Winter International Academy: Steppingstone to Global Learning, Success

Long before reaching The University of Texas at Austin, Yang Shao, a sophomore majoring in math, had a goal in mind: to pursue a Ph.D. in the United States.  

Although the goal sometimes seemed daunting, Shao remained determined. After spending a year and a half studying engineering in China, she decided to work toward making her goal a reality by enrolling in the Winter International Academy hosted by UT’s English Language Center.   

The Winter International Academy is a four-week program designed for undergraduate international students with at least intermediate-level English proficiency to improve their written and oral English skills, while gaining firsthand experience in a selected topical track focused on practice, problem-solving and application.  

Program tracks include accounting, advertising, engineering, Western language and culture, and software engineering. In addition to attending interactive classes five days a week for a total of 120 hours, students visit local educational and cultural sites, earn a certificate of completion, and connect with expert faculty to receive career guidance and field insights.  

Making Connections, Learning Skills  

Shao enrolled in the software engineering track and took programming and language courses. Through the programming classes, she strengthened her Java and Python skills, which inspired her to pursue a computer science certificate.  

In her English classes, she gained oral skills and professional writing practice, such as writing resumés and revising professional emails and academic papers. During this process, Shao made meaningful connections with professors and peers that have remained strong past the program’s duration.  

“I built long-lasting friendships. Two friends from the program later visited my hometown in China, [and] I showed them the beautiful cherry blossoms. We keep connected,” Shao said. “Now I find that many of my peers from the program are studying abroad in the U.S., Europe, Japan or Hong Kong. It’s very exciting to see everyone all around the world.” 

After concluding her time at the academy, Shao was accepted to UT as a math major. She said her experience at the academy motivated her to transfer to UT and allowed her to adapt to Austin quickly. She said she decided to return because she appreciated the quality of education at the University. 

“The professors were really supportive. I still stay connected with my Java professor ... I sometimes will stop by his office hours to catch up,” Shao said. “He provided tremendous help for me.” 

Shao’s Java professor, Fares Fraij, is an associate professor of instruction at the Department of Computer Science. He said he found Yang’s ability to handle challenging tasks impressive and that her ability to collaborate effectively with peers and professors made her a standout student.  

“This intensive program involved a variety of activities including programming projects, assignments, a software project sales pitch, and in-class exercises, all centered around best practices in Java programming,” Fraij said. “Yang’s hard work, dedication and passion were evident throughout the course. She consistently achieved scores in the top 1% on all class activities, showcasing her exceptional analytical skills and deep understanding of complex concepts.”  

Making a Community Impact  

During the program, Shao said, the most satisfying part of her experience was when she earned high praise from her professor, who told her that her final project was the best presentation in the class.  

Now as a UT student, her most fulfilling experiences center around her campus involvement, informed by the knowledge she gained in the International Academy. A non-native speaker, she said she sometimes struggles with speaking English, but the speaking practice she gained in the program helped prepare for her current leadership roles.  

“At UT, the most rewarding moments might be my contribution to the UT community. Now I am a math officer — I’m the outreach coordinator, which means that I need to communicate with people a lot — and I'm also the math department’s teaching assistant,” Shao said. “I’m using my knowledge to make contributions to this community, [which] makes me very happy.” 

Looking forward, Shao aims to use the skills she learned at the academy to prepare her for pursuing that long-envisioned Ph.D., aligned with her interests in machine learning and computer science. 

Details and Application Information  

Winter 2026 session dates for the International Academy are January 26-February 20. The application deadline is December 1, 2025, although applicants are encouraged to apply earlier to allow time for visa processing. Visit the Winter International Academy page for more information.