As a Biological Sciences student, you can:

• Explore a variety of courses that can count towards your major or minor as core requirements, related courses, and electives.
• Participate in hands-on learning activities as part of a course, including an internship, or through extracurricular activities.
• Enrich your academic experience by participating in classroom discussions abroad with diverse student populations.
• Select a faculty-led, exchange, affiliated or short-term program option.
• Develop international contacts to benefit your professional career.

Graduate Program Requirements: Certain courses (e.g. lab courses) taken abroad may not be accepted by graduate programs as meeting admissions requirements, so it is important to discuss those requirements with your academic advisor. Students should keep in mind that courses with laboratory components are typically not available abroad, and will likely have to be taken in residence at UConn. Pre-Med students should also consider the timing of when they will need to study for and take the M-CAT.

When planning an experience abroad, be sure to keep in mind your electives, any extra credits you may be able to use to your advantage, as well as current and upcoming terms in your course of study. For students who have a strict course sequence to follow each semester, a summer or winter program might be a good option.

How will #UConnChangeYourWorld?

These programs are recommended based on your academic interests but students can explore additional approved program options via the Program Search.

Fee-Based Programs: Fee-Based Programs charge Program Fees, not UConn tuition. Program Fees will appear on students’ UConn fee bills, along with other UConn fees as listed on the program’s budget sheet.

Summer Mediterranean Diet and Tuscan Cuisine in Florence
Florence, Italy
On this faculty-led program, students take one Allied Health Sciences course taught by a UConn faculty member (AH 2330: Italy’s Mediterranean Food and Our Health), and one History course. The Allied Health Sciences course can count as a Content Area 4: Diversity and Multiculturalism – International requirement. Food related tours and workshops are scheduled throughout the program to provide students with a hands-on experience.

Summer Brain and Behavior in Tel Aviv
TelAviv, Israel
On this faculty-led program, students take one Psychology course (PSYC 2209H: Learning and Memory: From Brain to Behavior) taught by a UConn faculty member and one culture course at Tel Aviv University. Students can earn honors credit on this program.

Summer Neuroscience in Salamanca
Salamanca, Spain
On this faculty-led program, students choose one course from a variety of Psychology and Physiology and Neurobiology courses and one Spanish language course based on their language proficiency. Students can earn honors credit on this program.

Summer Field Ecology in South Africa
Limpopo, South Africa
This faculty-led program provides students an overview of the ecological systems in southern Africa, their management and related conservation issues, with emphasis on the ecosystems and landscapes of the region. It includes coursework at UConn during the spring semester and a field component in South Africa. PLEASE NOTE: This program is only available to students already registered in NRE 3305 for the Spring semester (Gen Ed Content Area 4).

Summer Interdisciplinary Ethnography Field School in Mauritius
Mauritius, Africa
This short-term program involves students in interdisciplinary research that combines laboratory and field methods, engages them in challenging and diverse learning environments, exposes them to global cultural diversity, and provides opportunities for immersive and experiential learning. The course offered is interdisciplinary and coursework is related to Cultural Anthropology, Social Psychology, Cognitive Science, Religious Studies, and Area Studies (Africa and Indian Ocean). Students will earn ANTH 3090 credit for Directed Field Research in Anthropology. 

Summer Psychology in Florence
Florence, Italy
Busy students will appreciate this short-term program option that takes place during the month of May, leaving the rest of the summer open for other commitments. Led by UConn Stamford Professor Leslie Burton, students will earn PSYC 2101 credit for the course, Introduction to Multicultural Psychology, which also fulfills General Education Content Area 4 requirement: Diversity & Multiculturalism. Outside of class time, students will have weekends free for travel and independent excursions.

Summer Traveling Brain
Vienna, Austria
This program runs mid-May to early June, leaving the rest of the summer open for other commitments. Led by UConn Professor Lori Gresham, this program will explore travel from biological, psychological, and social perspectives. It will try to answer questions such as: Why do we travel? What happens to our brains when we are suddenly embedded within a culture that is not our own? Does the brain re-wire itself when we travel?.

Tuition-Based Program: Tuition-Based Programs charge in-state, New England Regional, and out-of-state UConn tuition rates based on students’ residency. Tuition charges will appear on students’ UConn fee bills, along with other UConn fees as listed on the program’s budget sheet. Students may pay housing through their UConn fee bill or directly to their host university depending on the program. 

Pre-Med / Allied Health Spanish Program in Granada
Granada, Spain
On this semester-long program, students will take 15 credits of Spanish courses, of which 9 can count towards a Spanish minor, and participate in an internship at a Spanish hospital for Allied Health Sciences (AH 4093) credit.

