At the University of North Florida, there are study abroad programs for many different countries, both faculty-led and individual, with scholarship opportunities for financial support.

Faculty-led v.s Individual programs

Faculty-led programs are courses taught abroad by one or two full-time UNF faculty members, while exchange study abroad programs allow students to study for a fall semester, spring semester or full academic year at one of UNF’s partner universities, according to the Coggin College of Business website.

Faculty-led programs are offered during UNF breaks, such as spring break and summer break. They typically last one to two weeks, though some summer programs can run up to six weeks, depending on the course, according to the Coggin College of Business website.  

Luisa Martinez Joyce, director of university study abroad at UNF, participated in study abroad programs in Spain when she was a student. She initially majored in marine biology, but after studying abroad, she changed her major to Spanish.

Martinez said that after COVID-19, there has been an increase in people using the study abroad programs, with about 500 people each year.

Students must complete all prerequisite courses with a C or higher, and are expected to act professionally during the study abroad program, according to the Coggin College of Business website.

Programs still accepting applications for 2027

There are over ten programs accepting applications for next year. Further information about these programs can be found on the University of North Florida website.

• Japan: anime, manga, and creative culture 
• Morocco: sustainable business 
• Italy: management and finance 
• Belize: travel writing
• Spain: management and marketing
• Spain: pilgrimage
• Vietnam: health administration 
• Finland and Estonia: education and sport management
• Singapore: A sample of the world
• Ireland: international studies 
• Argentina: music 

Scholarship opportunities

Preparing for studying abroad can take a long time, and students have to apply for the programs months in advance, according to Martinez.

“It takes a prepared student,” Martinez said.

Students can apply their existing UNF financial aid packages, including Florida Bright Futures and Pell Grants, toward their study abroad program, according to the Coggin College of Business. 

The Student Affairs International Learning Scholarship was created by the UNF student government and awards students with $2,500 for study abroad programs that are 10 or more weeks, or $1,500 for programs for less than 10 weeks. Students applying for this scholarship must be currently enrolled at UNF, according to the Coggin College of Business.

The Ambassador Mairlyn McAfee Scholarship is a Jacksonville scholarship for students who want to study abroad and is awarded once per year. The students selected to receive the scholarship show exceptional academic accomplishments, according to The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville. 

Some national scholarships for study abroad programs are the Fund for Education Abroad, the Boren Award for International Study and the Tortuga Study Abroad scholarship. According to the Coggin College of Business website, national study abroad scholarships can be competitive and typically require students to apply months to a year in advance.

 More information about scholarship opportunities can be found on the Coggin College of Business website.

Benefits of studying abroad

“Beyond personal growth, studying abroad allows students to gain a global perspective, strengthen their communication and problem-solving skills, and develop cultural competency, qualities that are highly valued by employers,” Aracely Gallegos, UNF’s study abroad coordinator for individual programs, said.

Martinez said that studying abroad is “a transformative experience” and “it can show you what you’re made of.”

Sofia Fernandez de la Reguera, a communications graduate from UNF, studied abroad in Nantes, France while she was a student. In an interview with Spinnaker in 2025, she said it helped significantly with shaping her academic and career goals.

“It definitely changed my mindset,” said Fernandez de la Reguera, “I was so nervous about studying abroad, and it made me anxious to do it on my own. But after I did it, I felt more confident in myself.”

Employment abroad

Students generally do not work while studying abroad because of visa regulations. Although some students may be allowed to work during a study abroad program, most student visas do not permit employment, Gallegos said.

“In most cases, student visas do not permit students to work, although employment regulations vary by country and visa type. Students typically do not qualify for work visas because those visas require additional documentation that host universities cannot provide, such as employer sponsorship, proof of employment, or other work authorization documents, ” Gallegos said.

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