The Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes works in close partnership with campus resources to promote global experiences to student-athletes at UNC. These partners include the Study Abroad Office, Center for Global Initiatives, Kenan-Flagler Business School, and Student-Athlete Development. Student-athletes who are interested in a global experience should consult with their ASPSA academic counselor to discuss how a global experience can be programmed into their academic and athletic plans and review athletic eligibility.
Click on each box below to learn about how you can have a Global Experience at UNC!
The Study Abroad Office
The Study Abroad Office offers more than 350 study abroad programs for academic credit in over 70 countries, with programs ranging from three weeks to a full calendar year. Ben Briggs, Study Abroad Program Director, serves as the liaison to ASPSA and Athletics.
Ben Brigg’s Study Abroad Program Director & Liaison to ASPSA & Athletics
Study Abroad Advisors are available to meet this throughout the year. Click this link to schedule an appointment.
To learn more about studying abroad, upcoming events, or connect with other advisors in the Study Abroad Office, please visit their website.
Visit the Study Abroad Resources Page to learn more about study abroad opportunities and the process here at UNC.
Embark Carolina
Visit Embark Carolina, where students can browse the Funding Finder to identify travel awards and funded global programs as well as the Global Guide to plan and prepare for a global experience. Embark Carolina also provides information about how to obtain a passport and UNC Passport Drives offered on campus
Phillips Passport Initiative
The Phillips Passport Initiative provides funding for new first year and transfer undergraduate students to obtain their first U.S. passport book. The mission of the initiative is to encourage students to explore global experiences early in their time at Carolina. Award recipients will be provided with resources to explore a wide array of global experiences including studying, interning, service learning, and research abroad.
Phillips Ambassador Program Director Dori Brady is available to students as the point of contact for the Phillips Passport Initiative.
Email: dori.brady@unc.edu
Phone: (919) 843 – 7522
Office: FedEx Global Education Center, GEC 3116
There are two application cycles:
1) August 1 through November 1, 2024
2) February 1 through May 1, 2025
Tar Heel Global Ambassadors
Every year, through the gracious donations from the Edward and Charles Wilkins Families, up to 10 scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who typically do not have the opportunity to study abroad whether due to sport constraints or other financial reasons.
Five (5) student-athletes were selected based on their financial need and application question responses for Summer 2023, which was also the first semester this scholarship was offered. The following year, Summer 2024, seven (7) student-athletes were chosen to be Global Ambassadors through the Wilkins Family Scholarship. A dinner is held the following Fall semester with the Wilkins so that Ambassadors share their experiences and thank the family again.
Softball’s Bela Emerling (left) in London and Rowing’s Molly Warden (above) in The Galapagos Islands
Kenan-Flagler Undergraduate Business Global Programs
UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School (KFBS) offers a wide variety of global programs for business majors and minors through Kenan-Flagler Undergraduate Business Global Programs. These programs include international internship during the summer, Faculty-Staff led Global Immersion Electives (GIEs) during UNC’s spring break and Maymester, as well as summer abroad and semester exchange programs. Study abroad scholarships are available!
Eva Hodgson (Women’s Basketball, left) during her KFBS MBA Global Immersion Elective in Greece Summer 2022, and Malu Thsitenge (Women’s Basketball, above) during her KFBS Undergraduate Global Immersion Elective in London Summer 2022.
Click here to read more about Eva and Malu’s experience abroad in Europe.
Coach for College
Coach for College is an international three-week service-learning program in Vietnam. Student-athletes on teams across the nation travel to summer camps in rural areas and teach academics, sports, and life skills. For more information, please contact Cricket Lane (Associate Athletic Director, Student-Athlete Development) at cricket@unc.edu.
Tar Heels Coach for College in Vietnam
UNC Athletics Foreign Tours
UNC Athletics Foreign Tours provides teams with the opportunity to travel abroad, combining a global experience with sport training and competition. Per the NCAA, teams are permitted to take advantage of this foreign tour experience once every four years. UNC has had multiple teams go abroad each summer. On these trips, student-athletes have a wide variety of experiences, touring and immersing themselves in the culture, and competing against international competition.
Men’s Soccer to Italy, Croatia and Slovenia and Wrestling to Japan
Men’s Soccer Wrestling
Previous Global Experiences Gallery:
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