National University of Singapore
Republic of Singapore
This semester-long program offers approved courses in Molecular Cell Biology. Many courses within the natural sciences are offered on this program.

University College Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
This semester-long program has approved courses in Philosophy, Nutrition, Psychology, Physics, and Molecular Cell Biology. Allied Health Sciences Majors can take courses within the UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences.

University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
This program offers approved courses in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

University of New South Wales
Sydney, Australia
This semester-long program offers approved courses in Molecular Cell Biology. Many courses within the natural sciences are offered on this program.

University of Wollongong
Wollongong, Australia
This semester-long program offers approved courses in Molecular Cell Biology and Physics.

Umbra Institute in Perugia – Food & Sustainability Studies Program
Perugia, Italy
The semester-long Food & Sustainability Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program with three tracks: Food Studies, Environmental Studies & Sustainability, and a Dual Track. Students take an Italian class and then choose three food or sustainability related courses. All courses include co-curricular field trips. The Umbra Institute also offers several of these courses on it’s Summer Sessions, which are fee-based programs.

The London Program or The London Program with Internship
London, England
This semester-long program offers students the opportunity to focus on their content areas during their semester abroad. Students can choose either a full semester of classes on the London Program, or to take 3-4 classes plus a 6 credit internship experience on the London Program with Internship. Possible internship placements include: Advertising and Public Relations, Communications and Media, Fashion, Government and Politics, Health Care/Sciences, History, Information Technology and Computing, Law, Non-Profit and NGO, Psychology, Social Science and more.

OTS: African Field Ecology and Conservation in South Africa
Skukuza, South Africa
On this program, students can earn 12 credits of either Evolutionary Ecology and Biology or Natural Resources and the Environment credit. Students spend the majority of the semester in Kruger National Park, one of the largest conservation areas in Africa and the oldest national park in South Africa. By designing research projects with their professors, students contribute meaningful scientific data to issues faced by managers in South African National Parks.

OTS: Tropical Biology on a Changing Planet
Multiple locations, Costa Rica
The semester-long program allows students to learn through four interconnected courses that introduce you to biomes across Costa Rica, you will become versed in the skills and knowledge necessary to address contemporary issues in conservation and ecology. You will focus on tropical ecology, environmental preservation, research skills, and Spanish in OTS’ dynamic research stations, La Selva, Palo Verde, and Las Cruces, as well as other forest and coastal sites.

Direct-Bill Programs: Direct-Bill Programs charge students directly for their program costs. Students pay the affiliate program directly for their fees, whereas other UConn fees will appear on students’ UConn fee bills as listed on the program’s budget sheet. Be sure to review the program’s full costs on the provider’s own website. UConn is not responsible for those costs.

AIFS Study Abroad in the Galapagos
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
This program runs twice a year, once in January and once over the Summer. Earn 3 semester credits over 2 weeks January term studying abroad in Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Study Environmental Science in the course: Ecosystems and Biodiversity in the Galápagos, in English. The UConn course equivalent is EEB 2893.  

KEI in Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand
This program, held at Mahidol University International College (MUIC), offers students the chance to take a number of courses in Biological Sciences covering topics such as Oceanography and Aquatic Ecology, Physiology, Microbiology, Zoology and more.

OTS: Summer Tropical Biology in Costa Rica
Multiple locations, Costa Rica
The summer course in tropical biology is fast-paced and will engage you in some of the most critical issues facing tropical biodiversity and ecosystems today. During the four-weeks of the course, you will study in OTS’ three field stations in Costa Rica, giving you access to highly threatened tropical dry forests, lowland wet forests, and primary and secondary premontane wet forests. You’ll become familiar with the natural history of these diverse sites and engage in research under the mentorship of experts working at the field sites. Students will earn 4 credits for the following: EEB/NRE 4390 Fundamentals of Tropical Biology.

OTS: Summer Global Health Issues in South Africa
Multiple locations, South Africa
This program will allow you to explore a range of health issues and medical practices in South Africa through an interdisciplinary lens. An integrated learning model which incorporates both classroom and field instruction will help you understand the fundamental principle of health as a human rights issue. Credit earned is AH 4660: Global Health Issues in South Africa (4 credits).

Finances are an integral part of the program selection and planning process. Students should research scholarships early to meet application deadlines and request essay feedback from advisors and the Writing Center.
Featured Scholarships:

McMahon Family Endowment for Global Education

Rosen Family Scholarship for Science and Studies Abroad

API STEM Scholarship

To learn more and discover other financial opportunities to fund your Experiential Global Learning opportunity, visit our scholarships page.