For many UC Santa Barbara students, studying abroad is more than just an academic opportunity: it’s a transformative experience that challenges them to step beyond the familiarity of Isla Vista. Whether it’s navigating a new culture, learning a foreign language or immersing themselves in an unfamiliar academic system, UC Santa Barbara students have historically embraced study abroad programs in high numbers. However, although UC Santa Barbara consistently ranks among the top UC campuses for study abroad participation, nearly half of students who studied abroad in the 2023-24 academic year chose programs in Italy, Spain or the United Kingdom, overlooking opportunities in other countries such as Germany, Sweden, Ghana, Chile, Thailand and South Africa.
As UC students systemwide prepare to submit UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) applications for the 2025-26 academic year, they may be wondering what destinations to choose and opportunities to pursue. An analysis of the UC’s Information Center’s UCEAP data from 2004-24 reveals trends in participation rates, popular countries and overlooked programs.
Established in 1962, UCEAP offers students the chance to study at top universities worldwide while maintaining UC enrollment and earning course credit applicable to their degree. Professor Fabio Rambelli, the Faculty Director of UCSB Education Abroad Program (EAP), said its goal is to deliver top-tier education internationally while promoting a sense of global connection.
“UCEAP offers students the opportunity to receive a high-quality education at top universities around the world. It’s about stepping outside of your comfort zone — leaving California and the U.S. — and experiencing new academic and cultural environments. Students come back transformed, having proven to themselves that they can thrive in challenging situations,” Rambelli stated.
This stacked area chart shows the percentage of undergraduate UC students participating in the UCEAP study abroad program from different campuses between 2005 and 2024, where each colored area represents a specific UC campus, allowing readers to compare trends in participation over time. The data is from UC Info Center’s UCEAP data. (Anna Gornyitzki / Daily Nexus)
From 2004-24, UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley and UC Los Angeles have historically had the highest systemwide UCEAP participation rates based on the number of participating students. The participation rates from these three campuses peaked in 2018-19, with Santa Barbara at 1,349 students, Berkeley at 1,251 and UCLA at 1,211. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21 caused a dramatic drop across all campuses, with some, such as UC Merced, sending fewer than five students abroad that year. However, participation has been steadily increasing in recent years.
Approximately 86.33% of UCEAP participants are from California, and for many of these participants, studying abroad is their first time living outside the state or country. Emily Tom-Atzberger, the Associate Director of UCSB EAP, said the program offers a unique opportunity for students to step out of their comfort zones and experience new perspectives.
“Everything today is globalized, but Santa Barbara is just a small piece of the world. Studying abroad allows students to experience their education beyond books, helping them understand not only where they fit in California but where they fit in the world,” Tom-Atzberger explained.
This stacked bar chart displays the number of UC undergraduate students in the EAP program by residency over the years from UC, highlighting the trend in residency participation. The data is from UC Info Center’s UCEAP data. (Anna Gornyitzki / Daily Nexus)
The distribution of students studying abroad through UCEAP across all campuses is displayed based on residency status from 2004-24. The majority of participants have consistently been California residents, with their numbers peaking in 2018-19 at 5,305 before experiencing a sharp decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The trend suggests that while study abroad remains most popular among in-state students, there has been a noticeable increase in engagement from non-resident domestic and international students in recent years.
Out-of-state residency UCEAP enrollment increased by 48.5% between the 2017–18 and 2018–19 academic years, while international resident enrollment grew by 65% between the 2016–17 and 2017–18 academic years. International Residency Residency status provides one perspective on study abroad participation, but academic disciplines pursued by students offer another key insight into their engagement.
This pie chart illustrates the distribution of UCEAP study abroad participation among various academic disciplines at UC campuses from 2004 to 2024. The color-coded legend on the right distinguishes between academic disciplines. The data is from UC Info Center’s UCEAP data. (Anna Gornyitzki / Daily Nexus)
From 2004-24, students majoring in social sciences led study abroad participation at UC campuses, peaking at 1,879 students in 2015-16. The number of participants majoring in life sciences grew notably, reaching 1,220 in 2018-19, while engineering and computer science fluctuated, peaking at 450 in 2022-23. Business remained stable and public health saw gradual growth.
In 2023-24 arts and humanities declined from over 1,000 students to 458. The sharp drop in participation from all majors combined in 2020-21 (296 students) was likely due to COVID-19, with a slow recovery. Overall, the three greatest categories were social sciences (31.9%), arts & humanities (18.1%), and life sciences (15.2%), with other academic subfields reflecting shifting student interests in study abroad.
