Since turning 20 just three years ago, I’ve had the privilege of traveling to 35 countries. Of these 35 countries, trips to 15 of them were fully sponsored by my university! These international experiences not only gave me the chance to explore the world but also played a pivotal role in my professional development.
While finding opportunities to travel for free as a student may not always be straightforward, it’s entirely possible with the right approach. In this blog post, I’ll share how I leveraged my student status to take advantage of international opportunities. These actionable tips will help you make the most of your college years as you gain invaluable global experience.
- Have a funded study-abroad experience
- Join organizations that fund international travel
- Apply for grants to fund field research
- Pursue professional opportunities abroad
- Find faculty-led programs abroad
- Participate in student competitions
- Learn a language
- Volunteer abroad
- Use your breaks from school to travel off-peak
- Have a funded study abroad experience
Study abroad programs are perhaps the most intuitive way to travel abroad as a student. Most schools allow students to study abroad during the summer or semester; however, academic year programs can be especially advantageous because, instead of paying tuition to your home institution, you’ll typically pay tuition to your study abroad program. If you’re on financial aid, it’s worth noting that most schools allow aid to transfer to cover study abroad costs. This means you could experience life abroad without paying more than you typically would for tuition.
Beyond financial aid, there are countless scholarships available for students who study abroad. For Yalies, the Yale Fellowships and Funding website is a great place to find scholarships and grants. If you’re at another school, your career office or financial aid office can point you in the right direction.
You might also find funding through the academic department that aligns with the field of your study abroad. For example, if you’re studying French, ask your French department about scholarships and funded opportunities in Francophone countries.
The key to making the most of a study abroad experience is to take full advantage of being in a foreign location by traveling as much as you can. During my semester in France, I was able to travel to several countries in Europe because every major city was just a train ride away. For example, I visited 9 cities in Spain over the course of 3 trips because it cost less than €50 to get there with my youth rail pass (check out my post How To Travel While Young and Broke to learn more about youth rail passes and other youth discounts). In the end, I learned Spanish (in addition to French) because of how much time I spent in Spain!
- Join organizations that fund international travel
College organizations may also offer unique opportunities for international travel. In my experience, the clubs most likely to offer travel are those centered on competing with other universities. Model UN (MUN) is a great example of this.
While I was on the Model UN Team at Yale (MUNTY), my team traveled to conferences throughout the east coast, as well as to the Yale Model African Union conference in Rwanda and the World MUN conference in France. As a MUNTY member, these trips were 100% free. However, even if you’re not on a MUN team, you can attend international conferences as an individual delegate. The cherry on top is that many conferences offer financial aid to help individual delegates cover the cost of flights, lodging, and registration fees!
For those interested in leadership, organizing these conferences offers another avenue for international travel. I was president of the Yale Model African Union (YMAU) conference which was held in Rwanda in 2022. After a week of pre-conference organizing and a weekend of running the event, my team and I spent four days traveling throughout Rwanda. Our conference was sponsored by the Yale International Relations Association (YIRA) which is undoubtedly the best organization to join at Yale if you want to travel abroad extensively. In addition to sending me and my team to organize our conference in Rwanda, YIRA has also sent my peers to organize conferences in destinations such as Greece, India, and Taiwan.
For non-Yale students, do not be discouraged if your university doesn’t already have established conferences abroad: I led Yale’s first-ever conference in Africa at 21, so with the right resources and work ethic, you can create similar opportunities at your university.
Beyond MUN, there are plenty of other ways to travel through college organizations. Performing arts groups, for example, may also offer unique travel opportunities. At Yale, a cappella groups have a strong tradition of international touring. Every major group tours one country outside of the US each year. Yale’s most renowned group– the Whiffenpoofs— even go on an annual world tour, performing in several countries on each continent.
Cultural and heritage organizations may provide yet another avenue for international travel. The Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale (The House), for example, organizes trips to Africa and its diaspora. Similarly, organizations at La Casa Cultural– Yale’s cultural center for students of the Latine diaspora—hosts trips to Latin America. As members of The House or La Casa, my peers have done everything from service trips in the Dominican Republic to research trips in Morocco.
