Global Access Initiatives
Ensuring that international opportunities are available to all CU Boulder students is a cornerstone of the Education Abroad mission. These are some of the ways that Education Abroad works with our partners on campus and beyond to expand access for CU Boulder students.
Our Campus Partners
A massive thank you goes to our many campus partners, without whom, much of this work would not be possible!
Financial Access
Buffs Abroad Scholarship
Education Abroad believes funding should not be a hurdle to participate on an Education Abroad program and all students with financial need are guaranteed to receive a Buffs Abroad scholarship if they apply by the deadline.
Buffs Abroad Scholarship funding comes from Education Abroad's own scholarship pool, contributions from program partners, and donors.
GO Scholarship
The Global Opportunity (GO) Scholar Program is a planning scholarship designed to reduce financial barriers for Education Abroad and provide support through a designated coordinator and a student cohort. Students apply for the scholarship in their first year at CU and awardees have four years to use the award towards any Education Abroad program. This scholarship is offered in collaboration with the CU (LEAD) Alliance.
Tang Scholarship
Matching Funds for Sesquicentennial Scholars
Education Abroad provides a matching scholarship for Sesquicentennial Scholars who choose to study abroad as their project.
Global Access Global Intensives
- 4-year collaboration between CU Boulder’s Education Abroad Office, CU Lead Alliance, and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE).
- Enable students from 4 CU Lead Alliance programs to participate in a semester-long course on campus which culminates in a short, faculty-led Global Intensive abroad aligned with the course's content.
- Model is based on the success of the pilot collaboration with the Student Academic Success Center started in 2016.
- Due to Education Abroad funding and generous matching funds from CIEE, the cost for the students is only $250.
Learn more about each of these programs below:
Provider Funded Programs
Education Abroad partners with providers that share the same vision to ensure that education abroad is accessible to all students. Education Abroad encourages CU Boulder students to consider the following funded programs:
Academic Access
- Working with academic departments on proactive course evaluations to ensure students have a robust Course Approval List to work from when selecting a program and registering for courses.
- Advocating with program partners to expand course offerings for majors and academic disciplines traditionally under represented in study abroad (such as STEM areas)
- Evaluating the addition of potential new programs to the approved CU portfolio to meet academic gaps where needed
Access for Students from All Backgrounds
Education Abroad is committed to celebrating and supporting the many identities of our students by offering access to meaningful global learning experiences that enrich and expand their undergraduate education. We believe all students should have the opportunity to study abroad, especially those who may have historically faced barriers to participation. We are dedicated to supporting students from all backgrounds and identities throughout their journey.
Experiences Beyond "Traditional" Study Abroad
Knowing that the "traditional" second semester, junior year study abroad experience doesn't fit every student's needs, Education Abroad seeks to offer a wide variety of opportunities for students to obtain an international educational experience at some point in their college career. This could be on an academic year or semester program, or a shorter-term summer or spring break program. It could mean taking courses abroad in the traditional sense, or pursuing something a little different, such as an internship, practicum, research, or field study experience.
To highlight a few of these "non-traditional" paths:
CU Boulder Global Start: First Semester Abroad
The CU Global Start programs allow students to study abroad their very first semester with CU alongside a cohort of other first-year Buffs. Studying abroad in the first semester allows students build lasting friendships in a smaller cohort-style setting as well as develop skills that will serve them throughout their college career, such as self-confidence, independence, resiliency, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities.