Get a Global Start to Your UC Education Through UCEAP

Overview

Give your UC education an international foundation with Global Start.

Global Start is an experience unlike anything you will find on campus. With Europe as your classroom, you will take courses infused with local history and culture and participate in excursions that bring lectures to life. While immersing yourself in the local community and making new friends, you’ll learn to thrive in an unfamiliar environment—ideal preparation for your return to UC in the winter.

Designed with specialized programming to ease the transition from high school to university, Global Start promotes long-term academic success. The program will build a strong foundation for your UC career by developing capacities for: 

• Study habits
• Writing skills
• Living independently
• Intercultural awareness
• Language skills
• Financial literacy​​​​​​
• Self-awareness, resiliency and adapting to new environments
• Career readiness 

Explore new disciplines and start checking off degree requirements. Every class earns UC units and can fulfill UC general education requirements and count toward your degree.

The knowledge, experiences and skills you gain abroad on Global Start will create a foundation for success throughout the rest of college and beyond.

Start your program with an orientation at UC Davis in Summer 2025 where UC Davis staff will help prepare you to study abroad in Italy with a customized orientation. 

Fall 2025 Quarter Abroad in Syracuse, Italy

As a student in Syracuse, Sicily, you'll be immersed in a vibrant culture that seamlessly blends Italian and Mediterranean traditions. Explore bustling street markets, savor delicious local cuisine, and marvel at the ancient Greek temples of Apollo and Athena. This historic city, a crossroads of civilizations, offers a unique opportunity for cross-cultural learning and unforgettable experiences. After the program is over you return to UC Davis for winter quarter 2026.

• Program Features

• Before You Go
      - Pre-departure and On-site Orientations: Get all your questions answered.
      - Tailored summer hybrid orientation lead by UC Davis staff: Welcome to the UC community!

  While You're Abroad
      -  Financial Aid: Apply your UCD financial aid to your program.
      -  Group Travel: Convenient group travel from California to your destination.
      -  Small UC Classes: Engaging instruction in a supportive environment.
      -  Weekly Activities: Immerse yourself in the local culture with excursions, tours, performances, and more.
      -  Volunteer Opportunities: Give back to your host community.
      -  24/7 Support: Peace of mind with round-the-clock health and safety assistance.
      -  Comprehensive Insurance: Student health and travel insurance included.
      -  Dedicated Support: Assistance from UCD, UCEAP, and on-site staff.

• After You Return
•      -  Re-entry Prep and Advising: A smooth transition back to campus.
       -  Guaranteed Housing: Secure your spot in campus housing for the winter quarter.
• Program Dates
•      -  Summer Hybrid Orientation (August)
      -   Fall quarter abroad (September – December)
• Who is eligible to enroll?
• To be eligible to participate in the Global Start program you must meet the following requirements: 
  
       -  First-year students admitted to UC Davis.
       -  Be 18 years old by September 26, 2025. 
       -  Have a U.S. or EU passport by September 26, 2025, that is valid at least three months beyond the date of departure (other nationalities may require a visa.)
      -  Must attend the mandatory summer hybrid orientation taking place in mid-August.
      -  Students who anticipate needing to take Math 1, Math 31AL, and/or Chem 17 Fall Quarter 2025 are not eligible. Please reach out to our office if you are unsure of what this means.
• Application and Program Timeline
• Eligible applicants will be admitted on a first-come-first-served basis. Financial aid recipients are encouraged to apply while waiting for provisional award letters.

Financial aid eligible students will receive aid to cover all expenses.

