Help Bruins Learn Abroad
Description
Studying abroad changes how students see the world and themselves. They return with stronger language skills, greater independence, and experience that employers and graduate programs value.
But rising costs are keeping many students from going. For first-generation, low- and middle-income Bruins, the price of airfare, housing, meals, passports, and program fees add up quickly, and costs are expected to keep going up. This summer, we saw more students than usual having to cancel their applications, with many citing financial concerns. About 80% of UCLA Travel Study participants were financial aid recipients this year, compared to around 50% in the past.
You can help. This month, we're raising $20,000 so that more students can say yes to studying abroad, and so those who go can make the most of it.
Your Gift
Your gift supports students at every stage:
- Getting ready to go. Passport and visa fees, program deposits, and required documents that must be paid before a student even leaves.
- Getting there. Round-trip airfare, often the single largest out-of-pocket cost.
- Living abroad. Housing, meals, and local transportation so students can focus on their studies.
Your support will allow more students to have critical opportunities to immerse themselves in new cultures, learn new languages, and gain invaluable international experience that will help them become global citizens.
As thanks, you can get a signature UCLA Study Abroad luggage tag when you give $25 or more, and a UCLA Study Abroad T-shirt for gifts of $75 or more! Every dollar brings us closer to our $20,000 goal!
Our Stories
Studying abroad opens up so many doors for our students. With your support, more students can have experiences like these:
"The only time I ever left the United States was across the border to Mexico, so this was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that opened my eyes to the world in ways I’ve never seen. This scholarship substantially alleviated the financial weight I would have experienced and allowed me to be less stressed while studying, discovering, and fully immersing myself in the explorations and adventures I had."
Allison Cunningham '26
Travel Study: Spanish - Language & Culture in Spain
"It’s one thing to read about a country, but it's another to actually visit it and see the same historical sites you read about in textbooks. The Travel Study scholarship helped make my goal of traveling abroad more feasible."
Sarisha Jacobs '24
Travel Study: In the Footsteps of Hans Christian Anderson, Copenhagen, Denmark
Your Gift In Action
For the past two years, our generous community has funded a "passport caravan": a free event for students to apply for passports right on campus, free of charge. Over the course of the day, dozens of students complete and submit passport applications with the in-person help of passport agents — and have all associated fees covered. Funding for this event comes from our crowdfunding campaigns -- this is our community's support in action!
Our Gift To You
To thank you for your generous support, we have a few gifts of our own. For gifts of $25 or more, you will receive your very own UCLA Study Abroad luggage tag for use in your own travels abroad. For gifts of $75 or more, you will also get an original UCLA Study Abroad T-shirt to represent global learning while looking stylish! If you give $1,000 or more, you will also be recognized as a member of the UCLA Chancellor's Society, where you can join exclusive donor-appreciation events and receive dedicated Chancellor's Society communications. More information and ways to get involved can be found here.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE UCLA FOUNDATION'S DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS FOR DONORS
Should this fund reach the campus minimum required for the establishment of an endowment or quasi-endowment, The UCLA Foundation reserves the right to convert this fund to an endowment or quasi-endowment. Please click here to learn more about how the UCLA Foundation invests and manages its endowments.
$25
Travel Essentials
Helps cover everyday costs abroad, from local transit to basic supplies. As thanks, we will send you a UCLA Study Abroad luggage tag for your next trip. (Tax-deductible gift of $23)
$75
Study Abroad Ready
Fund books, course materials, or small program fees that set students up for a successful trip. As thanks, we will send you a UCLA Study Abroad T-shirt AND a UCLA Study Abroad luggage tag for your next trip. (Tax-deductible gift of $68)
$165
Passport Provider
Your donation will fully cover the cost of a passport -- the first step to international education. As thanks, we will send you a UCLA Study Abroad T-shirt AND a UCLA Study Abroad luggage tag for your next trip. (Tax-deductible gift of $158)
$300
World Ambassador
This gift will significantly help lower the costs of attendance for a student. As thanks, we will send you a UCLA Study Abroad tech organizer AND a UCLA Study Abroad luggage tag for your next trip. (Tax-deductible gift of $293)
$750
Take Off
Launch a students journey by helping cover their expected airfare costs. As thanks, we will send you a UCLA Study Abroad T-shirt AND a UCLA Study Abroad luggage tag for your next trip. (Tax-deductible gift of $743)
$1,000
Chancellor's Society
This generous gift will make a truly incredible impact on a student seeking to study abroad. As thanks, we will send you a UCLA Study Abroad T-shirt, a UCLA Study Abroad luggage tag, AND giving at this level will qualify you to join the UCLA Chancellor's Society, an excellent way to connect more deeply with fellow supporters and with the University itself. More information can be found in the perks section. (Tax-deductible gift of $993)
$2,000
Full Scholarship
Your philanthropic investment will fully fund a Study Abroad scholarship for one student. Get all of the earlier perks as thanks! (Tax-deductible gift of $1993)