January 2026 Newsletter

This is a monthly email of global opportunities—on campus, online, in our region and around the world—as well as grants and scholarships. Contact us to learn more, get advising or attend one of our events!

Latest News

UC Davis 2025 Global Learning Photos Contest Winners Announced

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The annual UC Davis Global Learning Photo Contest recognizes and celebrates student photography from the many UC Davis global learning programs offered throughout the year. Congratulations to our 2025 contest winners: Teo Richard ’27, Economics and Statistics major (“Views of Home,” PEOPLE category), and Taylor Wong ’27, Psychology and Chinese majors (“Traveling Back in Time,” PLACES category).

Discover Your Next Global Experience: Announcing the 2026 Global Learning Programs

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Discover UC Davis’s 2026 Global Learning Programs focusing on global leadership skills and global social impact—mostly free or funded opportunities that empower students to build global leadership skills through immersive, virtual and research-based experiences worldwide.

Study Abroad

Applications Open for all Summer and Fall Quarter 2026 Programs

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Submit your application to reserve your spot in a UC Davis Summer Abroad, Quarter Abroad, Summer Abroad Internship or Virtual Internship program. Programs fill on a first-completed, first-reserved basis and the deadline to apply for internship programs is February 5. Check out our winter info sessions. To start your application, create a Global Learning Profile.

Program Spotlight: Introduction to Winemaking

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sip, savor and study your way through France in this four-week, eight-unit immersive program exploring the art and science of winemaking. Based in Dijon and visiting iconic wine regions, you will meet producers, enjoy guided tastings and meals, and experience the culture behind the world’s most celebrated wines.

UC Davis Study Abroad Awards

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Global Learning Hub is offering financial awards for UC Davis students. Study Abroad Award applications are available in your UC Davis Study Abroad Application Portal once you have secured a spot on a summer or fall 2026 program. Check out Funding Your Study Abroad Experience and Scholarships & Funding for budgeting tips and to search all scholarships.

Summer Abroad Financial Aid Estimator is Now Available

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Summer Abroad Financial Aid Estimator includes all 2026 UC Davis Summer Abroad, UC Davis Summer Abroad Internships and Virtual Summer Internships programs. Use the estimator to receive an immediate aid estimate. Financial Aid questions should be directed to the Financial Aid office through Contact an Expert.

University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​2026-27 UCEAP program applications are now open. Application open dates and deadlines vary by program, beginning in winter quarter. UCEAP programs offer UC credit and financial aid. Program options include immersion, special focus, language and culture, and internships. Find a program.

UCEAP Scholarships

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Dreaming of studying abroad but concerned about cost? UCEAP scholarships help remove financial barriers for students of all majors and backgrounds. Applications open January 15 for Summer, Fall and Year 2026–27 programs.

Global Leadership, Internships and Research

Global Affairs Pal Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Pal Program pairs up UC Davis undergraduate students for intercultural conversation experiences. Participants can use weekly one-hour sessions to increase their intercultural awareness, practice a target language and develop friendships. Register for winter quarter. Deadline: January 20.

Winter Quarter First Year Seminar: Global Pathfinders, 1 unit (CRN 23685)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Thursdays, 11–11:50 a.m. International Center, Room 3119. Global Pathfinders is a first-year seminar designed for students interested in engaging the world. In this course, you will learn about study abroad and global learning opportunities at UC Davis, as well as build key skills that prepare you for global learning, future careers and civic engagement. Register in Schedule Builder.

Become a Mentor in the UC Davis Global Ambassador Mentorship Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Become a mentor in 2026–27! Support first-year international students through peer mentorship, help develop programming, and gain valuable experience that strengthens your leadership and career-readiness skills—while joining a diverse cohort of Global Aggies. Eligible for a $500 payment. Open to current UC Davis undergraduates. Apply now. Deadline: February 1.

