Get Involved

Are you interested in connecting with other students who have studied abroad like yourself?  Then join the Study Abroad Ambassadors student organization!  They are an enthusiastic group of study abroad alumni who value the transformative experience of international education.  Together they collaborate with the Study Abroad Office to share their stories and increase access to Study Abroad for all UIC students.

Did you document your study abroad experience in a unique way?  Do you want to make sure other students know what it is like to study abroad?  If you do, please use the testimonial and photos submission link to share your story with our office and the greater UIC community.  We will use the submissions in our social media, print materials, and website to help spread the word about study abroad.  If you kept a personal blog, made a video, etc. please email sao@uic.edu to share it with us.  We are interested in hearing your perspectives and reflections!

Do you have a great idea for a conference presentation about your study abroad experience? Consider submitting a proposal to present at the next Study Abroad Symposium!

The Study Abroad Symposium is an initiative started in 2023 to showcase the learning, intercultural experiences, growth, and impact of participating in study abroad programs through conference-style presentations and sessions. Presenters include both UIC faculty who have led Faculty-Directed programs and students who have studied abroad.

The Symposium is held each Fall semester and open to all members of the UIC community. Click below to learn more and look out for more information/a call for proposals each Fall semester.

Study Abroad is a high-impact experience and many programs include research, internships, or community engagement opportunities that can be showcased at UIC Impact and Research Day. The UIC Impact and Research Day (IRD) is an event in which the campus celebrates the wealth of research and engagements across all disciplines carried out by the dedicated undergraduate, graduate, and professional students of this campus. The IRD provides a venue for students at UIC to present their research and other scholarly pursuits and discuss the impact of those experiences.  Presentations will be judged and students can win monetary awards for their work.

The Study Abroad Office is available to help support your project development, presentation skills, and offer general mentorship.  Having an academic forum to articulate your study abroad experiences will enhance your resume and graduate school applications.  Additionally, it is an excellent way to practice important lifelong skills necessary in many careers.

Please complete this interest form if you would like to receive project mentorship from the Study Abroad Office to participate in Impact & Research Day.

Intercultural Connections: Sparking inclusive community at UIC aims to foster an inclusive campus space where UIC students from all parts of the world come together to collectively grow in their intercultural competency. Through opportunities for co-curricular and social engagement, participants will develop the awareness and skills to better understand themselves, others, and their communities through an intercultural lens.

The program’s vision is to contribute to the internationalization of the UIC campus by promoting cross-cultural friendships and developing global citizens who embody and apply the UIC values of diversity, inclusion, and social justice throughout their personal and professional lives in Chicago and abroad.

Interested students can apply to join the Intercultural Connections via the Office of International Services website.

The DAAD Young Ambassadors Program is a unique and exciting two-semester volunteer opportunity for undergraduate students who studied in Germany to promote study and research in Germany at their home universities and colleges.

During the academic year, DAAD Young Ambassadors promote study and research in Germany by working with their universities’ study abroad offices, volunteering at study abroad fairs, organizing class visits, info sessions, fun events, and answering their fellow students’ questions. DAAD provides Young Ambassadors with brochures, giveaways, and funding for events.

The Umbrella is a UIC Student Organization dedicated to creating community among international students. While focused on the specific needs of students from other countries studying at UIC, The Umbrella welcomes members/participants in their activities of US-based origins, especially those who have had their own international experiences while studying abroad (or some other international undertaking). You can find them on Campus Groups or on Instagram at @theumbrella.uic.

The Grant is funded by IIE and provides up to six grants of up to $10,000 to fund impactful community service projects. This grant competition is open to Gilman Alumni only. Applicants must have successfully completed their Gilman Program abroad experience and their Follow-On Service Project. Grant proposals can be submitted by an individual or a team of Gilman Alumni. Each proposal must include a budget plan and a letter of endorsement. The Gilman Alumni Changemaker Grant builds on one of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program’s hallmark features, the follow-on service project, enabling alumni to continue to give back to communities through grant-supported projects. The grants support impactful public service projects that need funding to get them off the ground. Gilman alumni inspire change and positively impact their home communities with skills and knowledge gained during their international experiences. The Gilman Alumni Changemaker Grant initiative invests in alumni and their proposed larger projects that create positive change in their communities within the United States.