UST’s highest priority remains the health and safety of our students.  In terms of study abroad programming and international travel, at this time the University’s Emergency Task Force is permitting students, faculty and staff to travel. However, UST will not send students to COVID-19 Level 4 Countries. The Study Abroad Office will continue to monitor public health and travel advisory guidance from the US Department of State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and foreign government laws related to international visitors.

The safety and well-being of our students remains foremost in our planning for studies abroad.  As such, the university continues to reserve the right to cancel, at any time, university sponsored studies abroad (individual exchange and faculty led programs) due to risk factors in destination countries.

In the interest of the welfare of our students, the University of St. Thomas does not allow university sponsored outgoing study abroad (individual exchange or faculty led programs) to countries indicated as Level 4 risk (Do Not Travel) by the Department of State or the CDC.  The University will consider university sponsored travel to Level 3 countries on a case by case basis.

Assessing risk based on CDC and State Department travel advisories is only the first step in the process of proceeding with an individual exchange activity, especially during the COVID pandemic.  Subsequent steps include, but are not limited to, review of a) US Federal travel guidelines on departure from and return to the United States; b) Host country government travel guidelines or bans on travelers from the United States; and c) local destination and university guidelines for incoming students.

To protect against potential delays in academic persistence in the case of a program cancellation, students are strongly encouraged to enroll in a full schedule of classes offered by the UST campus during the semester in question.  Should an individual exchange location drop from Level 4 before the start of the destination university’s semester, the Study Abroad Office will endeavor to assist the student to transition back to an exchange activity abroad if possible and feasible.

Students planning on an individual exchange abroad are strongly encouraged to purchase trip insurance and plan ahead for possible cancelations.

For more information, contact the Study Abroad Program Coordinator, Claudia Baba at studyabroad@stthom.edu or call 713-525-3535.

In many ways, the world is getting smaller. Pick any social media app and you can connect to someone on the other side of the world within a fraction of a second.

But you know it’s a big world full of wonders you can’t wait to explore. Whether you long to climb Chilean volcanoes or get to know the locals in a remote Irish village, you’ll find the perfect starting point for your journey at UST. Students from around the world visit our campus through our incoming exchange program.

Go beyond learning, beyond borders and beyond any classroom with UST’s many study abroad programs. You can study abroad as early as your freshman year.

 
University of St. Thomas Houston students during study abroad trip in Rome, Italy

UST Study Abroad Program
See and hear from students sharing the experience of studying abroad in Rome, how they afforded it and how it's changed their view of the world and their future.

Bon Voyage
Study Abroad Your Freshman Year

At UST, the First Year Experience Study Abroad program means you can explore Italy or Costa Rica during your first year.

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Programs Offered

In addition to studying abroad your freshman year, you have several ways to venture to another land as part of your studies:
Individual Programs
Individual Program

As a UST student, you can study abroad for a full semester in destinations from Chile to Ireland, Mexico, Taiwan and more.

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Faculty-Led Programs
Group Programs

Travelling abroad as a UST student is even more fun when your friends join you for summer or winter group programs.

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Incoming Exchange
Individual ProgramNon-Exchange

As an incoming exchange student, you'll develop rewarding relationships in the heart of one of America's great cities.

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Your SuccessYour Success

Discover the World, Empower Yourself​You’re a go-getter, you thrive on adventure and you want to expand your reach by exploring other cultures. To a potential employer or grad program, your inquisitive spirit and global community experience are invaluable. UST graduates who studied abroad are now working in a wide range of exciting career fields, including:

  • Health care
  • Law & legal services
  • Local, state, national & international government
  • Oil & gas consulting

From pre-law to pre-med and in any professional discipline, your natural leadership qualities, sense of ethics and desire to venture beyond your comfort zone will help you score a position of respect and responsibility in any organization.
100% UST FRESHMEN GET THE CHANCE TO STUDY ABROAD Source: UST
100%
UST Freshmen

WHO CAN STUDY ABROAD

Source: UST

9% UST UNDERGRADS STUDY ABROAD, COMPARED TO 2% NATL AVG Source: UST
9%
UST Undergrads

WHO STUDY ABROAD
(NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 2%)

Source: UST

64% EMPLOYERS WHO PRIORITIZE GRADS WITH INTL EXPERIENCE Source: Institute for International Education of Students (IES)
64%
Employers

WHO PRIORITIZE GRADS WITH INTL. EXPERIENCE

Source: Institute for Intl. Education of Students (IES)
Why UST?Why UST?

Why UST - TextUST puts you right in the heart of global culture and social justice issues from the beginning of your first year until your senior year. The sense of empathy, community and global connection you’ll gain from our multiple programs will serve you far into the future.

Located in the heart of Houston, a city known for its international focus, UST is the perfect starting point for many journeys. If you’re looking for a study abroad program that promises great opportunity, UST provides the roadmap for a lifetime of discovery.
Brigitte Alejandro, Senior International Studies Major and Study Abroad participant at University of St. Thomas - Houston

Traveling to Ireland and across Asia through UST’s study abroad program enabled me to learn in a new, exciting way and develop a cross-cultural awareness.

Brigitte Alejandro English Teacher in Taiwan | BA International Studies, 2019

Discover Your Purpose, at Home & Abroad

University of St. Thomas - Houston study abroad student in front of scenic building in RomeAt UST, we emphasize the virtues of goodness, discipline and knowledge as you journey through the world to improve communities and enrich people’s lives. You’ll venture beyond the classroom and discover your purpose as you experience diverse cultures.

Balancing Catholic faith and education in our core curriculum, our liberal arts approach challenges you to look at situations from a different perspective, opening the door to the human side of any profession. When you travel and become connected to new communities, you calibrate your moral compass and develop incredible skills that help you become an effective, empathetic and bold leader.
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