Study abroad and away provides opportunities to advance your academic studies and develop global skills that will help you to stand out to potential employers, including increasing your confidence and expanding your worldview.
The Global Gateway Initiative makes study abroad and away accessible to students with demonstrated financial need through two different avenues: Summer programs and Fellowships. All students participate in pre- and post-program engagements and onsite activities to integrate their time away with academics and professional development. We strive to embody the Wisconsin Idea by encouraging students to share their experiences and knowledge gained to positively impact the UW-Madison community, Wisconsin, and beyond.
Global Gateway Initiative Values:
- Global competency and experience necessary to succeed in today’s world.
- Continued global learning throughout a student’s career at UW-Madison.
- Reduction in financial barriers that prevent access to these opportunities.
UW Global Gateway Summer programs and Fellowships are provided in partnership with the Office of Student Financial Aid and the Institute for Regional and International Studies to increase access to study abroad and away experiences.
Global Gateway Program Goals
By participating in the Global Gateway Initiative, students will be able to:
- Cultivate cross-cultural understanding through academic work, site visits and educational tours
- Observe local perspectives on academic disciplines and daily life
- Identify issues of global importance and be prepared to fully engage in an increasingly interconnected world
- Participate in a formative experience to shape their professional, personal, and academic development
- Embody the Wisconsin Experience in support of the Wisconsin Idea. Participants will bring their experiences back to Wisconsin to positively impact the UW Madison community and beyond
Global Gateway Summer Programs
- Full scholarship, including airfare, provided to every program participant.
- Highly-structured thematic programs led by UW-Madison faculty.
- Students take courses and earn in-residence credits.
- Designed for first- and second-year students from diverse backgrounds and academic fields.
- Preference given to students with demonstrated financial need (a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $8,000 or less or being part of Bucky’s Pell Pathway program for the past or current academic year).
Global Gateway Fellowships
- $10,000 fellowship to apply to program fees on any UW-Madison approved semester or year-long study abroad program, including the UW Wisconsin in Washington, DC Internship Program
- Open to all undergraduate students planning to study at UW-Madison for at least one semester following their program participation
- Demonstrated financial need required (a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $8,000 or less or being part of Bucky’s Pell Pathway program for the past or current academic year)
- Learn more
Eligibility
- Open to UW-Madison full-time, degree seeking undergraduate students.
- Good academic and disciplinary standing.
- Consult program pages for GPA requirements.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submitted
- Student Aid Index (SAI) of $8,000 or less or being part of Bucky’s Pell Pathway program for the past or current academic year is preferred for Summer programs, required for the Fellowship.
- UW Global Gateway Summer programs are limited to students who have completed one or two years of study at UW-Madison. Transfer students’ years of study are calculated by adding the years of study at previous institutions and total years at UW-Madison.
- For questions on eligibility, contact the Enrollment Manager listed on the program page.
- UW Global Gateway Fellowship recipients must be planning to return to UW-Madison for at least one semester following their program participation.
- Students who have previously participated on a UW Global Gateway program or received a UW Global Gateway Fellowship are not eligible to be receive a second UW Global Gateway award.
Advising Location
Application Deadline(s)
| Global Gateway Summer Programs | Final Friday in January |
| Global Gateway Fellowships | Check WISH for exact dates |
Summer Programs
Join a cohort of fellow Badgers to learn in unique locations around the world! Led by a UW-Madison faculty member, these experiential and interdisciplinary programs integrate the host country into the classroom. Through a combination of cultural visits, expert guest lecturers, and engagement with the local community, you’ll be introduced to global issues that help to prepare you for an increasingly interconnected world. Visit the program pages below for more information on locations, themes, and courses.
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Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives for Global Gateway Summer Programs
Students will be able to:
Academic
- Learn about, with, and from the communities in which they live and study
- Ask culturally relevant questions
- Make connections between academic content learned on campus and ideas generated on program
- Engage with the course content and explore connections to their major
Professional
- Explore career interests or goals for future planning
- Develop and strengthen adaptability and flexibility
- Expand worldview to engage in a globalized, interconnected world
- Articulate how the soft skills they developed on their program experience helps shapes future goals
Personal
- Cultivate empathy and cultural humility
- Understand and navigate cultural and geographical differences
- Reflect on personal values and assumptions
- Build community with others
How to Apply
- All UW Global Gateway applicants must submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
Preference will be given to students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $8,000 or less or students who are part of Bucky’s Pell Pathway program for the past or current academic year. - Visit the UW Global Gateway Summer program pages to review eligibility and program details.
