World Study Expo is a premier global education fair designed to connect aspiring students with top universities and institutions from around the world. Hosted through an accessible online platform, this international education fair brings together representatives from global universities — including institutions from North America, Europe, the UK, Australia, and beyond — to help students explore higher education opportunities without the need to travel.
🎓 What World Study Expo Offers
Direct Interaction with Universities: Students can engage in live discussions with admission officers and academic representatives from 100+ global universities and colleges spanning 20+ countries.
Virtual Global Education Fair: Attend the expo from anywhere in the world via computer or mobile device — no travel expenses or physical attendance required.
Comprehensive Program Information: Explore undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and professional programs across various disciplines.
Scholarship & Visa Guidance: Gain valuable insights into scholarship opportunities, admission criteria, and student visa procedures through webinars and live Q&A sessions.
Personalized Meetings: Students can schedule one-on-one consultations to clarify academic goals, admission requirements, and career pathways.
🌍 Why Attend the Global Education Fair
Centralized Access to Global Institutions: Find and compare study options from universities worldwide in one virtual space.
Convenience & Flexibility: Join from home or school at your convenience — especially helpful for students who are unable to attend in-person fairs.
Comprehensive Support: Get career planning, scholarship details, and proactive support to make informed decisions about your international education journey.
📈 Who Should Attend
High school students planning to study abroad
Undergraduate and postgraduate aspirants
Parents and education counsellors
Anyone seeking international academic opportunities and guidance
Studying abroad just got easier: sneak peak into abroad programs and accessibility
The New College Off-Campus Study/Study Abroad office has long been interested in connecting students with the right programs and necessary support to successfully complete a semester, summer or even a full year of a program or internship anywhere in the world. The Study Abroad Fair stands as one of many ways the office conducts outreach, otherwise you’ll be able to catch Florence Zamsky—Assistant…
Yesterday was the Study Abroad Fair and my first job as a Student Ambassador! The fair had a time slot of 11-4pm, but my shift didn't start until 1pm. Since my acting class ended at 12, I used the time I had between my commitments to rush up the hill to International House and take a look at the fair myself!
Boy, was there a lot going on! Going to the fair is definitely the way to begin one's study abroad adventure. There are so many resources that will help answer questions students may have and lead them towards websites and people who can provide them with what they need to take their next step. There are too many opportunities to have a reason not to study abroad.
Lately I have been researching online to find a way to study abroad again or at least travel after graduation. But then there's always the money issue. How am I going to afford studying abroad again? And I definitely don't have enough money to travel for an extended period of time without a job. So the only answers include scholarships, more work hours, and/or finding a job abroad.
I decided to visit a few tables while I was there. A few about teaching abroad and a couple about summer abroad opportunities. It felt good to be back at this stage again. I remember going to the study abroad fair during sophomore year. I was so excited and ready to talk to real people about their experiences and what I needed to do to be in their shoes. Yesterday I was able to experience a little bit of this again for myself as well as be on the other side of the conversation.
I was able to tell students about my experience and give them information about various programs and resources. It felt really great to help people and feel useful. Sometimes I felt like I was rambling on and on (and I have the sore throat to prove it) and I know sometimes I can talk a little fast. I was nervous at times that I was providing too much information too quickly and would frequently ask people if what I said was making any sense. But I think overall I handled myself well and always made sure to let people know that the study abroad office and advisers and the online and paper resources were the best ways to get started and learn more (just in case everything that I said became a blur).
The best thing about being a Student Ambassador thus far though has been seeing people's excitement about studying abroad. They may come up a little nervous and what I am telling them may be a lot to comprehend, but I can see that what I am saying is at least helpful to them. They are able to see that studying abroad is possible and that there are so many more resources than they may have thought. I feel like the work that I am doing helps clear away some of the nerves and stress and lets people feel excited about going abroad.
I believe that studying abroad is something that every student should have the opportunity to do and it was great to see so many interested students. This really shows me that the world is a big place, but that people truly want to be a part of the global sphere. People want to travel and learn about other cultures and discover new things. This is exciting because it demonstrates the curiosity of my generation and it shows that there are always those who want to connect with people from around the world and participate in something bigger than themselves and their own circumstances.
Not studying abroad isn't a crime. I know that studying abroad can be expensive and for some students it is a scheduling issue or is simply undesirable. But I believe that those who are able to do it return as global citizens. They have an increased respect and empathy for others and are able to relate to those who appear to be unlike themselves. And even more, they are able to get a little closer to understanding their own thoughts, feelings, and circumstances.
Studying abroad can be the experience of a lifetime and I just hope that those students who came to the fair are able to make it a reality. And I hope that my participation in this event helped even if in just some small way.
Spotlight: Study Abroad Advisers, Michael and LaSharon
Source. LaSharon and Michael at last quarter’s Worldfest with our infamous globe.
I studied abroad my junior year, spending a total of six months in England and five weeks backpacking through Europe. I can honestly say that my time at UC Riverside would have been incomplete without experiencing life in another country, which is why I upon returning to Riverside I began to volunteer at the Off Campus Academic Excursions Office.
The first person I met when I was only thinking about going abroad was LaSharon. With my desperate need to go abroad anywhere she offered me a trip to Antarctica — I didn't know that it was actually possible to study there. Once I was accepted into my program I got to know LaSharon and Michael a lot better, and now as a student volunteer I realize all the work it takes to get so many UCR students abroad every quarter.
Source. Michael with a student volunteer.
Rubi (me): So, tell me a little bit about yourselves. Where did you go to school? What were you involved in during college?
LaSharon: I did my undergrad at UC Riverside. I majored in Theatre with a minor in Italian. I wasn’t the typical student because I was a transfer student from Riverside Community College, and before that had been in the Navy.
