Program Reviews

This program is amazing for students looking for a study away opportunity that emphasizes experiential learning in the diverse, cultural hub of London! My classes at the GEO Centre introduced me to new and challenging topics in British culture, politics, literature and media. I especially had a great time in my "Britain Today" class where I learned about Brexit and visited Westminster Palace and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh with my classmates.

Students don't have classes on Fridays, so there is plenty of time to travel outside of England on the weekends and explore the rest of Europe as well. There's a lot to do in London too! The city has a great transportation system and you can take the tube to popular sites, museums, markets, etc . Spring break is also a great time to travel! During break, I traveled to Spain and Portugal.

The Liberal Arts in London program also comes with an internship option, which I would encourage everyone to take advantage of! I had the wonderful opportunity to work with a great media company and learn from my British coworkers about the UK broadcasting industry. The internship helped me branch out from the cohort of American students and socialize with more Londoners. I also really enjoyed the British home-stay option and the way I was able to create meaningful relationships with the family I stayed with. Overall, the GEO in London program opened up a whole new world of global perspectives and taught me that some of the best experiences lie right outside my comfort zone!

Getting the opportunity to be apart of this study abroad program was, hands down, the best experience of my young life. Our program directors were supportive and fun, our classes were captivating and enriching, the homestay families were so kind and helpful, the list goes on. I randomly decided to study abroad my junior year, I thought I just wanted a break from my university and meet some new people, but little did I know that being apart of this program would change my life so much. I can't recommend this program enough to students wishing to study abroad, you truly won't regret it.

Studying abroad in Angers, France was an incredible experience. I drastically improved my French skills and I met some amazing friends. After this trip, I felt a lot more confident and independent as a French speaker, a traveler, and as a person.

I came to Angers in July 2018. I remember walking to the foyer I was staying in that first evening that I arrived in town, after a stressful day of travel, and feeling like I was in a fairytale. Angers is beautiful! There are cobblestone streets, charming white buildings surrounding them, and breathtaking sunsets every evening. It is the perfect town to study in. You can walk everywhere- to school, to the city center, to the lake, to the museum.

I took a mid level French language course at UCO. I had class Monday-Friday. The days in class are long, but you are learning a lot. I was given many breaks throughout the day as well. The TAs are very supportive and helpful; they made me feel so comfortable practicing my French. I also really enjoyed class because I got the opportunity to meet and speak with students from all over the world. Additionally, my credits transferred over easily to my school in the US, no issues!

The foyer that the program set me up with was great. I had my own bathroom, closet and desk in my bedroom. The garden out back was so dreamy and there was kitchen where you could prep and store all of your own food. Its location was phenomenal as well! The resident cat is a plus :)

Overall I loved this program! No complaints. I will cherish my time in Angers forever.

Studying in France and touring Europe truly changed my life. Not knowing any French and traveling alone, I was beyond nervous to partake in this program, and some serious doubts and concerns crept into my head when I landed in Paris. However, my host mother made life very easy for me, especially in the first week when I had no idea what I was doing. But what really made the trip not only manageable, but completely worth it, was the amazing teachers and staff that worked at UCO. Because I was going to be on campus and in classrooms five days each week, I wanted to pick a program that would have an impact on me academically and culturally, and I ultimately chose this program because of its amazing reputation. But the experience was beyond what I had imagined. The university is filled with some of the most generous and exceptional teachers I have ever experienced. And not only was the staff great, but the students were a perfect mixture of foreign and American, ranging from no French skills to nearly fluent. I not only met some amazing people from Turkey, Mexico, and Japan, but I also made some great friendships with people from Colorado, Michigan, and Mississippi that could actually speak french and helped me survive. I was in class for 20 hours a week, while also taking an online class from my home university, and because the credit transfer was very generous, I received all A's and 29 credits for a single trimester! If education and academics is your sole focus, hands down this is the program for you.

However, it doesn't stop there. Because Friday classes end before noon, nearly every weekend I was able to hop on a train Friday afternoon and spend my weekend in a different city or country. I spent a four-day weekend in London and LOVED it, I travelled to Switzerland for a weekend, and not to mention Paris many times. France, and Angers specifically, are in great locations if you want to travel Europe. Trains can quickly and easily take you to Spain, England, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, or even Italy. Plus, part of the program includes four different all-day field trips where you don't have to worry about travel and accommodations. So if traveling and seeing France and Europe is your primary goal, then I also believe this program is right for you.

Lastly, if you are worried about the homestay and living accommodations, there is nothing to fear. Although I arguably think my experience was the best out of everybody I met (my host-mother voluntarily cleaned my room once a week, helped me with laundry, made delicious meals, and was just incredibly kind), nobody that I talked to had bad experiences at all. Some students got to stay in larger families, or stay with other students, some stayed slightly outside of the downtown area, while some stayed within the city. I actually stayed with a single elderly lady all by myself. Her home was about 3 miles from campus and so she showed me how to use the public transit and the bus stop was just outside her door. My homestay was honestly perfect. So if you are worried about living with another family or living in a foreign country, this program will put all of your concerns away.

Overall, I think this program was amazing from top to bottom. The support staff, environment, and people along the way made this a truly life altering experience. Although I am biased, I think anybody considering studying abroad, or just considering an adventure, should really think about this program.

