Social Work Study Abroad Programs

I went to Mexico to improve my Spanish skills and gain confidence moving and interacting in unfamiliar settings and situations. This program allowed me to greatly improve my Spanish - the month-long urban homestay was super helpful for that - and expand my skillset and knowledge of what I can do. In the course of this program I also complete a social work practicum at a local elder care home, and that allowed me to apply and further develop social work skills of empathy and communication, as well as to more completely immerse myself in the local community.

Studying abroad was the best choice I've ever made. Worldstrides, as a partnership program, was the best. The first week, we met for orientation in Cairns, Australia, and they took care of hotel and excursion expenses (this includes the Great Barrier Reef). It was a great first week getting introduced to Australia and my program. They were very helpful before and during my time in Australia, always there for questions, concerns, and planning a handful of group activities + one overnight trip! They were truly a blessing while abroad.

As a first-generation, Mexican American college student, I had the opportunity to challenge myself, academically and personally, in a place I never been. I do not regret this decision at all. I took every opportunity that I was presented with; social media ambassador, internship at a human rights commission, and most importantly, building relationships.

I I initially went to study abroad to expand my knowledge and immerse myself in a Spanish-speaking culture to increase my development and support my future desires to work in social work specifically advocating for Latino Americans struggling in the US that go against social systems that continue to oppress the Latino community. My experience during my study abroad program turned out to be way more than that. The people I met both my peers, and the staff completely changed my outlook on life and social work in general, pushing me to strive for myself academically, socially, and culturally. I am forever grateful for the experience I encountered during my study abroad program in Mexico with all of our speakers I had the honor of hearing their stories and their struggles and their achievements throughout their life, dealing with various types of discrimination. The encouragement I received from the study abroad staff helped me tremendously throughout various personal struggles, especially it being my first time living away from home I could not be more grateful for what this program taught me in the person it taught me to become, and I am still becoming in my Host family will forever be close to my heart and it feels like I have a home wherever I go, and if I could, I would do it all over again

My time as a University of Sussex student was a life changing opportunity. I got to grow and connect with people who I was able to explore with. I constantly reminisce on my time there and all that I got to do and for that I am grateful!

Studying at the University of Sussex as a Spanish exchange student has been one of the best experiences of my life. I felt welcomed from the very beginning, and the lecturers were always supportive and approachable. The campus is beautiful, the facilities are excellent, and Brighton is an amazing city full of culture and opportunities. I also met incredible people from all over the world, which helped me grow both personally and academically. This exchange has improved my English, broadened my perspective, and given me unforgettable memories. I would highly recommend the University of Sussex to any international student looking for a high-quality education and a truly enriching experience.

I did a year abroad from Australia at Sussex and it was genuinely an amazing year. Sussex is so progressive and community based, that there’s no ‘upper echelon’ groups or unapproachable people. Everyone at the uni is easy to talk to and friendly. Making friends was so easy. I joined the Salsa society; one out of literally a million choices of societies. Also, I’d argue that Sussex is as good as it is because you get to be abroad in Brighton. There’s no other city like it, so full of love and quirk. There’s ALWAYS something going on too, be it live music or festivals or arts or community activities. So bloody good and I’d go again in a heartbeat. Everybody really is in the same boat in Brighton and at Sussex, you’ll never feel judged.

Going to Bengaluru was an amazing time. I truly enjoyed the classes, the campus, and all of the inclusive cultural immersion that was included in my program. My program director was a great help at all times, and I truly consider him a great friend now. I wish I could have done an entire semester instead of just the summer program. It was a wonderful trip but it really felt too short!

I spent two weeks in Guatemala with Maximo Nivel. My Spanish level was minimal when I arrived. I felt like I was able to have a basic conversation and move around the city with the Spanish I learned. My homestay was very nice, and the staff here solved any issues I had; I would definitely do it again.

My four months in Brighton were amazing! The university had organised a great reception for all visiting students, which made it easy to get to know people from all over the world. While living on campus, I also made close friends with the people I lived with. I was mostly happy with all my selected modules, and found the teachers to be friendly and dedicated! Brighton itself is the perfect size for a semester abroad and full of lovely cafés, restaurants, pubs, and clubs. I definitely recommend Sussex for your exchange!

Living in Costa Rica for 4 weeks has been an incredible experience. It helped me integrate myself into the culture, language, and nature of the country. I was able to learn Spanish for 4 weeks with no Spanish to being able to form sentences and talk Spanish in tandem with not only my teachers but with the locals. The staff have been excellent in taking care of all my needs including changing accommodations, health issues, checking up regularly. This experience is 5 stars overall!

