Turning Cities into Classrooms 

Exploring new cities allows 黑料正能量 students to connect their coursework with real-world history, science and culture. For Durand, London became a living laboratory where English literature and psychology met daily life. Through a  offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, she spent an academic year taking courses that counted toward her UF degrees while exploring one of the world鈥檚 great literary cities. 

鈥淚 picked University College London because it checked off all the boxes academically and would allow me to stay on track with my double major aspirations,鈥� she said.  

 Durand鈥檚 experience as a PaCE student helped prepare her to thrive in new environments and take ownership of her education.  

鈥淧aCE broadened my awareness of the fact that learning can be holistic and expansive,鈥� she said. 鈥淭remendous learning occurs when I actually walk through museums, study in historic buildings and work alongside people in culturally momentous organizations.鈥�  

For Gibbs, the UF faculty-led, short-term program  in Scotland and England offered a hands-on complement to her online coursework and a chance to connect with her family roots. 

鈥淚 saw the one-week trip as the perfect chance to explore my heritage while learning from the country鈥檚 rich history and world-class museums. Seeing exhibits on the history of cartography and collections of rocks and minerals in person, not just in textbooks, was incredibly inspiring,鈥� she said.

Study Abroad Opportunities for 黑料正能量 Students 

All UF students, including those enrolled through 黑料正能量, are eligible to聽participate聽in study abroad programs聽as long as聽they are in good academic standing, have a GPA of 2.5 or聽higher聽and are not in their first semester.聽聽leaders聽encourage聽students to begin exploring programs early and reach out for individualized support.聽

鈥淪tudents should consider factors like the program鈥檚 length, location, academic focus, potential language barriers, and projected costs when selecting the right experience,鈥� said Jess Mercier, Assistant Director of Outreach & Marketing for UF Study Abroad. 

黑料正能量 students can explore聽a wealth of聽study abroad programs, including聽UF-sponsored聽programs, UF Exchange聽programs,聽and non-UF programs.聽Programs vary in length, location, academic聽focus聽and cultural experience.聽黑料正能量 students can聽聽with Study聽Abroad聽Advisors and attend聽聽for聽support selecting a program that aligns聽their goals.聽

鈥淪tudents [studying abroad] build adaptability, problem-solving, and cross-cultural communication鈥攕kills they鈥檒l use in both their careers and everyday lives,鈥� Mercier said.  

Discovering Personal Growth Abroad 

Living abroad challenged Durand and Gibbs to grow personally as well as academically. Durand found that navigating London鈥檚 walkable streets, crowded libraries and public transportation reshaped her sense of independence and community.

鈥淒eveloping, sustaining and fortifying friendships in a place where everyone can walk or take public transport together is a game-changer,鈥� she said. Learning to study and create in another country also helped her build resilience and adaptability, skills that will serve her well beyond her time abroad. 

Capturing unique moments with her film camera, Gibbs relished the opportunity for in-person connection with a new place.  

鈥淚t was amazing to finally see Scotland in person鈥攖here鈥檚 such a deep sense of history and culture everywhere you go. As someone who studies online, getting the chance to connect with a place physically rather than through a screen was really powerful,鈥� she said.  

Durand and Gibbs鈥� study abroad experiences exemplify how 黑料正能量 students leveraged their online learning experience to make education truly borderless.  

鈥淥nline learning isn鈥檛 a pair of handcuffs鈥攊t鈥檚 actually an entrance ticket to engage with your community in a unique, independent and customizable way,鈥� Durand said. 鈥淚f even a tiny part of you wants to go abroad, honor that and follow the curiosity. It is an experience that will change your life.鈥