Studying Abroad as an LGBTQIA+ Student - Resources and Alumni Experiences

Happy Pride Month! Each June we celebrate Pride Month and the history and achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community around the world.

CEA CAPA students at a Pride celebration in Dublin.

For LGBTQIA+ students planning to study abroad, there are specific considerations they may want to take into account before they go.

Below, we've put together a list of resources for LGBTQIA+ students who are thinking about or preparing to study abroad:

Resource Guides for Students

• Identities Abroad: A Resource Guide for Traveling LGBTQ students | Colleges of the Fenway

• LGBTQ+ Students Abroad | Diversity Abroad

• How to Study Abroad as an LGBT Student | GoAbroad.com

• The Ultimate Guide to Studying Abroad as an LGBTQ+ student | Studee

• Suggestions for LGBTQ Students Going Abroad | Carleton

• An LGBTQI Student Guide to Study Abroad | GoAbroad.com

• (Video) Queer and Abroad: Four People Share Their Experiences Living Outside the U.S. | It Gets Better Project

• (Video) Studying Abroad as an LGBTQ+ Student! | UCIAbroad

Additional resources for LGBTQIA+ students looking to study abroad from Rainbow SIG (NAFSA International Educators LGBTQIA+ membership group):

• Rainbow SIGnals Newsletter

• An LGBT Student Guide to Study Abroad | GoAbroad.com

• International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)

• LGBT Student Guide for Education Abroad | University of South Florida

• LGBTI Travel Information | U.S. State Department

Here are some scholarship and funding opportunities available to LGBTQIA+ students interested in studying abroad:

Scholarships for Students

• 12 Study Abroad Scholarships for LGBT Students courtesy of GoAbroad.com

• Rainbow Scholarship

• The Pride Foundation

Alumni Experiences

Interested in hearing from LGBTQIA+ students who have studied abroad through CEA CAPA in the past? Check out these articles from former Diversity Advocates Scholars and bloggers:

James Nightengale, Clark University, CEA CAPA London

In this blog post, James shares a guide to queer life in London, focusing on the places and events he appreciated the most-from book stores to dance floors. He found London to be full of welcoming spaces and events for the LGBTQIA+ community.

"One of the most unexpectedly meaningful elements of my experience abroad in London has been the many events, bars, clubs, and opportunities available specifically for the LGBTQIA+ community. As a queer person myself, I was initially hesitant to explore these spaces or attend events centered around queer issues. I felt somewhat intimidated by the throngs of well-dressed people lined up outside late-night venues and worried I would stand out at more low-key events. Yet my fears could not have been more unfounded: I found the LGBTQIA+ bars, night clubs, and other spaces to be wildly inclusive and accessible to an initial outsider such as myself."

Read more about James' exploration of LGBTQIA+ spaces in London.

Jeff Chan, University of Massachusetts Amherst, CEA CAPA Sydney

Jeff tells us about his experience as an LGBTQIA+ student abroad. He shares why he chose Sydney as his global location and how he celebrated his identity while abroad.

"Every country has different social and cultural beliefs about the LGBTQIA+ community. This is reflected in their current laws and policies, along with their inclusion (or exclusion) of the community in public settings. As a gay university student, I had to consider this when choosing where I would want to study abroad. I knew that in order to be able to genuinely enjoy the experience, I would need to pick a city that I would be comfortable being myself in. I chose Sydney for its acceptance and inclusion of the city's rich queer culture."

Continue reading to find out more about Jeff's experience exploring Sydney as an LGBTQIA+ student.

Hania Powell, Rollins College, CEA CAPA Dublin

Hania discusses her decision to study abroad in Ireland, her experience celebrating Pride abroad, and the LGBTQIA+ community in Dublin.

"As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community looking to study abroad, I was cautious to choose a place that I felt would allow me to succeed while being myself.

My decision to study and intern in Ireland for the summer was motivated by the incredible pace at which progress is being made toward equal rights, especially with the recent legalization of same-sex marriage through popular vote, and the country turned out to be the perfect destination."

Learn more about Hania's experience studying abroad in Dublin during Pride.

We hope these resources and alumni experiences give you an idea of what studying abroad as an LGBTQIA+ student can look like!