As a first-year student, you have two unique study abroad options available to you. These experiences are available to all ACES majors, including ACES Undeclared. The College of ACES offsets most of the program costs, and there are scholarships for ACES students as well.

We are offering two different programs in the fall semester. Students will enroll in ACES 298 and take an 8-week pre-departure class with the faculty instructor in the fall. Then, you will travel together as a group in early January. Each program has two ACES faculty or staff who lead the courses and travel with the cohorts.

In addition to all of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities these programs provide, the highlights for most students are the communities they build here in ACES and with the people they meet abroad. Most students who do a First-Year Experience Program go on to study abroad again and may even explore new ways to apply their ACES degrees in their future careers.

Read about the experience of a first-year student who went to Ecuador in 2024! 

Panama - Discovering Agricultural & Environmental Systems

As part of this program, students will visit large and small-scale agriculture through tours of farms, such as goat/sheep, sugarcane, coffee, citrus, and rice, and engage with environmental and economic concerns.

Through these tours of farms and Panama City, students will learn about Panama's agricultural practices, customs, cultures, and history and see why Panama is such an essential piece of American agriculture. Students also visit the Panama Canal, a modern world wonder!

Location: Panama City, Las Lajas, Boquete, and David, Panama

Learn more

Take a look at previous Panama trips!
A group of people sit in front of large, colorful letters spelling "PANAMÁ" at a marina, with boats and the city skyline visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
Three people sit outdoors, smiling and holding food served on large banana leaves while surrounded by trees and nature.
A smiling person wearing an orange Illinois shirt holds a small black animal while standing outdoors under a tarp with trees in the background.
A group of people gathers outdoors as one person tends to food cooking over a fire, while a woman in a bright blue traditional dress observes nearby, surrounded by lush greenery.
A group of people holding walking sticks hike along a rocky path beside a stream in a lush, forested area.
A group of people hike along a narrow trail through a lush, mountainous landscape, surrounded by greenery and distant hills under a bright blue sky.

Ecuador - Service-Learning and Sustainability

This program will focus on urban and rural agriculture, food security, indigenous rights, and sustainability in Ecuador. Participants can expect service projects to focus on working directly with local families on farm maintenance and/or building projects such as small footbridges, greenhouses, medicinal and vegetable gardens, etc. 

The projects will be finalized based on community input near the time of travel and are an exciting way for students to apply what they are learning in ACES classes in a real-world setting. 

Last but certainly not least, participants will spend several days experiencing the beauty and culture of Ecuador!

Location: Quito, San Miguel de Los Bancos & La Unión Bolivarense, Ecuador

Learn more

Take a look at previous Ecuador trips!
A group of people stand around a rustic setup outdoors, observing as two individuals work on processing materials in wooden troughs, surrounded by lush vegetation.
Two butterflies with black, white, and red markings rest on a green leaf in a natural, forested environment.
A group of people walk down a cobblestone street in a rural town, with houses on either side and a hilly, forested landscape in the distance under a cloudy sky.
A group of people gather around an outdoor setup, where individuals are stirring a large vat of liquid over a fire, with wood logs and smoke in the foreground and tropical vegetation in the background.
A group of people walk alongside a building with red columns, while decorative plants and houses are visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
Two people smile while hugging a large spiky tree, which the caption notes is part of a stress-relief tradition shared by the Tsachila tribe of Santo Domingo.

How much does it cost?

The college subsidizes these programs so that the fee will be no more than $2,500 before scholarships. That includes round-trip international airfare, hotels, most meals, transportation, all activities, and emergency support.

The ACES Study Abroad Scholarship is guaranteed as long as you apply for it, and we will help you apply for more scholarships across campus to offset the cost. These programs are also eligible for financial aid loans.

If you are interested in participating but have questions or concerns about funding, please email aces-studyabroad@illinois.edu.