Sophia Weiler, a fourth-year computer science major who studied in Madrid, Spain during the Fall 2023 semester, is among just 5.27% of Engineering & Computer Science majors who studied abroad from 2004 to 2024. Despite warnings that studying abroad as a computer science major can be complicated, she encourages her fellow engineering students to take the leap, noting that UCSB provides strong support for international study.
“Going abroad was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Coming into UCSB I knew that I wanted to go abroad, but I had heard it was difficult to do so as an engineering major, so I was skeptical when I entered the process. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were actually multiple universities that offered computer science courses in English, meaning I wouldn’t fall behind in my coursework once I returned to UCSB,” Weiler said.
“One benefit to studying abroad is that I was also able to complete my engineering honors coursework requirements through my UCEAP classes, which saved me from taking additional classes when I returned. I also got the opportunity to take unique classes to the country I was studying in, such as Spanish Art History where we visited the Prado Museum as part of our class,” Weiler continued.
While academic disciplines play a significant role in shaping study abroad participation, gender trends reveal another dimension of the program’s demographics.
This stacked bar chart displays the number of UC undergraduate students in the EAP program by gender over the years, highlighting the trend in gender participation. The data is from UC Info Center’s UCEAP data. (Anna Gornyitzki / Daily Nexus)
Since the 2004-05 school year, female students have consistently outnumbered male students in studying abroad through UCEAP, often by a significant margin. This trend remains steady over nearly two decades, with notable increases in 2015-16 (a 7.9% rise from the previous year) and 2018-19, which saw the highest female participation at 3,826, surpassing male enrollment. Even as study abroad numbers dropped during the pandemic in 2020-21, female students comprised the largest group. As participation has rebounded in recent years, female students continue to lead in numbers, reaffirming trends in program engagement.
“There’s a misconception that study abroad is for a specific demographic, with 65% of those who go are women, but this opportunity is for everyone,” Rambelli said.
While gender trends highlight important aspects of study abroad participation, the benefits of these programs extend beyond shifting demographics. Studying abroad offers many advantages for students in academics, personal life, resilience, cross-cultural understanding and independence.
“Studying abroad enriches your academic journey in ways you can’t anticipate. Students take courses they never would have thought of, engage in internships and research programs and even join extracurriculars. When they return, they have a broader perspective and a huge network of international alumni which stays with them for life,” Rambelli said.
In addition to academic and social benefits, Tom-Atzberger underscores the profound personal growth that stems from immersion in a new environment. She highlights how the challenges of living abroad foster adaptability and confidence, qualities that carry over long after students return home.
“Many students don’t realize how much they grow in such a short amount of time. Living abroad challenges you to problem-solve, adapt and take care of yourself in ways you might not have to at home. That confidence is valuable when graduating and entering the workforce,” Tom-Atzberger said.
Maddie Hansel, a third-year sociology major who went abroad to Florence, Italy during the Fall 2024 semester, reflected on essential life skills, such as independence and time management, that she developed during her study abroad experience.
“During my time abroad I gained many life skills. Due to all of the traveling that I did, I improved my problem-solving skills and flexibility in stressful situations. Additionally, I got to experience more independence during a solo trip I took to Dublin, Ireland. I also learned how to balance my academic life with my social life. Because of my weekend trips, there was no time to procrastinate assignments,” Hansel stated.
Beyond the academic skills learned abroad, many students are drawn to the opportunity to immerse themselves in local cultures, meet new people and build meaningful friendships.
“While the academic benefits are great, my biggest selling point for those looking to go abroad is the atmosphere and the people. Not only was living in a foreign country a great way to travel and learn about new cultures, but I met many friends through my classes that have since visited me, and I have plans to visit them this summer post-grad,” Weiler recalled from her time in Madrid, Spain.
Studying abroad presents countless opportunities for personal growth, and for many students, the ability to adapt to a completely new environment stands out as one of the most valuable lessons learned.
Soquel Childers, a third-year sociology major and applied psychology minor who studied at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland during the Fall 2024 semester, reflected on how studying in Scotland let her experience a different culture and adjust to different teaching styles.
“Going abroad and being so far from home taught me many life skills, but I think the most important one was being able to adapt to a completely new location. Being able to move across the world and learn new habits of that country, their slang, ways of education and transportation was valuable and something I will carry with me no matter where I end up next,” Childers said.
“My everyday life routine did a complete 180 in the fact that I was walking everywhere, was of age to go out to bars, walking to the grocery store and carrying [groceries] home and sitting in a classroom where I stood out. Being able to adapt was crucial and something I was able to do,” Childers continued.
Beyond personal growth, studying abroad offers significant professional advantages. Many students find that their international experiences serve as valuable talking points in job interviews, demonstrating key skills such as adaptability and cultural awareness.
