In 2009, at a student roundtable in Istanbul, President Barack Obama — who would win the Nobel Peace Prize later that year — told the students and professors of the Tophane Cultural Center: “Simple exchanges can break walls down between us, for when people come together and speak to one another and share a common experience, then their common humanity is revealed.”

The U.S. became what it is today through a process of exchange. There was the cruel exchange of slavery across the Atlantic, but also the aspiring exchange of immigrants looking for a new life. Today, University of Wisconsin students are getting a taste of contemporary exchange through the university’s 275 Study Abroad program.

UW has a stellar reputation in the international realm, ranking #6 out of U.S. universities for study abroad participation and #18 for international student enrollment, according to the 2025 Open Doors report. Student enrollment abroad is only increasing with time.

Despite its growing popularity, however, studying abroad is a daunting prospect for many students, and quite a few may struggle with the decision to apply or make the final leap across the globe. This article hopes to explain the history of UW’s study abroad program and what, exactly, the international experience is like.

History and process of UW’s study abroad program

According to an authored history of UW’s relationship with the rest of the world, the study abroad program at UW took shape in the 1950s and 1960s as a widely-diversified faculty hoped to bring their knowledge to developing countries. Of particular interest was the newly-independent India, and the College of Engineering and Department of Economics spent years assisting the country in its development.

The first study abroad programs for student credit, however, took place across Europe and focused almost entirely on European art and culture.

The foundations of UW’s International Studies program took root in 1960 with the creation of the Committee on Area, Language, and International Programs. Mostly information-based, it laid the groundwork for a more structured system, the Office of International Studies and Programs in 1962.

OSIP was initially led by history professor Henry Hill and administered year-long programs and coordinated campus international programs. The next few decades would see the widespread popularity and development of OSIP, which would eventually become the International Academic Programs we know today.

The Badger Herald reached out to Assistant Dean and director of IAP Daniel K. Gold about his experience with the International Division and its current internal state.

UW has one of the longest traditions of study abroad engagement in the country and attributed its high international rankings to collaboration with other departments on campus and a plethora of scholarship opportunities to reduce financial barriers to studying abroad, Gold said in an email statement.

In terms of the budget cuts that have swept the university in recent years, IAP was largely immune thanks to its operation on a cost-recovery basis, Gold said in his email. This functionally means that IAP’s finances are managed based on the number of students who are currently abroad, a number that has only risen in recent years, according to Gold.

“We manage our resources … to ensure that program quality and the health and safety of our students abroad are maintained as our core priority,” Gold said in an email statement.

While some programs are more popular than others, students should explore all available options to find their best match, Gold said. The IAP office is introducing multiple new locations for the summer, such as in Estonia and Chile, and is incorporating multiple additional programs in South Korea, according to Gold.

The student experience

The Badger Herald reached out to multiple students about their experience abroad, and the general reception appeared quite positive. What exactly drew them to their destinations and what aspects of their experience have been their favorite?

Declan Halloran, a junior majoring in Chinese, is spending a semester and summer at the National Taiwan University in Taipei. He had hoped to study abroad since learning Chinese in kindergarten and also had teachers from China and Taiwan, Halloran said.

“The broader international world has been a part of my life for a really long time,” Halloran said.

A factor influencing Halloran’s decision to study at the National Taiwan University in Taipei was its nature as a direct exchange program, which means it costs the same as a typical semester in Madison, he said. The breadth of classes offered in Taipei is extensive, including topics like Chinese literature, culture, history and Asian studies, Halloran said.

Though Halloran had only been in Taiwan for a week at the time of his interview, it was already an immersive experience with most of his conversations being in Mandarin with friendly locals, he said. Compared to Madison, he feels as though he has more opportunities to showcase his lifelong interest in Chinese studies, Halloran said.

“I definitely don’t feel bad about being away from Madison, since all of the opportunities are here … it only seems natural,” Halloran said.

Daniela Luseko, a junior majoring in political science and history, is studying in Barcelona, Spain. Luseko’s interest in Barcelona began in middle school when her middle school Spanish teachers encouraged her to study there, she said.

A highlight of Luseko’s experience so far has been living with a host family, and especially the bond she had formed with her host mother, she said. From speaking with her host, Luseko has broadened her use of the Spanish language and learned much about the culture, history and politics of the country, she said.

“It’s so amazing just to have someone to come home to and talk about your day … she’s just an amazing person,” Luseko said.

The Study Abroad Office has been very supportive, frequently answering questions and ensuring she has the best experience possible in Spain, according to Luseko. Luseko has thought about ways she could have been productive in Madison had she stayed but feels content with volunteering opportunities and other ways to get involved in Barcelona, she said.

