About UW Study Abroad
International Academic Programs (IAP), a unit of the International Division, leads campus efforts to provide credit-bearing academic experiences worldwide for UW-Madison students from diverse backgrounds in all majors and academic levels.
IAP collaborates with academic units across campus to offer safe, accessible, and high-quality study abroad and domestic study away programs that foster students’ academic, personal, and professional growth.
IAP also works in close partnership with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the Wisconsin School of Business to administer programs geared specifically for their academic disciplines. All approved UW-Madison programs share policies, procedures, and best practices, and are featured on the Study Abroad Program Search.
View our strategic statement.
Our Values
- Study abroad is integral to the learning experience at UW-Madison.
- By fostering global citizenship, study abroad advances the Wisconsin Idea on campus, throughout the state and in communities all around the world.
- All students deserve access to affordable study abroad programs that meet their personal and academic goals.
A variety of program options—over 260 programs in more than 65 countries—have been developed to address the diverse needs of UW-Madison students. Programs vary in length, level, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, and cost. Each program is expected to meet the University’s high academic standards and to integrate with the on-campus curriculum.
IAP’s goal is to remove the financial barriers to study abroad for UW-Madison students and to make study abroad accessible to all students. As an auxiliary unit, IAP receives no additional funding from the state or university to administer its programs and operates its budget on a cost recovery basis. Learn more about funding study abroad.
Our Commitment to Diversity
UW Study Abroad is committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.
Our Commitment to Service
IAP is dedicated to providing excellent support and service to equip our students with the tools to succeed as leaders in an interconnected world. Our comprehensive services compliment outstanding programs. By offering a full range of professional guidance and resources, in cooperation with academic and administrative units on and off campus, we commit to:
- manage academic partnerships with foreign universities and study abroad organizations,
- program development and management,
- marketing & recruitment,
- student advising,
- application & acceptance process management,
- registration and pre-departure services,
- evaluation and assessment,
- student financial planning,
- grade & credit articulation,
- emergency response, and
- student support before, during & after program.