Not to be too stereotypical, but my semester abroad in London with GEO was easily the highlight of my college experience! The program offered the ideal look into what London has to offer. London is a beautiful city, rich with culture and history, which the classes in the Liberal Arts program teach you all about! From going to plays and art museums nearly every week, to going to a city hall meeting, and attending a Scottish Parliament meeting, if you're wanting to experience the UK, this program is for YOU! I was also blessed with the most AMAZING host family who made me feel right at home. Having three day weekends also allowed for me to explore what Europe has to offer! I was able to visit five countries outside of England during my semester abroad. The professors realize that we are going to be traveling and experiencing the city during the weekends, so they do not give too much homework either. I cannot recommend this program enough!

This was my very first time out of the country, so I was nervous traveling alone to another country, flights being overbooked, and transportation considering the language barrier. Of course, everything went as planned with little issue. Arriving in Greece is a combination of a postcard worthy setting filled with humble and friendly layers. I became close with the group I was a part of, and traveled from Athens to the Peloponnese to Crete, and more. We had the best guide with us to translate as needed and who knows the territory well. Learning and actively experiencing the subcultures within a single country was eye opening and surreal.

From late, traditional Greek dinners to honey and acorn farms to historical landmarks to the several wineries attended not only taught the subtleties of the culture but helped in understanding the people through the shared commonality of food. Owners of restaurants will sit with you, happily chatter away, and honestly advise what menu items to choose based on the freshest ingredients obtained that day. They'll sometimes even throw in free drinks and enjoy them with you! Since most eating happens outdoors, servers not only fulfill their serving duties, but go above and beyond, staying around to share stories while also ensuring that random, usually homeless people aren't being bothersome. The people I met were just that friendly, just that considerate, and just that hospitable. I highly recommend this program for those looking for a short and sweet experience that is still fulfilling and memorable.

I couldn’t have asked for a better study abroad experience! Living with a host family was definitely a daunting prospect but my host family was so incredibly warm, welcoming, and hospitable and really made Dublin feel like a home away from home. One thing that is amazing about this program is how much exploring is already organized for you within the weekly excursions. Even if you don’t do any extra traveling outside of the trips you take with your classmates every week, you still get to explore a ton of different places in Ireland. I also loved how the assignments incorporated familiarizing yourself with the Dublin area and engaging with the locals so that you weren’t just stuck at home writing a paper, but that you really got to learn about the place you were staying in and the people you were staying with in a tangible, hands-on way. One of the highlights of this program is getting to watch everybody’s short films and hearing people’s scripts being read aloud at the end of the five-week period. It’s a really fun celebration of everybody’s hard work and we all grabbed dinner and drinks together afterwards. I definitely recommend this program for anyone who is looking for an immersive cultural experience and has an interest in film production or global cinema.

Ireland was my first time visiting Europe, and it did not disappoint! The small coastal town of Dun Laoghaire where we lived, a suburb of Dublin, is super charming and beautiful. Irish people are so friendly and welcoming and I absolutely adored my host family. The program offers a perfect balance between academic work and giving you the chance to explore the country and its culture. We had classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and Wednesdays were for excursions. You really get to know the faculty and staff on a deeper level than in a traditional setting and by the end of the 5 weeks, you become pretty close with the rest of the students. Dublin has a great night life scene and tons of pubs where you can relax, meet people, and listen to live music. On one of the weekends, the class takes a trip to Galway for the Galway Film Festival, which is definitely a highlight of the program. You have the chance to talk with the people who acted in and made the films you're watching and check out another part of Ireland. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is remotely interested in cinema and looking to immerse themselves in a different culture that feels familiar and doesn't involve learning another language, but is different enough where you still get a new, transformative experience by the end of it.

My name is Moses and I was a participant in this study abroad program in 2018. I decided to do this program because of the outside the classroom experiences it offers. With this program I got to study and do research in handful of countries across the western Balkans. There was something new to discover in each of the destinations we visited. I fell in love with the food, the people, and all beautiful architecture. It’s important to note that this region has a tough past. Not too long ago this region was at war. As many people still remember the war, and openly talk about what happened, there are others who just want to move on. This program gave me a deeper understand of the war crimes and difficulties this region faced in the 1990s. This program is truly one of a kind!

Yes "Unforgettable" is one of those "Well duh!" descriptions about spending three months living in a city you've always wanted to travel to. But I truly cannot think of a better descriptive word or phrase to sum up this whole experience. Not unless I take you through my life there in painstaking detail accompanied by nearly 2000 pictures, each and every single one worth a thousand words. Don't worry I'll spare every one that review. This is not something that can be recreated or mimicked. You get to live in London, and if you do an internship like I did work in London, but with all the big terrifying things like bills and housing and other adult stuff already taken care of. It's not possible to bored as long as you're willing to step outside your door because there is always something to see, something to do while there. If you somehow manage to get bored of London the rest of the UK and Europe await. Just a train or ridiculously cheap plane ride away. The professors are people who know what they teach backwards and forwards and have the most fascinating life stories. The host families are caring and kind and full of knowledge and questions. The staff at the center is personable and wonderful.

I wanted to study abroad from the time I was in middle school, and this program was everything I could have hoped for and more. It was an experience that changed me, in the best way possible.