- Choose the program that best fits your academic, personal, and professional goals.
NOTE: Students may only apply for one UW Global Gateway Summer program per term. - Follow the steps to apply through the specific program page by clicking apply.
We recommend starting your application well before the deadline to allow extra time for writing.
Summer 2025
Ghana
Explore historic textile traditions, and contemporary artists, designers, and craftsmen whose work is integrated into the cultural life of Ghana.
* Pending Approval
Singapore
Discover the island city-state of Singapore, and explore how it approaches issues of land use, sustainable living, and resilience in the face of climate change.
Washington, DC
Examine your assumptions about political life as we explore the psychology of political polarization in Washington, DC.
Fellowships
Looking to study abroad for longer than 3-weeks?
The UW Global Gateway Fellowship provides $10,000 to participate on any approved UW-Madison semester or year-long program. Students of all academic levels and majors are eligible to apply!
Explore programs around the world, many of which also offer opportunities to engage in fieldwork, research, or an internship abroad.
Review deadline, eligibility requirements and application details on the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH).
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How to Apply
- All UW Global Gateway applicants must submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
To apply, students must have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $8,000 or less or be part of Bucky’s Pell Pathway program for the past or current academic year. - Choose and apply to a semester or yearlong UW-Madison approved study abroad program. You must have an application for a program in progress at the time of applying for the UW Global Gateway Fellowship.
How to get started
Review academic information
Program Search - Choose the program that best fits your academic, personal, and professional goals.
- Review details of and apply for the UW Global Gateway Fellowship
in the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) through your student center.
NOTE: Students who have previously participated on a UW Global Gateway Program or received a UW Global Gateway Fellowship are not eligible to be receive a second UW Global Gateway award.
Expectations
The UW Global Gateway Initiative engages all students before, during, and after their program experiences to:
- Support the Wisconsin Idea by helping students bring their experiences back to campus and the greater Wisconsin community, including the international student community.
- Maximize students’ connection to international activity on campus and to integrate their experience abroad with their academic careers at UW-Madison and their professional development.
To achieve these goals, UW Global Gateway Summer program participants or UW Global Gateway Fellowship recipients will be required to complete specially designed pre- and post-program engagements and on-site activities as follows:
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Pre-Departure
- Attend a program specific pre-departure orientation.
- Attend a UW Global Gateway Initiative pre-departure dinner with return students, faculty and staff.
During Program
- Contribute to the program blog, to help reflect on your experience and to explore issues of global importance from a comparative lens.
- Produce optional digital media that illustrates the student experience while on the program, including but not limited to video blogs, photography, or social media posts which could be featured on the study abroad website or social channels.
Post-Program
- Submit a narrative of your program experience.
- Participate in one outreach activity (on-campus, around the Madison community, or in your hometown).
- Attend a UW Global Gateway outreach event with students, faculty and staff.
- Pursue opportunities for student positions in international-related offices on campus, the International Peer Mentor program, and activities, events, and courses offered by the Area Studies Centers.
Program Impact
“The Global Gateway program gave me confidence to pursue difficult classes, and apply for competitive programs and scholarships.”
For over 50% of Global Gateway students this is their first time away. Read more about the benefits they identify from participating in Global Gateway Summer and Fellowship programs.
Personal
“Global Gateway introduced me to communities and groups of people that I would never have met otherwise. The diversity of the group was wonderful, and I continue to be friends with the people on my program to this day.”
“[The summer programs are] a perfect opportunity for first time study abroad students. Studying abroad alone for an entire semester can be very intimidating. It was a really great opportunity meeting and becoming close with the 14 other students on this program. It also provided for a strong support system while studying abroad.”
