UW-La Crosse International Education & Engagement

06/17/2026

Alyza studied abroad in Australia! 🇦🇺
Hear from her below:

My name is Alyza, and I am a Communications major with a Media Studies minor. I am currently studying abroad on the Gold Coast in Australia at Southern Cross University through Direct Enroll. While abroad, I am taking a total of four classes: Physical Activity for Health, Event Planning, Marketing Communications, and English: Literature, Language, and Literacy. I am currently in my second term of classes, and so far, my academic experience has been very engaging and rewarding. The professors here are extremely helpful and supportive, and classes are split into two 6-week terms, which makes the workload feel much more manageable and allows students to really focus on each course. Another big difference is that there are no traditional exams or finals. Instead, we complete 2-3 major assessments throughout each term, allowing me to put more time and effort into producing my best work. One of the most surprising things about Australia has been the lifestyle and morning culture. People here start their days very early, before the sun rises, and you’ll already see people surfing, running, walking along the beach, or getting coffee. Most people are also in bed much earlier than I used to back home. It took some adjusting, but I’ve come to love early morning and sunset walks on the beach. One of my favorite experiences so far has been attending a surf camp and taking a “Learn to Surf” class, which was such an awesome experience and something I never imagined I’d get to do while abroad. For any students considering studying abroad in the future, I could not recommend it more! Although I’m only a little over halfway through my experience, I have already met so many amazing people, formed lifelong friendships, and learned so much both about myself and the world around me. Studying abroad can feel intimidating at first, but taking that leap is so worth it. I especially recommend Australia for its beautiful weather, incredible beaches, and welcoming culture. This experience has reminded me how much there is to see and learn outside of your comfort zone, and I’m so grateful I took the chance to study abroad.

06/16/2026

McKenna studied abroad in England! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Hear from her about the experience:

Hi! My name is McKenna. I have a Geography: Humans and the Environment major with a Psychology minor, and I studied in London, England, in the UK this past spring. My program was through ISA, at Kingston University, in a borough outside of central London. I took a variety of classes during my semester abroad, including Urban and Cultural Geographies, Social Justice & Fashion, and British Life & Culture. I was able to go on field trips like seeing plays at Shakespeare’s Globe, visiting Windsor Castle and the London dungeons, and even taking trips to Stonehenge and Bath. Diving into such a wide array of topics allowed me to immerse myself both in the UK’s educational system itself (almost no homework, mostly term projects!) as well as the culture of London and England as a whole. A big surprise to me was the change in school culture I experienced in London. Aside from having only one project due per class, I was also surprised by how community-based the work was. Being able to get so deeply involved in the area I lived in and to work with local organizations for the projects I focused on was so meaningful and led me to grow as a student in ways I haven’t before. 

 My advice to other students studying abroad is to try everything. Take the random trips, eat fun foods, get involved both in the school you’re at and the communities you’re in, and make memories with the people around you. Studying abroad is such a special opportunity; take advantage of it!

06/15/2026

Alexia studied abroad in Spain! 🇪🇸
Learn about her time in Seville:

Hello! My name is Alexia, and I’m an Exercise Sport Science major with a Spanish minor. I had been looking forward to studying abroad since the beginning of college, so it still feels unreal to say I got to live and study in Sevilla, Spain. It truly ended up being the perfect place for me amazing weather (even though it rained a lot the first week) with perfect distance to beaches and even an international airport. I studied abroad through SAIIE which was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I chose this program because they offered great classes for Exercise Sport Science students. I was also lucky enough to have an internship where, twice a week, I observed a physiotherapist working with patients. Along with that, I took classes at the University of Seville, including Wine in Spain and even a cooking class! One thing that surprised me most about studying abroad was how quickly I adapted to living in another country. Of course there were some challenging moments, but overall this experience opened my eyes and heart to the world and to different cultures. If even a small part of you is thinking about studying abroad, take the jump, you won’t regret it. My biggest advice is to figure out your “why,” whether it’s practicing a language, traveling, gaining new experiences, or stepping out of your comfort zone. When you know your reason, it helps you stay grounded and remember who you are while you’re abroad. There is so much of the world out there and I advise everyone to see it!!