In terms of the curriculum in Barcelona, most classes have focused far more on small discussions than the larger lectures she is used to in Madison, Luseko said. These classes integrate conversations about Barcelona and usually tie back to the city in some way, according to Luseko.

“That’s the theme here — culture and learning how to integrate,” Luseko said.

Ronan Rataj is a junior studying political science and is currently abroad in Dublin, Ireland. Rataj grew up fifteen minutes from UW and wanted to take the opportunity to travel somewhere further away, he said. He chose Dublin because his parents spent time there in the past and spoke highly of it.

The curriculum in Dublin is different from Madison’s in the sense that it has fewer assignments per course, according to Rataj. Students also do not meet in person as frequently as in Madison, opening the opportunity to spend more time with friends and explore the region, Rataj said.

“I wanted to study abroad so I could have the experience of living somewhere other than Madison,” Rataj said.

In terms of extracurricular activities, Rataj joined a philosophy club on campus and was learning a great deal from traveling around Europe, he said. In the social realm, the Dublin campus has housing specifically for international students to engage and interact with one another, forming a close-knit circle, Rataj said.

“The people have been really cool and people have gotten along pretty quickly,” Rataj said.

Visiting Madison from abroad

Lauren Slater, a law student at the University of Sheffield in Sheffield, England wanted to travel as far away as possible from England to make the most of her time before entering the legal profession, she said. Slater had two options far from Europe — Australia and Madison, and she ultimately chose the latter to experience a significant period in its history, Slater said.

“I fancied coming to America because of its current political climate,” Slater said.

For Slater, who lives with a group of students in Madison, the denizens of Madison strike her as somewhat friendlier than those at home, she said. The law courses in Sheffield — which are primarily intended for undergraduates — are larger and have less of a discussion-based focus as those in Madison, according to Slater. Furthermore, UW’s law schools assess with exams instead of essays, which was initially daunting, Slater said.

Overall, Madison’s smaller class sizes are preferable, but Sheffield’s approach to assessments make for a less stressful experience, Slater said. The study abroad team in Madison has been very helpful in helping with documentation and other relevant matters, according to Slater.

Slater is taking courses on national security and immigration law, two subjects that she finds particularly relevant to the U.S., she said. The wave of backlash against immigration and non-citizens in general posed doubts for her study abroad, Slater said.

“When I applied to move here, there was the whole stuff about pausing visas, which had me stressed,” Slater said.

She initially viewed her year abroad — she has been in Madison since September —  as a vacation but quickly realized that the courses were just as intensive as those at home, Slater said. The time difference between Slater and her friends initially made communication difficult, but she has since found ways to keep in touch with her existing contacts, she said.

Parts of the U.S. have matched Slater’s expectations, such as a homely atmosphere and a love for sports, which in some part is thanks to her American friends in England, she said. The best part of the American experience was attending an NBA game in Chicago, she said.

“That was big for me, because it’s something I’d dreamt about … it just met all of my expectations,” Slater said.

The faculty experience

Professor of English and director of the department’s graduate studies Ramzi Fawaz had wanted to study abroad for years and was drawn to the idea of adventure, he said. He recently had the opportunity to do just that — hosting the UW in London Program along with a small cohort of students.

Fawaz gained experience with big cities from multiple summers spent in San Francisco, he said. He had always wanted to share the city life with students but only recently found the time to, he said.

“I love the idea of taking students from the Midwest who may not have traveled that much to go see a different place,” Fawaz said.

The study abroad department’s selection process for faculty abroad involves an extensive vetting process with interviews, many contracts, attendance at the Study Abroad Fair and a great deal of preparation for chaperoning the students, according to Fawaz.

His experience abroad was encouraged and supported by the study abroad department, was elaborately planned and had assistance from workers in London itself. The trip was a rare experience where faculty and students were in an equal position of novelty, and Fawaz felt as though he was learning alongside them, he said.

“It’s the single coolest thing I have done as a professor … I am desperate to go back,” Fawaz said.

A highlight for Fawaz was teaching twice a week, giving him the opportunity to explore London and meet others, he said. Spending time in the city helped Fawaz learn from a variety of perspectives, mature personally and navigate many of the same challenges as his students, he said.

Fawaz, an openly gay man, felt that London’s gay scene was thriving and liberating, he said. People across Western Europe — in London, Paris, Berlin and elsewhere — were generally more friendly and approachable than in the states, according to Fawaz.

