommended time
With enough advance planning, you can fit study abroad into your academic plans while at UIC. For Public Policy majors, students may study abroad during any semester. However, the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs recommends studying abroad during the sophomore or junior year. Make sure to speak with your academic advisor to know when the best semester to study abroad is for your plans.
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Advice from the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs
Here are some tips and recommendations from the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs to keep in mind as you plan to study abroad:
- Students can take policy specialization courses, and potentially major policy courses, during study abroad
- Any major electives can be fulfilled by study abroad
- Most general and/or upper-division electives can be taken abroad
- Most policy major required courses should be taken at UIC. Students will need to seek approval from their academic advisor to take a major course abroad
- Students are encouraged to look for programs that may afford them the opportunity to satisfy general education requirements, including Exploring World Cultures, Understanding the Past, and Understanding the Creative Arts
- There are no caps on how many credits a student can earn abroad for this major
- Students may receive academic credit for completing an internship or research project abroad
- Transfer students who would like to study abroad should seek advice from their advisor to see how studying abroad fits into their educational plans in relation to their intended graduation timeline
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Academic Advising Information
It is highly recommended that you speak with your academic advisor to discuss your plans to study abroad.
How to make an appointment with your College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) academic advisor:
- Make an appointment via iAdvise.
- New to iAdvise? Log in to my.UIC.edu and visit the Advising Tab. Click on iAdvise and you will go to your Success Network. Search for “CUPPA” in the search bar to find CUPPA advising and your advisor to make your appointment!
- Have you used iAdvise before? Use this link to go directly to the page to request an appointment with a CUPPA advisor.
- Contact Sharon Hayes, Director of Undergraduate Programs and Academic Support Staff to make an appointment directly.
Questions to ask your academic advisor:
- What is the best semester/term for you to study abroad?
- How many elective credits do you have left to complete your major?
- Which of your remaining degree requirements could you complete abroad? Are there any that you cannot take abroad?
- Make an appointment via iAdvise.
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Meet with the Study Abroad Office
Our advisors at the Study Abroad Office are excited to meet with you to discuss your interest in and goals for studying abroad. You can meet our team of advisors and learn about the programs they advise for here.
First Step
First Step Info Sessions are required for all study abroad applicants as a starting point for the application process. The presentation reviews how to select a program that aligns with your academic, personal, and professional goals, the application and course approval processes, financial aid policies, and scholarship opportunities. Learn more about our First Step sessions here.
Peer Advisor and General Study Abroad Advising
Once you’ve watched or attended a First Step session, you may still have some general questions or be unsure of what program you want to participate on. No worries, our Peer Advisor or Study Abroad Advisor can assist you! Our Peer Advisor is typically a current student who recently returned from studying abroad, so they can be an excellent resource in answering a lot of your initial questions and telling you about their study abroad experience. Additionally, our Study Abroad Advisor can help you reflect on your interests and goals to begin identifying potential programs of interest. Contact them at sao@uic.edu or make an appointment via iAdvise*.
Study Abroad Program Advising
If you know the region you are interested in or have identified a program of interest you can make an appointment with the assigned Study Abroad Office advisor to discuss the program and application process in detail. Every program has its own page on our website which lists the SAO advisor. Simply e-mail sao@uic.edu to request an appointment or schedule an appointment in iAdvise*.
Questions to ask your Study Abroad Advisor
- What are the eligibility requirements for the program(s) in which you are interested?
- What is the application deadline for the program(s) in which you are interested?
- What does the application process entail and is admission to the program competitive?
- What coursework is offered?
- What co-curricular experiences (ex: internships, research, social-cultural excursions/field trips etc.) are included?
- What is the cost of the program; what is and is not included?
- Review our funding resources here and discuss any questions you have.
- Discuss any personal matters or concerns you may have so your advisor can share resources and help you plan for your time abroad. As a start, explore our Navigating Your Identities Abroad page for resources related to different underrepresented identities and the abroad experience.
*To make an appointment with an SAO staff member in iAdvise, log on to my.UIC.edu and visit the Advising Tab. Click on iAdvise and you will go to your Success Network. Search for “Study Abroad” in the search bar to make your appointment or scroll down to our advisor profiles to schedule an appointment directly.
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Funding Resources
Studying abroad does not have to cost more than a typical semester at UIC. In addition, there are many resources available to help students afford study abroad. Check out some advice below and explore all of our funding resources in this section of our website.
Review Your Program’s Cost Sheet
Every study abroad program has its own webpage on our site. Use our program search to find a program of interest. On the Finances tab of each program page you will find a cost sheet which provides information on the billable and non-billable expenses associated with a program. Billable expenses are those expenses charged to your UIC student account while non-billable expenses are items you need to budget for but that are not charged to your student account, such as airfare, passport etc. Make sure to review your program’s cost sheet to help you understand the total estimated cost of studying abroad.
Explore Funding Resources
There are many resources available to you to help make funding study abroad a reality.
- Meet with a representative of the Financial Aid Office to understand what federal financial aid you may have available to use towards studying abroad. More information is available here.
- Apply for study abroad scholarships. There are numerous scholarships specific to studying abroad and UIC students are often competitive applicants. Check out UIC specific scholarships as well as scholarships offered by our program partners and nationally-competitive scholarships here.
- Tap your networks and leverage community-based funding. Studying abroad is an exciting academic opportunity in which many people in your networks would likely be happy to help support you. Find some tips for effective community-based funding here.
Major-Specific Scholarships
Although the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs does not currently have any scholarships specific to study abroad, they have a number of scholarships available to their students. You are encouraged to apply for any scholarships for which you are eligible. If you receive a scholarship for a semester at UIC, this may enable you to reallocate other aid and funds towards your study abroad program. For a full list of CUPPA scholarships please visit their website.
Gilman International Scholarship
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity.
Students must be Pell-eligible and intending to participate on a study abroad program that is at least 21 days in length. Gilman favors diversity in many forms, including racial and ethnic minorities, first-generation college students, LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, students pursuing majors in disciplines that are traditionally underrepresented in study abroad, and students interested in studying abroad in countries that are traditionally underrepresented in study abroad.
UIC students have been successful at earning the Gilman scholarship and SAO staff are available to help you on your application. Please visit Gilman’s website for more information and contact sao@uic.edu if you have questions or are interested in applying.
Fund for Education Abroad
The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. FEA administers several scholarships for students from diverse backgrounds and only requires a single application. Find out more here!
These are just a few examples of scholarships; make sure to visit this page on our website to explore more!
Highlighted Programs for Public Policy Majors Heading link
The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs recommends the following programs as being a good fit for Public Policy majors. Although these are recommended programs, please note that you are able to explore our full program listing here.
