The Program
Connect Abroad programs give first-year students a bold start at UGA through meaningful, short-term study away experiences. Designed with community and discovery in mind, each faculty-led program pairs students with UGA faculty, staff, and fellow new Dawgs to explore global cultures, engage in real-world learning, and build lasting connections—all within the first year of college. This is experiential learning in action.
Since its inaugural year (2024), Connect Abroad has grown from 4 to 13 programs, and from 109 to 388 participants. This scaling includes the original interdisciplinary Discover programs, the more subject-focused Immerse programs, to the new two-week Explore Maymester programs (new for 2026). In 2026, the Connect Abroad Ambassador program was created to create a more in-depth leadership opportunity for select Connect Abroad participants.
