Spend a summer in a research lab overseas. Engage in a faculty-led program abroad. Tackle an internship or take a semester to explore science and non-science courses at another country’s university. Shadow doctors in another country.
We mean it when we say that there is a program out there that will fit your interests, schedule, and budget! The Office of Experiential Learning is committed to ensuring all undergraduate students in CNS have the opportunity to explore the world. If you're pre-health, we have a special guide just for you!
Starting the process early and learning what you need to do to stay on track will make finding the right program for you easier. CNS students should work closely with their academic advisor to make sure they are completing their degree requirements while planning for an international experience. Don't forget to check out UT's Study Away & Intern Away options as well.
Ready to Plan Your Adventure? Here's What to Consider
Planning your international experience starts with asking the right questions. Use the guide below to explore your options and stay on track:
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When Can I Go?
- Programs are available during may, summer, and semester.
- Some opportunities are best suited for sophomores and juniors, while others welcome first-year students.
- Think about when you’ll have room in your degree plan and flexibility in your schedule.
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Where Can I Go?
- Choose from destinations across Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, and beyond.
- Consider language, culture, climate, and the kind of experience you want—urban, rural, lab-based, or fieldwork.
- Some programs are tied to specific universities or research institutions.
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Which Courses Can I Take?
- Many programs offer CNS-specific coursework, while others fulfill core curriculum or elective requirements.
- Look at your Degree Audit and explore the My Credit Abroad database for options on science and non-science courses you can take abroad.
- Work with your academic advisor to ensure courses fit into your degree plan.
- Pre-health students should meet with the Health Professions Office for advice on when to go and which courses should NOT be taken abroad. Check out our Pre-health Abroad Guide as well.
- Some international coursework may need to be evaluated for credit equivalency with UT coursework. Texas Global has details on course credit and course evaluations.
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How Can I Fund It?
- Apply for scholarships, fellowships, and financial aid.
- Some programs are more affordable than a semester at UT!
- Many scholarships are need-based so make sure you have your FAFSA complete.
- Explore CNS-specific funding, UT funding, and national opportunities.
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How Do I Apply?
- Start by exploring programs and narrowing down your options.
- Follow program application timelines and requirements—some programs have early deadlines and specialized applications.
- Check out Texas Global's How to Apply Guide for more information.
Graduating This Year? You Can Still Go Abroad
Senior year is not too late to have an international experience. In fact, the May and Summer terms can be an ideal time. Here’s what you need to know.
UT May and Summer programs are open to graduating seniors
You can participate in UT faculty-led and affiliate programs during the May or Summer term of your graduation year, or in the summer immediately following graduation. Check with Texas Global about eligibility for the specific program you’re interested in, and confirm your enrollment status with your academic advisor.
You may not need course credit and that changes your options!
If you’ve already completed your degree requirements, you don’t need to earn credit abroad. That opens up a choice worth thinking through:
- A UT or affiliate program still offers real advantages: a built-in cohort, faculty-led curriculum, housing and logistics handled for you, and the support of a structured program. If you want the scaffolding — especially in a country you’ve never visited — it can be well worth the program fee.
- Independent travel is a legitimate and often more affordable alternative. You can design your own itinerary, move at your own pace, and put the money you would have spent on a program fee toward the experience itself — a few months of travel in Europe, a language course, volunteer work, or something else entirely. Without a job lined up yet, the summer after graduation is one of the few windows in your adult life when this kind of open-ended travel is genuinely easy to do.
Neither option is better than the other — it depends on what you’re looking for, your budget, and how much structure you want. Come talk to us and we’ll help you figure it out.
Want more guidance?
CNS Undergraduates can make a “Study Abroad & International Opportunities Advising" Appointment with our team in 12twenty@Texas.