Contact Information

• UC Davis Contact: Sarah Wiens
• UCEAP Contact Information

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are some of the benefits of studying abroad?
• Studying abroad is one of eleven high-impact teaching and learning practices identified by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU). High-impact practices have significant education benefits for students, especially those from historically underserved groups, in higher education. Studying abroad has shown to increase levels of self-confidence, independence, and adaptability. It can also boost students’ intercultural competencies, GPA upon return, and graduation rates. Learn more about the benefits of study abroad in What Families Want to Know.
• What are the specific benefits of studying abroad my first quarter at UC?
• Global Start offers you a number of benefits. Rather than attending class in large, impersonal lecture halls, you receive personal attention from instructors while taking UC courses that incorporate local academic, historical, and cultural resources into student learning. Small classes, experiential learning, and personalized attention create an intimate, liberal arts college atmosphere for you to thrive in as you transition from high school to UC. Every class earns UC units and can fulfill UC general education requirements and count toward your degree. The experiences, friendships, and skills you gain abroad will create a foundation for success throughout the rest of your UC career and beyond.
• Who can participate in Global Start?
• The Global Start program is open to incoming first-year students who meet the following criteria:
  Recently admitted to UC Davis, UC Irvine, or UC Los Angeles. Be 18 years old by September 26, 2025.
• How do I apply for Global Start?
• First-year students admitted to UC Davis, UC Irvine and UC Los Angeles can apply online via the UCEAP website between early April and early May.
• Do I need a passport to participate in Global Start?
• Yes. If you don’t have one yet, apply as soon as possible. You can learn more about the passport application process and get started today by visiting travel.state.gov.
• Do I need a visa to participate in Global Start?
• U.S. passport holders do not need a visa for this program. If you have a passport from another country, you can check the European Union visa requirements to determine if you will need a Schengen visa in order to participate.
• Can I travel to Europe during the summer before my program?
• U.S. passport holders are not required, or able, to obtain a visa for this program because it is under 90 days. Travel within the Schengen Area after June 16, 2025, is not allowed unless you hold a valid passport from a European Union country or Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, or Switzerland. The law allows travelers to be in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days out of the previous 180 days. Your 90-day travel period will need to be reserved for your time in the program. Your 180 days are from June 17 to December 13. If you travel in the Schengen Area during the summer before the program begins, you face fines, deportation, and travel bans, in addition to being withdrawn from the program.
• Can I request disability accommodations for this program?
• Yes. Instructions will be provided after students are accepted.
• Will I have travel insurance coverage abroad?
• All UCEAP students are automatically enrolled in the required travel insurance for UC students. It will be your primary insurance while abroad. You also need to maintain insurance in the US, either through UC campus insurance or private insurance. Additional instructions will be provided after you are accepted.
• What if I need to withdraw from the program?
• Once accepted into the program, you can withdraw without financial penalty TBD. Please be aware, however, that withdrawing from the Global Start program this late in the summer may impact your options for course enrollment and housing at your UC campus for fall quarter.
• Will I get to meet the other students on the program prior to departure?
• During the Global Start summer orientation you will meet other participants from your UC in person or virtually, and you will travel with your UC peers as a group to your study abroad location where you will meet participants from other UC campuses.
• How will I get to my Global Start location?
• All students are required to use the travel options organized by the program to Europe for the start of the program and back to the US after the program ends. Global Start staff will accompany you on this journey. Upon arrival abroad, you will be transported from the airport to your accommodations.
• Where will I live during fall quarter?
• Global Start students are required to live in the program-arranged housing. You will complete a housing preference form prior to departure that program staff will use for housing assignments. Specific addresses and roommate information will be provided when you check in at your program location.
• What are classes like abroad?
• Classes abroad are similar to classes on your UC campus, and you’ll have the local city and country to enhance your experience. You will take UC classes that have been intentionally designed to use the program location as a classroom by integrating local cultural and historical sites, museums, and organizations into the curriculum. There are STEM, social science, and humanities courses to choose from, so you can take the courses that best fit your academic goals. Class sizes are small, which allows instructors to provide more personalized attention and foster critical skills and competencies. Classes are taught in English (except for Spanish and Italian language classes) and each will fulfill your campus’ general education requirements.
• Can I travel while abroad?
• While travel may be possible on some weekends, you are strongly urged to wait before making travel plans for the first few weeks until you have adjusted to college life abroad and know your detailed program schedule before planning additional travel. Additionally, travel booked while in Europe may be cheaper.
• Can friends and family come visit during the program?
• Yes, but please encourage them to wait until you have had time to adjust to life abroad and know your detailed program schedule. Friends and family will need to secure their own accommodations because guests are not allowed in program housing. Plan to visit with them during your free time, since program activities and facilities are only open to program participants.
• Is there a meal plan?
• Meal plans are not available, and that’s part of the independent living skills you’ll build abroad. The program housing has shared kitchen facilities you can use, and you’ll find markets where you can buy local ingredients nearby. Enjoy preparing and sharing meals with friends at your student housing, get take-out meals, or eat out at the many cafés and restaurants around the city – it's all part of the experience!
• What happens when I return to my UC campus in the winter?
• Planning for your return will start in the fall through virtual appointments. You will meet with UC advisors and enroll in your winter classes while abroad. UC campus housing is guaranteed upon your return, so there’s no need to spend time finding accommodations for your return. You will be fully supported by campus staff before and after your return.
• Will I miss out on typical first-year experiences?
• While you will not be physically on campus in the fall, you are still part of your campus community throughout the entire Global Start experience. You will be creating tight bonds with fellow UC students that often translate into lifelong friendships and a support system when you return to campus. You’ll meet with academic advisors and staff just like your peers back at home to plan for winter courses. Keep up with what’s happening on campus, like cheering on your campus team at a livestreamed get-together. When you return in the winter, you will have the opportunity to join clubs and organizations on your campus and tighten your connection with your UC.