How racial and ethnic identities are defined, valued, centered, integrated, marginalized, segregated, or persecuted varies across cultures. Our advising team is here to help you prepare for what you might encounter, support you while you are abroad, and discuss your experiences upon your return.
Linked here are subpages for some racial and ethnic identities (Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Middle Eastern and North African, and White). The content on each subpage is intentionally varied, with an effort to acknowledge and address unique experiences and considerations for each community. Where possible, we’ve included insights from past program participants.
Racial and ethnic identities are diverse and intersectional, and you may not find your own matched exactly to one page here. If you would like different or additional resources, please contact us. We welcome your questions, concerns, feedback and ideas – these help us gather information and expand resources for you and future students.
Overarching Considerations and Resources to Get Started
- What racial and ethnic identities are found in the population of my host community?
- CIA World Factbook: Allows you to search by country and provides the most recent statistics on populations.
- What are the experiences of a given racial or ethnic identity in my host community?
- Race and Ethnicity Subpages (here): Provide researched information and insights from returned UW-Madison students.
- Listen to students of color reflect on their expectations and preparations for living in another culture, their challenges and accomplishments, and how their time abroad affected their understanding of identity within a global context and equipped them for future success:
- Diversity Abroad: This site offers tips and insights related to multicultural issues while studying abroad.
- What support is available?
- Your UW-Madison study abroad office: Your program’s Study Abroad Advisor.
- UW-Madison Creating Community: UW–Madison specific resources.
- Host university or program provider staff and resources: Universities and organizations abroad may offer community groups and support resources. If you would like help researching these, contact your Study Abroad Advisor. IES Abroad has a number of great resources for social identities, as well as country-specific diversity resources.
- All Abroad: This site offers mentors who are students, parents, and advisors who are comfortable with addressing diversity concerns in the context of learning abroad.
- For a first-hand perspective from a student who shares parts of your identity, visit our Study Abroad Student Stories page. Here you can find blogs written by students on our programs sorted by location, type of experience, and student identity.