Amber Desilets enjoyed travel and learning that she may never have otherwise experienced, if not for UFV International’s study abroad opportunities.

The teaching student has been to Spain and Ecuador and will soon head to Vietnam on a 10-day sojourn. The first two experiences provided memories that will last a lifetime.

“You can’t even imagine what you’ll learn, things you’d never gain staying where everything is familiar,” she says. “Pushing outside of your comfort zone is where you’ll grow the most and become the best version of yourself.”

Desilets’ learning abroad opportunities aren’t as uncommon or expensive as people may believe.

Her Global Citizen Skills course in Vietnam comes through UMAP, one of several consortiums UFV belongs to. These consortiums give students access to 400-plus institutions. UMAP stands for University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific, with hundreds of members representing 25 countries throughout Asia, North America, and South America.

“It’s great because we have a student who’s currently in Taiwan, where we don’t have a regular Study Abroad partner, so these consortiums open up other opportunities,” says Cathy McCarthy, one of UFV International’s two Study Abroad coordinators.

Aakash Dean, also a Study Abroad coordinator, says students pay their regular tuition to UFV while enjoying tuition-free study at their chosen host institution overseas. They are responsible for living expenses, which vary by destination – Switzerland will be pricier than Mexico – but UFV International mobility awards, and various other scholarships, can make a big difference. Many of UFV’s partners provide benefits and scholarships specifically for UFV students.

Desilets made her first journey in fall 2022. She spent six months in Barcelona, studying at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. The 26-year-old says she was hesitant before the trip, not knowing the language and having never travelled to Europe.

“I was really nervous about not fitting into the culture and having a language barrier hold me back, but with the support of UFV I pushed myself into it and absolutely loved the experience.” Desilets says.

She says the people she met were welcoming and helped her adapt. She lived on campus and made a lot of friends who acted as language tutors and translators.

“They encouraged me to speak when I could, and helped me out when I couldn’t,” Desilets recalls.

Soon, she felt confident enough to explore on her own, and says she ended up visiting 10 nearby countries during her stay.

“I went to Greece and Scotland and so many other places, and got so much confidence by doing it independently,” she says.

Desilets completed a semester in Spain through UFV International’s Student Exchange program, through which UFV International partners with 80 carefully vetted institutions in 30 different countries. All of them offer courses in English.

Desilets followed that with a three month internship in Ecuador in February 2024, taking advantage of the Canadian government-funded Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) international internship program. South America was another eye-opening experience.

“We went to Quito (capital of Ecuador) and the architecture was amazing,” she says. “The little shops were so nice, and I want to go back once I have my own home to buy a bunch of the art and décor I saw. I also went to the Galapagos Islands, and that was unreal. I’ve never been snorkeling, and I got to swim with sharks and sea turtles.

“It was so different from anything I’ve seen before.”

Classes students take overseas can be transferred back for UFV credit, so they’re not studying something that won’t count towards their degree.

“It can be a very transformative journey for students who’ve lived in Canada in a relatively protected environment,” Dean says. “And because there’s a lot of scholarships and funding available, it’s not nearly as expensive as people think.”

Step one for enrolling in the Study Abroad program is signing up for a mandatory information session. Register online at this link.

For more information, contact the UFV International Study Abroad office at StudyAbroad@ufv.ca or explore their Instagram page.