Deep within the iMessage archives, thousands of group travel plans lie abandoned, killed by scheduling conflicts, logistical challenges, and budget disputes. But those group chat dreams don’t have to go abandoned… consider studying abroad!
Going Abroad with Friends
You absolutely can go abroad with friends; it just requires some strategic planning. If you and your friends would like to participate in the same study abroad program, first consider what program type interests you. Affiliate programs tend to be less competitive and can accommodate many students, while faculty-led programs are reserved specifically for UT Austin students. Because of this, affiliate and faculty-led programs are often easier to navigate as a group than exchange programs, which may have limited capacities. If going abroad with friends is a priority, consider one of the former options. You can also reach out to a member of the Education Abroad team for specific program recommendations.
Some students hope to study in the same city as friends, even if on different programs. This may be due to course restrictions, budgeting constraints, or because different American universities have different partner programs. If you are hoping to live with friends while abroad, it is important to take note of the housing structure of your program.
Most faculty-led programs have an established housing setup that you should expect to adhere to. That means if your program has a host-stay, you will be staying with a host, and you will not be able to live in an apartment with friends.
Exchange programs have widely varying housing setups, so you should look at the policies of the programs that interest you. Most often you will be choosing either a dorm or an apartment, so it may be possible to arrange to live with or near friends.
Affiliate programs are also often flexible, offering a variety of options including dorm-style rooms, apartment stays, and host stays. If you would like to study abroad with friends from a different university, it is often possible to find an affiliate program offered by both universities. If this is not possible, however, we recommend choosing a UT partner program and trying to arrange housing near each other. Sometimes affiliate programs allow students to opt out of their provided housing, but please be aware that private housing markets are often expensive, unpredictable, and difficult to navigate.
Neither UT nor affiliate providers can help you if you experience issues with private housing, so we highly recommend opting in to the suggested housing on each program. If you do choose to go the private route, you should absolutely not sign a lease before everyone in your group has been accepted to your study abroad program and confirmed their place.
Going Abroad with Other Americans
Many students studying abroad worry about language barriers, cultural differences, and international academic differences. While these challenges can certainly be overcome, one way to mitigate these concerns is by choosing a cohort-based study abroad model. UT offers dozens of unique faculty-led programs every year. These small cohorts of UT students offer incredible experiences abroad with the comfort and support of the UT system. Students on faculty-led programs live with or near each other, take UT classes, and go on excursions together. For students who are nervous about traveling abroad alone or navigating international education systems, having a group of UT students and professors by their side can be a major relief.
If you are looking to retain the United States academic structure and meet students from across the U.S. while abroad, affiliate programs are an excellent choice. Affiliate programs are generally designed to introduce a cohort of North American students to a new country through coursework and excursions. This allows students to explore international locations without having to deal with the stress and uncertainty of coordinating new experiences in unfamiliar places. Students on affiliates often live with each other and participate in excursions organized by the affiliate provider. This helps some students maintain a sense of safety and normality while abroad, which can help with homesickness. Affiliate programs can, however, come with a somewhat limited immersion with local people, languages, and cultures.
Many of our exchange students also host five to 10 UT students each semester, allowing students to have a more immersive, self-led experience abroad while retaining the comfort of knowing other UT students are nearby. If you are interested in participating in an exchange where there will be several other UT students, feel free to reach out to the Peer Mentors about popular UT programs.
Going Abroad Alone
Some abroad programs may attract only one UT student, or even just a few Americans. This does not mean you are destined for loneliness! Many universities offer robust international student organizations, welcome programs for exchange students, host student pairing programs, and other initiatives meant to facilitate exchange student immersion. Joining student organizations like sports programs, arts organizations, or major-related societies can also be a great way to meet new people.
While going abroad alone may seem daunting, it is one of the best ways to truly branch out of your comfort zone, meet new people, and experience unique opportunities. Many of our most glowing study abroad reviews come from students who were initially nervous about being in a less conventional location but ultimately fell in love with their new international homes.
Most Importantly, There Is a Place for You!
Whether looking for new experiences with old friends or a complete reset, there is a study abroad option suited for every student’s goals and comfort level. This blog is a great place to start when considering what program fits your needs, but the Education Abroad team is also more than happy to talk you through all your options. Thanks for reading, and happy traveling!
This blog was contributed by Genevieve Furlong, Peer Mentor for Spring 2026. Genevieve is an economics and international relations student who studied abroad as part of the Language & Culture program in Santander, Spain, in Summer 2025.