“I made a bunch of friends just by being out in the world … it was just a very organic process,” Fawaz said.

Troubles abroad

Though the international world order has hardly ever been truly stable, recent events involving the U.S. have only made our place in the world more contentious. Naturally, one might expect the country’s changing role on the world stage to impact the study abroad experience.

Study abroad participation has risen in recent years despite these developments, and students are increasingly aware of how international engagement can foster their intellectual growth, according to Gold.

“We always encourage students to be able to engage in conversations about their own country, culture, and current events while abroad,” Gold said over email.

Fawaz was in London prior to rising tensions between the U.S. and Europe over matters like the autonomy of Greenland and European security, but he noticed a variety of reactions among his students and among locals in London during President Donald Trump’s inauguration, he said. These discussions were ultimately constructive for all parties involved, Fawaz said.

In terms of stereotypes about Americans, there are multiple kinds of “Americans,” Fawaz said. Americans who are polite, interested, considerate and quiet are treated kindly in Europe, while those who are aggressive or rude are dismissed, Fawaz said.

“I felt so welcomed, because I was modeling the version of Americanness that Europeans love,” Fawaz said.

The most immediately relevant part of Halloran’s background was the fact that he was from Minneapolis, he said. Many locals in Taipei recognized Minneapolis because of the recent incidents with ICE and the widespread protests in the city, Halloran said.

Generally speaking, though, the current actions of the United States government did not seem to impact how Halloran was treated in Asia, he said. The attitude of the locals has generally been of friendliness and curiosity, according to Halloran.

“People are still really excited I’m here … I wouldn’t say that I feel any negative bias against Americans,” Halloran said.

President Trump and other aspects of American politics have been frequent conversation topics while in Spain, though Luseko has never felt uncomfortable during these interactions, she said.

The residents of Barcelona are able to separate politics and nationality from a person and have overall been kind to her, according to Luseko. As a whole, she has appreciated the chance to discuss her home country, she said.

“I’ve always been in an opportunity to learn and educate people about what’s going on,” Luseko said.

Ireland’s close ties to the United States means there is little stereotyping of Americans in Dublin, according to Rataj. There are some issues where the locals have a more conservative approach than most Americans, and other matters where they tend to be more progressive, Rataj said.

As a whole, though, the locals form very few assumptions about him and other Americans and instead engage in curious conversation about life in the States, Rataj said.

“They go in not assuming you have any opinions, but they do want to hear from you on [politics],” Rataj said.

Why study abroad?

Study Abroad’s challenges are also its greatest benefits, leading to the development of critical thinking, problem solving, time management and communication skills, according to Assistant Dean Gold.

“Being able to experience new customs, cultures, interests, and food increases students’ confidence and broadens their overall worldview,” Gold said.

Speaking with the International Division can be a great choice for students who are uncertain about studying abroad, according to Gold. The IAP’s advisors are aware of how daunting of a task studying abroad is and are always open to support students, Gold said.

Studying abroad is helpful for students who are hoping to break out of their comfort zone and what has typically been habitualized for them, Fawaz said. Study abroad is a fantastic experience for those looking for change, though he said he understood those who were hesitant or wished to prioritize Madison.

“[Study abroad] puts you in a completely new environment, accelerates your growth and can be really uncomfortable … if you’re ready for that, you should study abroad,” Fawaz said.

Students should consider less-commonly picked locations as they usually have more internationally-minded students, Halloran said. Regardless of location, students should take the opportunity to explore locations and all the destination has to offer, Halloran said.

Study abroad isn’t simply a vacation, according to Luseko. The unfamiliar aspects of study abroad can instead help someone grow and become more confident, Luseko said. Students should be aware that being abroad may initially feel disconnected but will ultimately be worthwhile, Luseko said.

“It gets better and gets better if you keep trying to open new doors … [and] getting to know the people around you,” Luseko said.

Though financial matters are, of course, a concern, students uncertain about study abroad should consider the unique opportunity they have while in college, Rataj said. Especially when the future is uncertain and may be incredibly busy, one should seriously consider going abroad when the means of doing so is relatively feasible, Rataj said.

“While you’re in college and have this time, a structured program or reason to live in a different country for a semester, I think it’s totally worth it,” Rataj said.

Any student considering studying abroad should appreciate the benefits of trying something new, Slater said. Almost every destination will have a variety of students from all different parts of the world and as many perspectives on it, according to Slater.

“A barrier is really broken, especially if you move abroad,” Slater said.

Her words echoed those said in Istanbul seventeen years prior, a testament to the ability of even the simplest exchanges to open up the world around us.