CAPA International Education
Programs and Reviews
For over 40 years, CAPA International Education has provided students with authentic learning abroad expereinces. Both individual and group based study abroad programs are available for students across the globe. With program centers located on four continents in seven countries, students are taught using a tested and proven educational program called MyEducation (ME) which blends theme based classroom learning and experiential learning to give students the context they need to expand their understanding of the world in which they live.
Programs Abroad
Reviews
90%Overall
Rating
90%Overall
Rating
I am not lying when I say this was the most worthwhile experience of my entire life. Having an internship abroad was the perfect experience. And not just any internship, but one with the NBC bureau. Not many programs have those type of connections, and the experience I gained there was invaluable. I felt behind before studying abroad, a lot of my peers had at least one internship under their belt. Any intimidations or worries I had about not adapting to London disappeared within a week. Soon, I was giving directions to tourists and could master the bus and tube schedule with ease! There were moments of homesickness, but I just went outside, hopped on a bus and just enjoyed watching the city. Sometimes it was a pain in the butt to pay for things with the awful exchange rate, but it really is all worth it and I wouldn't change a thing!By the time I got back from London, my friends who hadn't gone abroad were jealous of me!
Critical Feedback:
CAPA should place students with other study abroad participants from different schools. That way I would've made other friends outside of my school's program.
80%Overall
Rating
Are you an athlete who is considering going abroad? Are you afraid that you won't be able to stay in shape once you reach your travel destination? Well if you chose the CAPA London program, don't have any worries. Placed directly in a major area of the city, the CAPA program is incredibly close to many gyms in which you can receive a discounted student membership. Personally, I went to regent's gym, which is actually on the Westminster University campus, and places you into an atmosphere with other university students. Another gym option that is closer to the CAPA academic building itself, is the Imperial College gym. Since CAPA is technically an offshoot of Imperial College, you receive an Imperial College student card, which also offers you a discount to the gym located on campus. So if you're an athlete or just someone trying to stay in shape, their are options for you!
In addition, if you are more of the running type, the city of London is a fantastic place to do a daily morning jog, or just a fun run every so often. Personally I enjoyed running along the Thames River at night, since everything from Parliament to the London Eye is lit up, and offers a amazing view for all joggers and walkers alike. Also, the parks surrounding CAPA offer incredible scenery, and some of them, such as Regents Park, even have a track!
But what is it that CAPA itself offers to athletes? Well, CAPA classes only meet once a week, and they meet for approximately three and a half hours each session. This allows for students to get their coursework done for the day in one stretch of time, leaving the rest of the day for personal activities, such as working out! If you are also interested in the internships that CAPA has to offer, you are allowed to negotiate your work schedule with your individual manager, which gives you the opportunity to leave plenty of free time to get your coursework done as well as a workout.
Finally, through the CAPA program, you are given a meal stipend based on the amount that your individual campus has negotiated. This means that you get to cook your own food, as opposed to swiping into a cafe and eating a cheeseburger and fries every day for lunch! For an athlete, this is ideal, being able to plan out your meals and eat exactly what you need for your body to develop allows for you to keep track of what you are eating, which for athletes and non athletes alike, is always beneficial.
Now, other than the ability to stay in shape, the CAPA program itself is absolutely incredible. The classes and professors are challenging, yet fair, and the opportunities that CAPA offers for you to explore the city and the surrounding area is rivaled by no other! Taking Harry Potter walking tours and trips into Bath are parts of a study abroad experience that are crucial, yet many programs do not arrange for their students. With a staff that truly cares for the students who are studying with them, you will never feel alone and will always have the ability to do a fun and interesting activity every week!
Critical Feedback:
If I had to change this program in one way it would be how spread out many of the students housing is. While it is understandable that getting housing in a global city such as London is difficult, I was about an hour away from some of my friends from other universities. While taking the tube was quick and easy, being in a close proximity to the other CAPA students would allow for an even tighter community to develop!
90%Overall
Rating
This was the best experience of my life. The internship placement was perfect and suited me well. I feel like I learned so much about another city, another culture and a lot about myself. The apartments that we were placed in were beyond perfect and were in a great location close to the airport, beaches, and the downtown part of the city where the Opera House and Harbor Bridge located. My day to day experiences looked like: waking up and off to the internship or class in North Sydney, spend all day out and come home to make dinner. I had three day weekends which allowed for ample beach time and traveling around Australia and even New Zealand.
Critical Feedback:
I would have really liked to be in class with other Australian students. Our classes were held on the Australian Catholic University campus but only with Americans and I would have enjoyed meeting some local Aussies.
100%Overall
Rating
Studying abroad in Sydney was the most incredible experience of my life. I was so blessed with all of the opportunities that I had while I was there! I was able to experience the beauty of the country and the Australian culture. While I was there, I took surfing lessons, climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, saw a show in the Opera House, walked along the coast, saw whales, had an internship in a school, attended Hillsong Church, and so much more! The opportunities are endless! I grew so much as a person because it opened my eyes to another culture and further developed me into an independent person. One of the greatest accomplishments was that I was able to maneuver throughout the huge city of Sydney using various modes of transportation. This greatly boosted my confidence! I loved it so much! I want to go back!!
Critical Feedback:
It's honestly hard to find something wrong with the program. Honestly, my only suggestion would be that it would've been nice to have the meal cards distributed all at once instead of weekly. We had to go up to North Sydney at the beginning of each week to receive the cards. North Sydney was 45 minutes away from where we were living, so some weeks it was a hassle to get up there to receive my card. I know it sounds trivial, but it would've saved some travel time.
(See what I did there). But seriously, all cheesy titles aside, CAPA is an excellent program. It is a smart fit for you if you are considering advancing yourself in the professional world and if you want to something different and life changing.
I studied in London, my fall semester of 2012. Adjusting was strange, but I felt the CAPA program tries its best to help me. Well before I arrived in London, I was given a big packet of information with nearly every question I had answered. Arriving at housing for the first time, we were given a welcome tour of the neighborhood we were to be part of for the next couple months. Staff was available for questions, advice, and even just to listen.
My housing was nice, it's not like staying at the Ritz, but it's good. We had housing keeping come, which helped us a lot. I didn't find my flat to be crowded and I lived with 5 other roommates.
Your Visa allows you to work 20 hours a week since you also attend classes and attendance is mandatory. Classes are with the Americans who also part of the CAPA program, so you get to form friendships. I loved that my internship was with mostly British people and it was in the center of London, in the midst of excitement. It helped me learn more about the British culture and make new friends and connections. CAPA truly wants you to get immersed in British culture. The program organizes tours and trips that teach you about the culture, people, and history of London. Try to go on as many of these outings as you can.
Looking back now on the experience, I'm glad I did an internship and studied abroad. CAPA allowed me to balance both. CAPA program also allows you to have a good amount of free time to travel and sightsee.
If you're having doubts about going to London, drop them! London is an amazing, diverse, and lively city. If you're bored studying in London, you're doing something wrong. There is so much to see and do, and while it's expensive, it's worth it. This makes me want to go back!
Critical Feedback:
Although housing was nice, I would've changed the location of it. The neighborhood felt same but too far away from the heart of London and classes. Also, some of the furniture would fall apart.
Classes are too long and with all Americans, but I don't think that can be changed. But the professors are British and the ones I had were fascinating. Take classes that have field trips.