“Even if your future job has nothing to do with international experiences, study abroad becomes a compelling topic in interviews. It demonstrates flexibility, adaptability and problem-solving skills — qualities that set candidates apart in an increasingly competitive job market,” Rambelli said.
Not only does going abroad showcase desirable skills to potential employers, but it also helps students build valuable professional networks with the potential to shape their future careers.
“The networks you form while abroad extend beyond personal relationships — they’re professional, too. Whether through research, internships or university connections, these experiences open doors and give students an edge when applying for jobs,” Tom-Atzberger said.
Kristina Strazhnikov, a third-year sociology major and history minor who studied at the University of Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain during the 2024 Fall semester, reflected on returning with a broader social and professional network, which strengthened her ties to other UC students and allowed her to form beneficial long-term relationships.
“I definitely think going abroad affected my sense of community. I met friends from other UCs so I now have a UC-wide network of friends. Also, I met a lot of people from UCSB so I now have way more familiar faces on campus,” Strazhnikov described.
Beyond the personal and professional benefits of study abroad programs, the choice of destination plays a significant role in overall experience.
The 3D choropleth map visualizes the distribution of UCSB students across all countries in the UC EAP program for the 2023-24 academic year, with darker shades representing higher student participation. The data was requested from the directors of UCSB EAP. (Anna Gornyitzki / Daily Nexus)
In the 2023-24 academic year, Italy (218 students), Spain (266 students) and the UK (161 students) were the most popular UCEAP destinations, suggesting strong institutional partnerships and student interest in these locations. Other frequently chosen destinations include Korea (79 students), France (68 students), Japan (53 students) and the Netherlands (50 students), indicating a significant interest in European and East Asian countries.
In contrast, some countries, such as Botswana, the Dominican Republic and Israel, hosted only one student each, while Belgium, Iceland, India and Morocco had no participants. European destinations dominate the list, highlighting their continued appeal for study abroad experiences, while Latin America and Africa remain less represented.
UCSB EAP encourages students to explore lesser-known study abroad destinations, emphasizing the abundance of academic and cultural opportunities beyond popular choices. Many programs offering diverse global perspectives are often less recognized.
“Germany is the third-largest exporter in the world, yet it doesn’t even make the top 10 destinations for study abroad. Iceland and Sweden are often overlooked, but their deep cultural traditions and strong educational systems make them fascinating study destinations,” Rambelli highlighted.
UCEAP encourages students to explore educational systems providing world-class, rigorous coursework, highlighting countries ranging from Ghana to Chile.
“Ghana, South Africa, Thailand and Chile are incredible study abroad options that many students overlook. The coursework in Chile, for example, is just as rigorous as in Spain, but fewer students consider it,” Tom-Atzberger noted.
Joelle Gendzel, a fourth-year philosophy major who studied abroad during the 2024 Spring semester, opted for a less commonly selected program at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany. Her experience in Germany brought unexpected challenges, from navigating a new academic system to embracing Berlin’s unique culture of self-expression and independence.
“I was very intrigued by Berlin because I was looking for an experience completely different from living in California. Berlin culture is much more focused on self-expression and freedom than the U.S., even in California. I feel like I learned the importance of being creative, even if I don’t consider myself to be a creative person. I learned the value of stepping out of my comfort zone regularly,” Gendzel said.
“While the language barrier was more difficult to navigate than I expected, and even small tasks took longer, the experience was well worth it. I was incredibly lucky to make amazing friends while abroad, and it was inspiring to see that I could become a meaningful part of a community, even all the way across the world,” Gendzel continued.
As applications are slowly closing on a rolling basis depending on semester for the 2025-26 academic year, UCSB students have the chance to continue the university’s strong tradition of global exploration — and perhaps to forge new paths beyond typical destinations.
“To anyone even considering going abroad, my suggestion is this: Do it. I look back on that time as one of my favorite college experiences and am constantly jealous of those going abroad each year, so I implore you to take advantage of this amazing opportunity that our school offers and make memories that you can look back on for the rest of your life!” Weiler said.
As students prepare to apply for future study abroad programs, UCSB EAP advises students to consider opportunities beyond those they are already familiar with. The data, which shows a steady rebound in participation and consistently strong numbers, demonstrates that every journey abroad, whether to popular or lesser-known destinations, contributes to both personal and academic development. These trends, alongside student testimonials, reinforce that exploring new cultures deepens global understanding and helps build a resilient, interconnected community.
“When you go abroad, everything here stays the same, but you change. That’s why we encourage students to take that leap — it’s a transformative opportunity that shapes not only their education but their entire outlook on life,” Tom-Atzberger said.