In addition to organizing trips, these cultural organizations also provide grants to support work that is aligned with their mission. The Afro-American Cultural Center’s ORD fund, for example, helps fund research, internships, conferences, and experiential learning opportunities connected to Africa and its diaspora. Some of my classmates used ORD grants to attend the YMAU conference in Rwanda, and I personally relied on an ORD grant to fund a research project in Brazil.
- If your studies focus on another region, apply for grants to fund field research.
One of the best parts of returning to Yale each fall was hearing about the incredible activities that my classmates had pursued during their summer breaks. I had a friend who was a classics major, and she would spend her summers excavating in Italy. One of my pre-med friends would spend her summers in Senegal doing malaria research. Meanwhile, my roommate, a student in Yale’s Education Studies program, spent a summer exploring the centrality of critical pedagogy in the curricula of countries that had experienced large-scale human rights violations in recent history. As for me, an African Studies and Political Science major, the majority of my research centered on African politics and governance. Thus, for my senior thesis, I received funding from my department to conduct fieldwork in my thesis case study countries. My 70-page thesis drew on ethnographic observations, interviews, and archival research I conducted in four African countries over the course on one summer.
If your school doesn’t fund undergraduates to pursue their own research abroad, look for international research opportunities in your field through external organizations. From politics to sciences, there is no shortage of international research opportunities for undergraduate students! While some of my friends have traveled to Europe to prepare research projects for the Humanity in Action fellowship, others have conducted archaeology research with the Koobi Fora Research and Training Program in Kenya.
It’s also worth noting that research doesn’t have to be confined to the summer. Many institutions offer grants for short-term research projects during fall or winter breaks. (Pro tip for Yale students: both the Council on Latin American and Iberian Studies (CLAS) and the Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity, and Transnational Migration (RITM) offer winter and spring break grants).
During my senior year, I received a CLAS grant to research the politics of memorialization of slavery in Brazil. My research in Brazil not only helped me secure an A on one of my term research papers, but it also influenced me to apply for the Fulbright in Brazil. Now, I am preparing to move to Brazil as a Fulbright research grantee! My trajectory is a testament to just how professionally formative research experiences can be.
- Pursue professional opportunities abroad
If you intend to work in global affairs or any of its related fields, gaining experience abroad is essential. Therefore, pursuing professional opportunities overseas as an undergraduate is an investment that will pay dividends down the line.
The summer after my sophomore year, I interned with the U.S. Department of State. Their internship program offers students the chance to work in bureaus based in Washington, D.C. and in embassies worldwide. I was placed at the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania and, although the internship was remote due to the pandemic, it remained an incredibly valuable experience. Additionally, because State Department internships are paid, you will be able to work abroad without incurring extra costs.
During a separate summer, I interned with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Senegal. One of the coolest things about the UN is the variety of agencies it encompasses. Whether your interests lie in development, humanitarian response, environmentalism, or economics, there’s likely an agency and a role that aligns with your passions. Some UN internships are paid, while others– like the one I did– are unpaid. However, because my internship was unpaid, I was able to receive a summer internship grant from Yale (The Leitner) which covered my stipend.
Other internships for those interested in diplomacy or international development include the World Bank Group Internship Program and the OECD internship program. For students interested in Arts, Media, and Culture, I suggest exploring Cultural Vistas to find internships in public diplomacy and the arts, or National Geographic internships for the opportunity to work on storytelling and conservation projects.
For those interested in other fields, organizations like Projects Abroad, Go Overseas, and World Endeavors can help you find placements in a wide variety of disciplines in destinations throughout the world.
Now, it’s important to remember that while you’re working abroad, you’re also living abroad. You may spend your days at work, but your evenings and weekends are yours to explore. Don’t limit your learning to the workplace—immerse yourself in the culture, connect with your surroundings, and make the most of the experience.
- Find faculty-led programs abroad & enroll in classes with trips abroad
It is not uncommon for university professors to take their students abroad for fieldwork and on-site learning experiences.
For example, during my sophomore year at Yale, my Human Biology professor invited our entire class to assist her with research in Argentina. Although I chose not to participate because it didn’t align with my professional goals, it would have been an incredible opportunity for anyone pursuing global health!
At Yale, it is also common for professors to integrate trips directly into their course curriculum. More often than not, these trips are domestic. However, some classes do take students abroad annually. For example, a Latin American Studies class on the history and culture of Cuba has historically taken its students to Cuba each spring break. Meanwhile, a Global Affairs course about governance in the Sahel takes its students to Senegal and Mauritania during spring break. Additionally, the Global Affairs capstone course tends to take students abroad during the fall of their senior year.
