University of Georgia

Beyond the Arch

Several students gather to watch the sun set on the horizon of a large desert.

Study Away at UGA

With students in 72 countries, the study abroad program offers a wide array of experiences

The coffee is stronger. No one wears white tennis shoes. People take two hours off in the middle of the afternoon to nap and lunch. 

These are a few of the amusing observations that students often report after a semester or year abroad. And while these cultural details have an impact, the entire experience of living in another country can deeply change a student’s perspective on the world.

Studying abroad during college is a unique and exciting experience, allowing students to immerse themselves in a new culture while continuing their education. You might imagine that spending a semester or a year living and taking classes in another country would delay graduation. It turns out the opposite is true.

A recent study from the University System of Georgia found education abroad had positive effects on graduation within four and six years and on cumulative GPA. It also revealed that students who study abroad earn slightly more credits, but it takes them less time to complete a degree.

The study compiled semester-by-semester records from 221,981 students across 35 U.S. institutions. Of those students, more than 30,000 had studied abroad.

A wide shot of a large crowd of people in front of a classic European building. The photo is slightly tilted to the right.
A female student paints on a tripod in the empty streets of a European city. She is surrounded by stone buildings.
A female student concentrates intensely on creating a bowl in a pottery studio.
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by University of Georgia (@universityofga)

Study abroad opportunities

The University of Georgia offers a wide variety of global learning experiences, including faculty-led programs, student exchange programs, and independent experiences. The top 10 most-visited countries are the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, Austria, Costa Rica, Australia, Germany, Greece and Portugal, but there are programs in 72 countries this year alone.

In 2019, a total of 3,706 students, participated in one of these programs. And the Office of Global Engagement expects these numbers to rise as we recover from the pandemic.

Additionally, UGA maintains two international centers, UGA at Oxford and UGA Cortona.

A classic round building with a pointed domed top. The building is made of light-colored stone and has a large arched doorway.
A closeup of a large stone building with classic architecture. The building has pointed spires along the top and a large arched window.
A group of students sits around a round wooden table as they study and talk. They are in a large, modern room with other students.
A group of five students walks towards the camera as they stroll through a European street.
Three students exercise on a bright green lawn. They are sitting in a circle and each has their hands raised to the sky.
A brown stone house is lit warmly from the outside as dusk approaches outside.

UGA at Oxford

UGA at Oxford has been in existence for over twenty-five years and offers courses in a wide range of disciplines. All courses in the program have the benefit of direct UGA credit, in-state tuition and use of financial aid. Students live in the UGA at Oxford Centre, which is housed in a 19th century Victorian mansion in north Oxford that has been renovated with modern amenities.

Oxford University uses tutorials, small group or individual meetings with an academic member of staff, rather than U.S.-style lectures. These weekly, one-on-one sessions encourage critical thinking on the student’s part as they directly engage with the professor on course-related issues, learning how to both construct and defend their arguments.

UGA Cortona

UGA Cortona is one of UGA’s oldest study abroad programs, having been in existence for over 50 years. Both the Cortona program and UGA Classics in Rome were founded in 1970. The campus, which consists of living quarters, classrooms and studios, sits on 4.5 acres of land above the small town of Cortona, Italy. 

UGA Cortona offers courses in art and art history during the spring, summer and fall academic terms. Its Maymester programs are more specialized and include classes in Italian, business and culture, viticulture and enology, and theater.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by University of Georgia (@universityofga)

A female student is wearing jean shorts and a grey shirt with the University of Georgia logo. She happily walks through the streets of a European city.
An overhead photo of a student in a red apron working on a pottery wheel.
A student paints on a canvas atop a tripod. He is in the middle of a grassy field.
A wide shot of a far off city. The city is full of brown stone buildings and surrounded by dark green trees.
Two women in white tops and dark bottoms look at wares in a street market.
Several dark stone buildings are built on a large hill. The buildings are close together but have the occasional dark green tree poking through.

Learn more about studying abroad

With over 130 study abroad opportunities, the University of Georgia is one of the top public universities for international engagement and enrichment.

Questions regarding Study Abroad can be directed to studyaway@uga.edu

Questions regarding UGA @Oxford can be directed to oxford@uga.edu

Questions regarding UGA Cortona can be directed to cortona@uga.edu

Written by: Aaron Hale

Photography by: Dorothy Kozlowski, Andrew Tucker

Design by: Andrea Piazza

Videography by: Nick Bragg