Michael: I also did my undergrad at UCR, all four years. I was part of the class of 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor in Business Administration. I later got my Masters at UCR in Higher Education Administration and Policy.
LaSharon: Well, if we’re including Masters degrees, I have four. One from UCR in Creative Writing for the Performing Arts, two that I earned abroad in Australia in Theater and Applied Linguistics, and my last one from Jones International University in Masters of Education in Higher Education, Leadership and Administration.
Source. Michael, LaSharon and UCR study abroad returnees at this past year's Lessons From Study Abroad Conference at USC. Just another way Michael and LaSharon continue to be there for study abroad participants -- even upon return.
Me: How did you get involved with the world of studying abroad?
LaSharon: I studied abroad the summer of 2002 in Siena, Italy. And I also went to grad school in Sydney, Australia.
Michael: I also went to Siena, Italy but in the summer of 2000.
Me: What made you decide to want to work as a study abroad adviser at UCR? Before going abroad did you plan to have this career?
LaSharon: For me, I ended up as an adviser because of the need in the department. I had just finished grad school and was looking for a job, and 30 minutes after I came back to visit I got a call that they needed a new administrative assistant, and that’s basically how I started working here. That was all the way in 2006. But before that I was a student volunteer. I was officially on staff in 2004 but left for two years to go to grad school. I was just lucky and came back to visit at the perfect time.
Michael: For me it was a bit different. I was a student volunteer from 2000 to 2001. I just started to volunteer because I enjoyed talking about studying abroad to anyone who was interested. I left UCR for a bit to work as a tour guide in 2001. The tour was across Western Europe, then I was an RA at Cambridge and Georgetown the summer of 2001. After I graduated UCR I came back to volunteer for special events, then a position for marketing opened, and that’s how I became part of the official staff.
Me: Now, as the advisers for all UCR students who are interested in going abroad, what does a typical day in the office look like?
LaSharon: Well, I do this job because as a once-UCR student, I understand UCR students, and I can see from the perspective of a student. Studying abroad can seem impossible, and as an adviser, I want to be able to give the student the vision that that possibility is within reach. I’m the main adviser for all the Opportunities Abroad Programs, but I can also advise for Education Abroad Programs.
Source. You know you’re in Michael’s office when you see Steve Irwin holding a crocodile.
Michael: I take the lead in advising for EAP programs, but I can advise for students who are interested in an OAP program. My daily is mostly helping students find a program that fits their needs, helping a student find courses they need and helping students find a realistic perspective on funding and figuring out how financial aid works with study abroad. I never thought studying abroad was something that would actually happen. Coming into the office when I was interested made it tangible. I just want to provide a welcoming space; there’s a way to find yourself overseas, even when it seems impossible.
LaSharon: Yeah, I can agree with that. I just want the office to seem like a space you can stop by and just ask whatever you’re not sure about. As a transfer student, the first table I saw at transfer orientation was the study abroad table. I was so excited that I could go abroad, I mean, I was a single parent in the military! I started my application my fall term. My advice is just set your mind on it; anything you want we can help you determine how to get it done.
Me: Everyone here at the office is getting prepared for Worldfest. Can you give a brief explanation of what it is or who should stop by the fair?
LaSharon: Anyone who is interested in studying, working, interning or volunteering abroad should go to it. This past fall quarter we celebrated our 13-year anniversary and this month will be the second time we offer it in winter quarter, too.
Michael: I went abroad because I had a friend just like me that went abroad. If you don’t know people that have studied abroad, you can come by Worldfest and talk to our volunteers. Everyone there has gone abroad and can help you figure out the best program for you.
Our students are quite competitive for study abroad scholarships. Everyone has a unique story. We’ve had students win anywhere from $100 to $10,000 scholarships, and coming to events like Worldfest or just stopping by the office is the first step to set yourself apart.
Source. The first Worldfest I volunteered for in Fall 2012, the quarter before I departed.
Me: Our blog has a large freshman following as well as prospective students. Any tips for students that aren't even sure of what the first step is?
LaSharon: To avoid the feeling of going abroad being impossible, plan ahead! Come in your sophomore year, even your freshmen year!
Michael: If you plan ahead of time, you can start planning out the financials. Most students go abroad their junior or senior year but don’t think about it until their junior year. Coming in to talk to us early will save you stress and maybe even give you the chance to study abroad more than once.
Worldfest is happening January 28th in HUB 302 from 10 to 2 PM. For more about Worldfest specifically you can read about it here. If you are at all interested in going abroad I highly recommend you stop by. Program providers will be in attendance to answer any and all questions, along with volunteers from the study abroad office who have the experience of being a UCR student in another country.
This quarter, the first 100 students to have a signature from a program in each row will receive a test package including a large exam book, small exam book, 2 Scantrons and a pencil to bubble in all the correct answers. Perfect for midterm season! The first 3 students to have a signature from all the program providers will receive a UCR Survival Pack which includes a UCR notebook, lanyard, keychain, soccer bag, water bottle and a ton more!
Stop by Worldfest January 28th to learn about how you can make studying abroad part of your academic experience. A day doesn’t go by when I don’t think about my time in England. I am so thankful to have staff members such as Michael and LaSharon who come into work everyday at Olmsted 2322 to make dreams that once seemed impossible a reality. LaSharon was there to help my sophomore year when I wasn't sure of where to study abroad, and upon my return Michael’s door has always been open on the days when I just want to talk about how it feels to be back home.
Studying abroad isn’t something that ends once your flight lands at home -- it stays with you forever. I’ve fallen in love with helping students who are as confused as I once was, which is why I will be in attendance at this quarter’s Worldfest. A handful of other UCR study abroad participants will be in attendance, so stop by, say hello and get some information to help yourself get abroad!