Beyond trips tied to coursework, certain classes give summer research grants to all enrolled students in order to enable them to pursue independent projects abroad. Notable examples of such courses at Yale include Grand Strategy and Social Enterprise in Developing Economies.
- Participate in Student Competitions & Conferences
Student competitions in fields like tech, business, and the arts often provide exciting opportunities for international travel, with many offering funding to participants. Events such as the Hult Prize, international hackathons, and global startup competitions allow students to showcase their skills on an international stage.
Case competitions, particularly those hosted by multinational companies or top MBA programs, present consulting and business-focused challenges in dynamic global settings. Additionally, global conferences such as the Clinton Global Initiative University or the World Youth Congress provide platforms for students to engage with pressing global issues, connect with like-minded peers, and broaden their professional networks—all while exploring new destinations.
Opportunities to showcase skills and innovative ideas are not limited to competitions. My younger brother, for instance, was funded by his university to attend the AfroTech conference in Houston where he pitched his startup to various conference attendees. Whether it’s an international competition or conference, these experiences offer students the chance to develop professionally while growing their network in new locations.
- Learn a language
One of the most straightforward ways to secure funding for international travel through your school is by studying a language. If your school mandates foreign language study, I highly recommend completing this requirements through a language program abroad—ideally during the summer.
By participating in a summer study abroad program, you can earn language credits at an accelerated pace and also accelerate your language acquisition.
Even if your school provides limited scholarships for studying abroad, you can find funding through external programs sponsored by governments and other organizations. For example, the U.S. government offers scholarships like the Critical Language Scholarship, the Boren Scholarship, and, for high school students, the NSYI program. These initiatives not only help you develop your linguistic skills but also promote cultural exchange, global understanding, and the opportunity to build lasting international connections.
- Volunteer abroad
There are meaningful volunteer opportunities abroad that allow students to gain valuable experience while exploring new cultures. For example, the Peace Corps Prep helps students prepare for Peace Corps service after graduation.
For those interested in conservation, organizations like WWOOF provide opportunities to work on organic farms worldwide, while wildlife conservation programs in Africa or South America allow students to contribute to environmental preservation. These programs are ideal for short-term international exposure during school breaks.
However, be cautious to avoid voluntourism by ensuring that your work aligns with your skill set and is well-received by your host community.
- Use your breaks from school to travel off-peak
Peak season refers to the busiest or most popular time of the year for travel. During peak season, prices associated with traveling increase due to high demand. Summer (June-August) is peak season in most places. Winter, around Christmas and New Years, is also peak season in popular holiday destinations. Flight tickets and hotel rooms are both hundreds of dollars cheaper if you travel outside of peak season.
As a university student, you may have breaks from school that permit you to travel during unconventional (and thus cheaper) times of the year, such as fall break or a long thanksgiving break. In the past, I have taken advantage of these breaks to travel. My friends and I took a week-long glamping trip to Canada during the fall break of our junior year of college. The next year, I used my fall break to visit a friend in Puerto Rico.
Spring break is also a great time for university students to travel. In some places, such as Miami or Cancun, Spring Break is peak season. However, if you opt to travel somewhere where few spring-breakers travel, you may also benefit from off-peak prices. During the spring break of my junior year, I traveled to Dubai. During the spring break of my senior year I traveled to Brazil. For accommodation in Brazil, I paid about $300 for 12 nights (which was about $25 a night) in a hotel in Copacabana– one of Rio’s most touristy neighborhoods. Similarly, my flights to Dubai during spring break were about $700 cheaper than they would have been in the winter or summer seasons.
College students are basically the only demographic with a spring break, so use the fact that spring is not a peak travel time to your advantage.
Now that you have a toolbox full of ideas…
it’s time to take action! Start by researching study abroad programs, signing up for a club with international ties, or exploring funding opportunities for internships or field research. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—make your college years count and start planning your next adventure today.
Want more tips or inspiration? Subscribe to my blog newsletter for more travel advice, and feel free to reach out with any questions about how to make international travel a reality while you’re still in school. Your global journey is just a step away—let’s make it happen!