Professional
“Global Gateway has helped make me more prepared for potential employers. Having Global Gateway on my resume helps employers know that I value diversity and an inclusive environment…During my time abroad, I gained leadership skills, lessons in cultural competency, and a new global perspective. Moreover, I am very willing to work abroad while before I think I would have been hesitant to accept a career outside the US.”
“This experience has fueled my desire to work in the health care field and work towards closing the health disparities seen in America and the world.”
“I feel more prepared to take my career to different regions of the world and beyond that, I feel that I now have a more encompassing view of the world and the people in it, how individuals from different areas communicate and understand each other. With my new interpretations and views of the world, I feel like I am better prepared to work in my field no matter where it takes me or with whom I have to work with/for.”
Academic
“My professor and my peers also created an environment where we were able to have quality and in-depth conversations over prominent issues in Brazil and in the United States like race, poverty, and oppression. These conversations added to my learning experience by hearing what others think and how these issues affect different communities and people.”
“Every activity, lesson and excursion provided opportunities to discuss and expand on conversations, opening new dialogue in a diverse group of students from almost every discipline offered at UW. The group was comprised of students from pre-health areas, wildlife ecology, business, fashion design, political science, journalism, etc. As a cohort in Botswana we were all learning about similar topics, but the perspectives that each individual student brought to the conversation enlightened the rest of our peers and definitely elevated the classroom experience.”
“While I was in China, I felt empowered – the experience gave me the tools and the drive to pursue something I felt extremely passionate about. This is what led me to choose a Psychology double major, and it has influenced my academic career ever since.”
“The Global Gateway program gave me confidence to pursue difficult classes, and apply for competitive programs and scholarships.”
“Teaching in Washington DC was a transformative experience, not just for the students, but for me as well. Witnessing their growth as they navigated the complexities of the nation’s capital was truly inspiring. One student shared how the course content challenged their own perspectives and encouraged them to engage with differing views. Another reflected on the rich tapestry of cultures and ideologies they encountered, which broadened their understanding of political discourse. These moments of realization and connection are what make programs like Global Gateway so impactful. It’s a privilege to see students open their minds and hearts, forming lasting friendships and gaining invaluable insights that will shape their futures.”
- Amy Gangl, Program Leader, 2024 Washington DC, Department of Political Science
“From the day we arrived in Gaborone, it was clear that all the students were engaged, curious and excited to learn about Botswana; their enthusiasm and excitement was palpable, from their responses to visits to cultural sites and museums, to their energetic performances in the program’s dance and music sessions. Learning about Botswana’s unique successes, and also its contemporary policy challenges, clearly prompted many of the students to rethink some of their own assumptions about what shapes ‘development’ and ‘culture’; as several students told us at the end of the trip, they understand the world differently because of the experiences we shared.”
- Gay Seidman & Heinz Klug, Program Leaders, 2024 Botswana, Sociology and Law
“From a faculty perspective, this program draws the most interesting and motivated group of students that we have encountered in all our years at the University of Wisconsin.
In addition to the fantastic students it attracts, the Global Gateway Initiative is remarkable for its support of creative course design and teaching. We’ve been able to really shape our courses to bring the program goals and the amazing local cultural resources together. It’s a fantastic way to learn about another place, which always involves learning so much about where you come from.”
- Laurie Beth Clark & Michael Peterson, Program Leaders, 2023 Washington DC, Art Department
“The Washington DC Global Gateway program was rewarding and meaningful experience. The morning seminar provided stimulating discussions about the readings on race and politics in the United States. This is not an easy topic to talk about, but the discussions were respectful and thoughtful. In the afternoons we went to many of the Smithsonian museums and other Washington D.C. areas outings such as Mt. Vernon, the Frederick Douglass house, Ben’s Chili Bowl, the Anacostia River Keepers, and a Washington Nationals baseball game. The students formed strong friendships and had many great discussions.”
- David Canon, Program Leader, 2021 & 2022 Washington DC, Department of Political Science
“Throughout the course I sought to provide students with an understanding not just of what to think about the history, cultures, and politics of southern Africa but also how to think about this part of the world. The course operated under the assumption that interaction with a place and its people are essential for understanding it… As such, I designed assignments in a way that sought to integrate student experiences and group excursions with academic study of the region.”