06/13/2026

See a day in the life of Abbie in Barcelona 🌹🇪🇸

06/12/2026

Ailbe studied abroad in Italy! 🇮🇹
Read below about her experience:

Hi, my name is Ailbe, and I am a Psychology major and Sociology minor. I participated in a direct enroll program in Milan, Italy, where I spent my academic year at Universita Cattolica taking psychology courses such as Social Psychology in Action and Cross-Cultural Psychology, alongside Italian language classes and cultural courses like a cooking lab and art and literature classes about the history of Milan. My classes were held Monday through Thursday, with each course meeting twice a week for two-hour lessons. On weekends, I traveled throughout Italy and Europe to places like London, Budapest, Portofino, and Zurich, and I had the chance to experience the 2026 Winter Olympics and Milan Fashion Week, among other events.
I was surprised by how different Milanese culture is from the stereotypical “Italian” culture. Milan is faster paced than other Italian cities, yet people still prioritize taking breaks, with many businesses closing from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch which was an adjustment for me since that was usually when I ran errands. The city is also incredibly well connected. Milan is very walkable, and its metro and public transportation system is accessible, reliable, and easy to navigate. Combined with three airports less than an hour from the city center and numerous train and bus stations, traveling around Milan and to other destinations on weekends was simple and convenient for my friends and me.
My recommendation for future students is study abroad! No matter where you go, it is a life-changing experience, and given the chance, I would do it all over again. I also recommend talking to others who have studied abroad to hear their stories and advice, which can help you make the best choice for your interests and goals.

06/11/2026

Itzel studied abroad in France 🇫🇷
Read below about her time at Caen:

Hello! My name is Itzel and I am a French Education & TESOL major. I studied abroad in Caen, France for a semester through the Exchange program. I took a variety of classes including French oral and written communications, French phonetics, French literature, and more. Although I spent a lot of time in the classroom, after classes I often spent my afternoons exploring the city of Caen. I was surprised at how many items were offered at the bakeries (I went quite often!) and how open the people of Caen were to communicating in French. I had plenty of opportunites to interact and have conversation with the people of Caen (students, store employees, and other members of the community). My advice is to take the opportunity to learn about the people in the community, especially if it’s also a way for you to practice your language skills! I learned so much from them and it also allowed me to hear and use vocabulary that wasn’t present in the classroom.

06/10/2026

Ava studied abroad in Italy 🇮🇹
Hear all about her experience:

My name is Ava and I’m a Finance major with a Business Analytics minor at UWL! I am currently a sophomore, and I recently got back from my January term three-week study abroad to Florence Italy. My trip was organized through API but I also received a lot of support from UWL. While in Italy I took a three-credit class called the Palaces of Florence. It was super interesting and I learned a ton about the history of Florence through in person visits to many palaces, churches, and historical sites. This class allowed me to really get to know the city I was staying and appreciate it in a deeper way. Staying in Florence was also a really amazing experience in and of itself as the city is full of life, history, and things to do. I tried so much amazing Italian food, attended a cooking class where I learned how to make homemade pasta, and got to see so much incredible art by artists such as Michelangelo and Donatello. I was surprised how walkable the city was and how kind the Italians were to tourists and students. One recommendation I would give students studying there is to try the local dishes of the places you are in especially if you travel around to other cities. For example, I did a weekend in Rome which is known for its carbonara, that was the best pasta I had throughout my whole trip. On that same note I would recommend traveling to other cities or countries on the weekends!

05/21/2026

⛴️🇳🇿 Check out a day in the life of Claire studying abroad in New Zealand!

05/13/2026

Taylor studied abroad in Mexico! 🇲🇽

Read about her time there below:

My name is Taylor! I’m currently studying Spanish at UWL and will be heading to Viterbo next year to pursue my master’s in nursing. I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Mexico at UDLAP for an academic year through a direct enroll program. My first semester focused on Spanish for exchange students, and in my second semester I took regular university courses like translation studies, grammar, and history. I lived in Cholula, Puebla, a beautiful city with views of an active volcano and a stunning church perched on a hill. The weather was amazing year-round, the cost of living was surprisingly affordable, and the food was absolutely delicious. Most of all, I loved trying new things and meeting friends from all over the world. If you’re even thinking about studying abroad, take the leap. You won’t regret it!

05/13/2026

Congratulations NJ!

The CBA would like to recognize Nainil Jariwala (NJ) for his achievement as he was recently awarded the Mens Corpusque Award at the Eagles Excellence in Leadership Awards.

The Mens Corpusque (Mind and Body) Award is meant to recognize up to three graduating seniors. Recipients will have shown a commitment to the University’s motto in their words and actions throughout their time at UWL. Award recipients will have demonstrated an embrace of holistic education, dedicating their time and energy towards opportunities that enable growth physically, mentally, and beyond. The students receiving this award have also shown a commitment to encouraging and supporting their peers to embrace the University’s motto as well and have taken on both formal and informal leadership roles on campus and in the community to do so.

NJ stands out as a student who truly lives out the values of Mens Corpusque in all he does. His commitment to growth, leadership, and uplifting others highlights why he is deserving of this recognition. We thank NJ for his dedication and for being an outstanding representative of the College of Business Administration.