UMass Lowell’s Study Abroad Opportunities for Online Students
Completing your education remotely doesn’t mean missing out on life-changing, real-world experiences. At UML, you still have exciting opportunities to connect, collaborate and travel through study abroad programs as an online student.
Whether you’re looking to explore entrepreneurship in a global context or gain cross-cultural insight while earning course credit, UMass Lowell offers immersive, faculty-led, short-term international experiences that fit your schedule and complement your academic goals. Even if you’re studying fully online.
What Are Short-Term Study Abroad Programs?
Short-term study abroad programs are faculty-led or partner-based learning experiences that typically take place during school breaks or summer sessions, and range from 7 days to 6 weeks. You’ll earn credit toward your degree while exploring international destinations like Spain, Portugal, Ecuador or Japan.
These programs are open to all students, including those in fully online or hybrid programs, and often include:
- Hands-on course work tied to your major or electives
- Collaborative group work with international peers
- Cultural tours, company visits or service-learning projects
- Flexible scheduling that works with your online course load
This is a great way for online learners to enjoy the in-person connection and cultural exchange often associated with traditional study abroad without stepping away from their degree program.
From Online to Abroad: Meet Parisa Raad
Parisa Raad ’26 returned to school online while juggling the work-life balance so many online students manage. Searching for a deeper connection, she didn’t let remote learning hold her back. She enrolled in an international business course in Belfast, Northern Ireland. There, Parisa and her classmates studied at Queen’s University Belfast, visited sites linked to Northern Ireland’s history and debated complex social and political issues.
“The core memory that I will take away from this is meeting new people,” says Raad, who keeps in touch with many of her new friends from UMass Lowell and other universities while abroad. “We became friends in such a short amount of time.”
Her experience highlights exactly what’s possible when you combine the flexibility of online study with immersive, cross-cultural learning.
The GE² Program: A Real-World Example of Online Students Going Global
Another powerful example of a short-term, immersive experience is UMass Lowell’s Global Entrepreneurship Exchange (GE²) program. This summer, GE² returned in person for the first time since the pandemic, welcoming 25 students from around the world to campus for an intensive three-week business innovation challenge.
GE2 Return to Campus (2025)
Among those students were several Abitus MBA candidates from Japan, who completed their degrees entirely online. They journeyed to Lowell to collaborate in person with peers on a high-stakes entrepreneurial challenge: developing a commercialization plan for “Chickadee,” a nanosatellite designed by UMass Lowell’s own Prof. Supriya Chakrabarti.
“Usually you are studying online, so having the chance to study in the U.S. face-to-face with other students is a good experience,” said Dr. Toshio Naito, an Abitus MBA student and medical professor in Tokyo. His team’s space commercialization strategy won top honors during the final pitch session.
This experience allowed online students to step outside their virtual classrooms, work with international peers and engage directly with faculty researchers on a high-impact, real-world project, proving that studying online doesn’t limit your opportunities for connection or challenge.
How Online Students Benefit from Short-Term Global Experiences
Short-term study abroad programs can be ideal for online students who often balance other responsibilities, such as work or caretaking. Here’s how:
- Minimal time commitment – Fit a global experience into your summer or spring break
- Career-relevant course work – Earn credits that align with your major or professional goals
- Cultural enrichment – Gain global insight and soft skills employers value
- Networking opportunities – Meet peers, faculty and professionals in-person
- No long-term disruption – Continue your online courses before and after your travel
Ready to explore global options as an online student?
UMass Lowell’s flexible study abroad options prove that being an online student doesn’t mean missing out on transformative parts of college life. Connect with the International Programs Office to explore current offerings.
Visit the Study Abroad Portal or contact your academic advisor to get started.