We are excited to welcome our new team of work study students! All of these students have participated in at least one Summer Abroad course. Over the fall and winter semesters, you will be meeting them across the three U of T campuses answering questions about Summer Abroad. They are eager to share their own experiences and advise students on all the international learning opportunities available through Summer Abroad in 2025!
Alexa
Program of Study & Year: Cognitive Science, Work and Organization, Third Year
Campus: UTSG
Summer Abroad Program + Course: Tokyo, Japan (IRE332Y0)
"My favorite memory from Summer Abroad was a day visit to Atami. Walking along the beach, relaxing in the onsen, enjoying the beautiful sea view, and trying some delicious Japanese pudding made it unforgettable."
Aliya
Program of Study + Year: History and Political Science Specialist, Third year
Campus: UTM
Summer Abroad Programs: Berlin, Germany (POL300Y0)
"Hey everyone! I’m Aliya, a third-year History and Political Science specialist at UTM. This summer, I had an incredible experience in Berlin, Germany, studying contested borders through POL300 🇩🇪 One of the biggest highlights was our 4-day field trip to Belgium! From fun field trips and delicious food to meeting amazing new friends, it was truly a summer to remember!"
Emily
Program of Study + Year: Double major in Criminology and Socio-legal Studies and Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies; Minor in Political Science, 4th Year
Campus: UTSG
Summer Abroad Program + Course: Greece (POL300Y0)
"Hi I'm Emily! I'm in my 4th year at the University of Toronto's St. George Campus, studying a double major in Criminology and Socio-legal Studies and Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies, with a minor in Political Science. This past summer I had the opportunity to be a part of Summer Abroad's POL300 program, Topics in Comparative Politics, and be the programs Social Media Correspondent in Athens, Greece.
While we got to explore many incredible landmarks, my favourite memory abroad was the food in Greece! With our professor’s recommendations, we got to try not just famous Greek dishes and hidden gems where locals spend their time but got to learn and understand the history behind them. It was a delicious way to experience Greek culture and is something I can continue exploring now that I'm home!
Curious about Greece or other programs from this past year? Check out the rest of Summer Abroad’s social media to see posts from other social media correspondents and I about our experiences, classes, and field trips!"
Jessie
Program of Study & Year: Rotman Commerce, Management Specialist, Focus in Marketing & Strategy and Minor in Environmental Economics, Third Year
Campus: UTSG
Summer Abroad Program + Course: Tours, France (FSC369Y0)
"Hey, I'm Jessie! I'm a third-year commerce student specializing in management with a focus in marketing & strategy with a minor in environmental economics. This 2024 summer I did the France culture of Touraine course, learning about the city of Touraine. My favorite moment was definitely going out with the friends I made in-class to celebrate the last day of the trip."
Juliana
Program of Study: Majoring in Political Science & minoring in French Language and Philosophy, 4th year
Campus: UTSG
Summer Abroad Program: Greece (POL300Y0)
"A favourite memory of mine was our field trip to Sounion. Our class began the afternoon at the gorgeous sandy beach, where we got a sense of the local culture. Then, we took a more historical turn as we headed towards the ancient Temple of Poseidon. An architect from the host school - College Year in Athens - described to us both the architectural aspects of the site and the mythology. Our trip to Sounion concluded with us watching the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen from the site of the Temple! "
Leon
Program of Study + Year: Rotman Commerce; Accounting Specialist, Third Year
Campus: UTM
Summer Abroad Program + Course: South Korea (MGT395Y0) 2023 + Japan (IRE332Y0)
"Hi everyone, my name is Leon. This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Tokyo Japan Summer Abroad Program. One of my most unforgettable memories was experiencing the Zushi Beach Fireworks Festival. Standing on the beach, surrounded by friends, we watched in awe as the night sky exploded with vibrant colours, a breathtaking display of Japanese culture and artistry. It was a magical moment that truly captured the essence of my time abroad. "
Naz
Program of Study + Year: Double Major in Cinema and Italian Studies, 3rd Year
Campus: UTSG
Summer Abroad Program: Siena, Italy (ITA358Y0)
"Hey everyone, I’m Naz. I’m in my 3rd year at U of T. I'm double majoring in Cinema and Italian Studies. This past August, I went to Italy with Summer Abroad and took the Modern Italian Culture course. One of my favorite memories was taking the Siena tour to get to know the city and learn the culture behind it. Afterwards, as a class we went to our first dinner together. It holds a special memory in my heart as it was our first outing as a class, and I believe it helped everyone become closer."
Noelle
Program of Study + Year: Major in Industrial Relations and Human Resources, 4th year
Campus: UTSG
Summer Abroad Program + Course: Canterbury, UK (2023), IRE332Y0
"Hi everyone! My name is Noelle and I am a fourth-year UTSG student majoring in Industrial Relations and Human Resources. In 2023, I took part in the Canterbury, England program where I studied IRE332Y0: Historical British Industrial and Cultural Influences on the Contemporary Workforce. My favourite memory from Summer Abroad was my class’s day trip to London. I had the opportunity to see famous sites, such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and Covent Garden. I found Big Ben particularly impressive, and I will never forget seeing it for the first time with all its gold details glistening in the sun."
Zainab
Program of Study + Year: Health Studies, Double Minor in English and Creative Expressions, 4th Year
Campus: UTSG
Summer Abroad Program + Course: Oxford, England (ENG296Y0)
"Hey everyone! I was in Oxford this past August learning about Margaret Cavendish and her fascinating works. It’s difficult to pick a favourite memory from my Summer Abroad experience because every moment was incredibly fun, but one of the most memorable has to be the Oxford-famous punting! My friends and I had a great time figuring out what punting was all about and joked about making the Oxford punting team (we totally weren’t crashing into trees). I think the really fun parts of my experience were always when I was “doing” rather than just “seeing.” So, get out there and try new things! Summer Abroad can be a life-changing experience, so let it change you!"