CYA - Study in Greece (Semester Program)

Studying abroad in Athens has been an invaluable experience! The CYA program has truly change my life. The staff had some of the most compassionate and helpful people I have ever met. I got to form lasting connections with friends that will last a lifetime, while also exploring the beautiful city of Athens. While exploring archeological sites and visiting islands, I learned from world-class professors who taught me about politics, religion, and medicine from an EU perspective. I grew tremendously both personally and academically while having some of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. I will forever be grateful for such an amazing and unforgettable experience. CYA truly goes the extra mile for their students wether that be through education, planned excursions, helpful staff, or just general hospitality and kindness. This program is one of a kind and anyone would be lucky to be a part of it.

My experience was amazing and I would recommend this program to everyone! The staff and professors are wonderful and want you to do well and will help you out with all inquiries that you have. The location is great and you will never be bored in Athens! The college gets ICOMOS cards for the students so that they can get into archaeological sites and museums for free which is a huge added bonus! The classes are amazing and rigorous in a way that makes you think and learn a lot about the ancient world.

I had an amazing time with CYA when I went abroad. The program emphasizes independence and Greece is a beautiful country to explore on your own. While you have a lot to learn in the classroom, (especially with on-site lectures) the best learning is with the three days you have off every week. I would 100% recommend taking solo adventures, especially if you're someone who craves adventure. The first weekend, I went by myself to Meteora and met some of the most incredible fellow travelers! I really found myself when I went abroad.

Studying abroad in Greece with CYA was one of the best decisions I've made. The staff work around the clock to make the best experience possible for us. With on-site classes that take you into the museums and archaeological sites, you truly have a hands-on experience. We lived right in the heart of Athens within walking distance to all major sights and attractions. The professors were so welcoming and put so much effort into making our experience. CYA took us on field studies to Delphi, Meteora, Crete, and the Peloponnese Region, which were definitely highlights of the semester. You truly are able to connect with the local people, especially as you start to learn and be able to communicate in Greek. I am so glad that I decided to go abroad with CYA.

I highly recommend this program! I studied abroad with CYA during Spring 2020-and yes, that means I was only abroad from January through the middle of March. But the time that I spent in Greece was a blast, and I'm thankful for every second. Athens is very unique, being a connector between Europe and Eastern countries, meaning that while you can also travel places that everyone studying abroad in Europe travels to- Paris, London, Venice, etc., you can also go really amazing places like Istanbul and Tel Aviv during your free time abroad. CYA is a really well done program, and my favorite part was the one (ideally of two, but cut due to coronavirus) week long trip we took with the entire program around the Peloponnese region of Greece. While CYA, like almost all study abroad programs, has a few optional trips on weekends scheduled that you can sign up and pay extra money for, they also schedule week long field trips around Greece, like this, whose costs are already configured into your tuition. They're lead by professors and, in complete honesty, are very educational, but they're also a blast, as you get to travel with your friends on the program and go places in Greece that would be difficult to access on your own without a car, like Olympia, Sparta, and Nafplio. From someone who has studied abroad on another program, these 2 week-long trips really set CYA apart from any other study abroad company that I know. Additionally, they handled the coronavirus situation very well. They kept us in Greece as long as they could, but were also accommodating of students who chose to leave earlier. The communication on their end was clear: We're a family, and we want you to stay in Athens just as much as you do, but your safety is first and even when you go home, you'll still be part of the family. Being in Greece, a place that has handled the situation incredibly well so far, I was able to stay abroad as long as was physically possible, and all of the professors were kind and understanding upon my return home. I've said it many times, and I'll say it again: CYA was the program to be abroad with during the crisis. Overall, my experience with CYA was wonderful, and I'd encourage anyone else thinking about studying abroad with them to go for it.

I had such an amazing time that I was absolutely crushed to return home due to the COVID19 pandemic. It was clear that the CYA staff truly cared and I still receive daily emails from professors hoping that their students are well. The classes are very hands on and informative. The program also provides 2 weeks of travel throughout Greece with the program which provided me with valuable knowledge regarding Greek culture and history.

The apartments are singles and doubles located conveniently near CYA. I had a very spacious single with my own balcony! Any time there was an issue with the apartment CYA would respond that day.

Greek food is absolutely amazing and Athens also has restaurants with all types of food (and not just Greek food). The pricing is also extremely reasonable in Greece. If I went out for a gyro it would typically lost less than 3 euros.

For those who do not know Athens is a HILLY city and CYA has an urban location. This was my first time living in an urban area, but CYA facilitated a smooth transition and I always felt safe and comfortable.

College Year in Athens provided me with the best study abroad experience possible! I made so many incredible friends, saw so many unbelievable places, and learned so many amazing things! I recommend this program to all students, and cannot talk it up enough!

I was academically stimulated the whole time, in an array of subjects that I found interesting. All of the staff and administration are so supportive and I'm still in touch with several people from the program! The entire experience was enriching and accommodating!

You can’t choose a better study abroad program than CYA! Greece is the perfect study abroad destination. With its diverse array of landscapes - mountains, the sea, bustling cities - you will truly never be bored. Greek culture is incredibly welcoming and hospitable to foreigners, and the CYA administration embodies this completely. Even though I was thousands of miles away, I felt at home nearly instantly. CYA staff is more than willing to help students with any academic or personal difficulty that may arise. When I first arrived in Athens, the airline lost my luggage and I was without it for 10 days. CYA helped me communicate with airlines and walked me through the whole process. Their help and support was invaluable to me during this time, and extended throughout the entirety of the semester. They really do their best to create the best possible study abroad experience for their students, and it makes all the difference in the world.