APRU Undergraduate Leaders’ Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Join the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Undergraduate Leaders’ Program in Shenzhen, China, June 22–July 3. Hosted by SUSTech, this immersive program explores the future of AI and robotics. The program fee is covered. Open to all current undergraduates. Info Session: January 15, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Apply now. Deadline: February 22.

Universitas 21 Global Citizens Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Join an online global cohort exploring the UN Sustainable Development Goals through self-paced activities and live calls, and turn your insights into real actions that drive change. This free program runs March 9–27 and is open to UC Davis undergraduate and graduate students. Apply. Deadline: February 12.

Taiwan International Internship Program (TIIP) at Academia Sinica

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​TIIP is a pre-doctoral research training program for undergraduate and master’s students that prepares them to excel in their research journeys. Research projects are available on-site across a variety of STEM fields. A stipend is provided to help support living expenses and airfare costs. Deadline: January 15.

Competitions, Challenges and Funding

Connect with Rwanda: Exploring One Health for a More Sustainable World

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Travel to Rwanda in June 2026 with a small cohort of students and a UC Davis faculty member to examine One Health issues related to sustainable development. Participants pay a reduced fee of $1,500, which includes a group round-trip flight. The program is open to undergraduates of all majors. Apply now. Deadline: February 5.

Widening Circles: Global Social Impact Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​In this funded summer 2026 program, students explore ethical global engagement through online learning, mentorship, and reflection and pair it with a social impact internship, volunteer opportunity, or globally-focused research project—locally or abroad. The program fee is covered and participants receive a $2,000 grant. Apply now. Deadline: March 16.

Global Aggies Award for LGBTQIA+ Rights

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This award supports UC Davis students' global learning and engagement related to issues facing LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals around the world. Eligible activities include research or creative work, internships or externships, and other projects that advance the rights and/or well-being of LGBTQIA+ people globally. Award amount: up to $2,500. Deadline: March 6.

Gilman International Scholarship Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Gilman Scholarship provides funding of up to $5,000 for Federal Pell Grant recipients to participate in study abroad or internship abroad programs. Applications will open mid-January for programs starting between May 1, 2026, and April 30, 2027. Join an upcoming info session. Deadline: March 5.

Boren Award

The Boren Award provides students with up to $25,000 to study abroad in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, and incorporates intensive language study of less commonly taught languages (here is a list of preferred overseas locations). Deadline: January 28.

Fulbright U.S. – U.K. Summer Institutes

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This award provides full funding for three- to four-week summer programs at six locations in the United Kingdom. Each institute focuses on a specific topic. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, age 18 or older, have a GPA of 3.6 or higher and have two or more undergraduate years remaining after the program. Deadline: February 2.

Donald A. Strauss Scholarship

Scholarships of $15,000 are available to sophomore- and junior-level students of any citizenship status who have a desire to “make a difference” in local, national or international communities. Recipients implement a sustainable public service project anywhere in the world. Deadline: February 9.

Upcoming Info Sessions and Events

Global Ambassador Mentorship Program Info Session

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​January 15, 4:15–5 p.m., virtual. Become a mentor! Hear from current mentors as they share how to join a diverse cohort of Global Aggies. Learn how mentors support first-year international students through peer mentorship, develop programming and gain experience that strengthens career-readiness skills. Open to current UC Davis undergraduates. Register now.

Writing a Successful Scholarship or Grant Essay for Programs this Summer

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​January 22, 12–1 p.m., virtual. Learn how to write competitive application essays for Connect with Rwanda: Exploring One Health for a More Sustainable World and Widening Circles: Global Social Impact Program. In this session, we will break down what selection committees look for, how to highlight your experiences and goals, and how to make your essay stand out. Register now.

Grants for Summer Internships, Volunteer Experience and Globally Focused Research

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​January 29, 11 a.m.–12 p.m., International Center 3130. Learn how to fund your unpaid summer internship, volunteer experience or globally focused research project. This session highlights grants available to undergraduates through the Career Center and Global Learning Hub, as well as resources for finding internships, research opportunities, and volunteer roles that align with your academic and career goals. Register now.

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