Choosing to study at the University of Sussex was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has completely changed how I see the world. Within the first week there, I found myself surrounded by such an incredible group of people, making friends from Australia, the United States, Mexico, Malaysia, and England. Each of whom generously shared their cultures, perspectives, and ways of life with me. Some of my fondest memories were simple ones, such as evenings spent laughing at Falmer Bar, surrounded by good company, good food, and an atmosphere that always felt like home. Sussex's location made it the perfect place to explore new destinations. Not only was it close to countries across Europe I'd dreamed of visiting, but it also placed me within easy reach of some of England's most charming destinations including London, Lewes, Cambridge, and Bath among my favourites. Between coursework, I found myself constantly learning both academically, and experientially, gaining a broader appreciation for the world and my place in it. Brighton, just a short bus ride from campus, became my favorite escape when I needed a break. I spent countless afternoons discovering new coffee shops and catching up on coursework, or wandering along the waterfront. By May, Brighton was in full swing, its pier buzzing with visitors enjoying games, rides, and seaside food. As someone living with Celiac Disease, I was especially grateful for how seamlessly I could navigate both grocery stores and restaurants with an abundance of gluten-free options that made me feel safe, cared for, and included throughout my time there. Academically, Sussex exceeded my expectations. My favorite course was Positive Psychology with Rona Hart, where small class sizes allowed real connections to form and made participation feel natural rather than intimidating. We didn't just study psychological theory, we got to practice them by participating in techniques like goal setting, stress management, and resilience building in ways that I've carried with me well beyond the classroom. Overall, my semester at Sussex gave me more than education, it also gave me the most memorable experiences that I’ll cherish forever.

I had an amazing time during my study abroad at Sussex. Brighton was such a lovely town, with a lot of kind and interesting people. There is so much to do and so many cool experiences to have. I highly recommend coming to Sussex!

I had a great time at Sussex. I lived in Brighthelm and was able to be around my friends all the time. We would have little dinner parties and watch movies and it was so nice because everyone lived so close to eachother! Sussex also offered tons of activities for students I particularly loved trivia nights, and all the clubs were so open and welcoming which made meeting people easy!

As part of my studies, I spent a semester at the University of Sussex and I had a truly wonderful experience there. There were many differences compared to my home university. What I enjoyed most was the campus life. There were countless activities and events that made it easy to meet new people and try new things, which helped students connect with one another. I also really appreciated the support I received before and throughout my stay. Whenever I had questions or encountered any problems, there was always someone available to help. The lecturers were very welcoming, supportive, and genuinely cared about their students. In addition, the university’s location gave me the opportunity to explore Brighton and visit other English cities, such as London. Overall, I really enjoyed my semester at the University of Sussex and it was an enriching experience both academically and personally.

I absolutely loved my time at Sussex Uni and in Brighton. It's such a special place that you can't find anywhere else and a place that stays with your for a long time. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why as it is in the air, in the style and in the feelings you feel. The people were so cool and amazing, the town so fantastic and the university and campus such a cozy and familiar place that I felt like I belonged and had been there longer than one semester. I miss it a lot and look back on it with nostalgia and love. Definitely recommend going on an exchange there.

•Academic studies Those required critical thinking, plenty of readings, and active attitudes, which were not always necessary in my home uni. Therefore it was very hard for me to catch up and ‘participate’ the classes. However I could take various modules I had interest at that time, which broadened my horizons. •Nice living environment Even though I lived in the second oldest dormitory , I was quite satisfied with the environment. The flat was always cool and clean, and the best point was that I could see several bunnies in the courtyard. There are some bus stops, cafes, a small supermarket, and so on. Those were really convenient to live on campus. •Kind staff members They always care about us, send some emails, quickly respond to our messages. When I needed a support (for travel documents, hobs in the kitchen…), they kindly helped me.

My exchange semester at the University of Sussex was an exercise in high-level adaptation. Academically, the environment does not hold your hand. Coming from a Mechatronics and Cyber-Physical Systems background, the modules immediately tested my technical baseline. Developing machine learning and deep learning models—specifically utilizing PyTorch and NLTK for text preprocessing and document classification—demanded relentless problem-solving. Similarly, benchmarking optimization paradigms for light-seeking robotics required a level of precision that leaves zero room for error. The assessment standards here are uncompromising; you learn very quickly that strict adherence to coursework guidelines and academic criteria is mandatory for survival. However, the intensity of the Jupyter notebooks and robotics labs was offset by the lifestyle Sussex enables if you are disciplined enough to structure it. Living in the Falmer area meant I had to optimize my time, anchoring my weeks with strict meal prep, Monday sessions with the university running society, and weekly swimming. That routine is what made the academic load manageable. Furthermore, the location is a massive strategic advantage. The accessibility of the rail network allowed me to easily disconnect, whether that meant taking a quick group trip to Hastings or executing rapid, highly structured day trips to London to study engineering history at the Science Museum and British Library. Sussex is not a passive experience. It is an environment built for students who are ready to be challenged by uncompromising academic rigor while actively engineering their own community and routine on the outside.

I am happy to report that I’ve had a magically adventurous time here, my Spanish has noticeably improved, my hosts were kind and accommodating, and the Maximo and Inca Trails staff were wonderful. Special shoutout to Martha and Susan! They are amazing teachers and people. I’m sad to be leaving but happy to be heading home renewed, inspired and closer to fluency. You all run an excellent program!

I had an excellent time at Sussex University! Coming from Australia I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and the ability to explore the United Kingdom with ease. By doing an exchange at Sussex I was able to take classes I normally couldn’t do at my home university, and meet new and awesome professors that significantly helped me develop ideas for my future career.