- Neil Kodesh, Program Leader, 2019 & 2023 Botswana, Department of History
“Our reflections turned into conversations about how the things we were learning and observing in India could positively impact and help us to improve our and others’ lives back in Madison and wherever else we might be going after the program ends.”
- Anthony Cerulli, Faculty Director, 2019 India, Asian Languages and Cultures
“Throughout the month there were constant bridges between the readings, class discussions, the excursions and the student assignments.”
- Kathryn Sanchez, Faculty Director, 2018 & 2016 Brazil, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
“Unusually perceptive about the stark social (as well as racial) divides defining Brazilian society, this group remained consistently respectful of everyone they interacted with (from the CIEE staff, community residents, store and restaurant employees, hotel staff, to street people. They were mindful of the complex situations and contexts in which these interactions occurred. Perhaps most importantly, this group of students was deeply committed to enhancing their knowledge of Brazilian culture, history and society.
This has been, without a doubt, one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a teacher, and I have been at this “game” for about three decades.”
- Luis Madureira, Faculty Director, 2017 Brazil, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
“The students learned a lot about China, themselves, and matured as competent and thoughtful global citizens.”
- Joe Dennis, Faculty Director, 2014 China, Department of History
Read more student perspectives and reflections.
UW Global Gateway Fellowship Blogs
Fall 2023 Summer 2023 Spring 2023
Fall 2022 Summer 2022 Spring 2022
Spring 2020 and Calendar Year 2020 Fall 2019 and Academic Year 2019-2020
UW Global Gateway Summer Blogs
2024 Botswana 2024 Singapore 2024 Washington, DC
2023 Botswana 2023 Singapore 2023 Washington, DC
Watch videos about the programs.
Mhari Gohlke, Global Gateway Fellow Spring 2023
Student Video: Alyssa Hui, 2018 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Allison Streckenbach (Global Gateway Brazil 2017) Stories from Abroad
Deshawn McKinney (Global Gateway China 2015) Wisconsin Experience feature
Stacy Tran (2023 Singapore) and Samantha Flores (2024 Botswana) speak with WPR about the Global Gateway Initiative
Celebrating 10 Years of the Global Gateway Initiative
Kelsey Campbell (Washington, DC 2021) Student Spotlight
Two time study abroad participant Alondra Avitia (Global Gateway Brazil and Bologna, Italy) receives the 2020 Global Citizenship Bucky Award.
Gateway participant Shiloah Coley recognized as one of the UW-Madison 2019-20 student employees of the year.
2019 International Division Scholarship Award Ceremony
Global Gateway Program Expands to Botswana and India
Deshawn McKinney (Global Gateway China 2015) receives prestigious Truman Scholarship; Read Deshawn’s Wisconsin Experience story
Jamie Dawson (Global Gateway Brazil 2016) Announced as 2018 Commencement Speaker
Read Jamie Dawson’s (Global Gateway Brazil 2016) Wisconsin Experience story
2018 UW Student Presents Art Exhibits in South Africa and the Met through Internship
Tammy Tian (Global Gateway China 2015) Aims to Build Chinese-American Bridges Among UW Students
2014 Global Gateway Opens up World for UW Students
2013 UW Global Gateway Offers Funded, Short-Term Study Abroad Opportunities
2014-2015: China (Shanghai)
2016-2018: Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
2019: Botswana (Gaborone) and India (Delhi)
2020: Botswana (Gaborone), India (Delhi), and Peru (Cusco). The 2020 programs were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: USA (Washington, DC)*
We are excited to add a domestic option to the Global Gateway Portfolio. Similar to the international programs, the domestic program will engage students in critical issues of global importance through experiential learning. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 and the impact to our partners abroad, we are unable to offer other locations for summer 2021. We hope to be back to a variety of locations in 2022.
2022: USA (Washington, DC), Denmark
2023: Botswana (Gaborone), Singapore (Singapore), USA (Washington, DC)
2024: Botswana (Gaborone), Singapore (Singapore), USA (Washington, DC)