Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA)

I would say IFSA was a unique program because it gave students the freedom to explore and be apart of the city and country however we wanted while also provided a backbone to fall back on if needed. There events in and around London and the weekend trip to Lake District national park showed a commitment to teaching while also recognizing that were all college students who just want to hang out.

I was also really happy with their support system. When professors went on strike that semester, IFSA providing tutoring and other support systems for anyone who needed it. Though I did not take advantage, I appreciated how much they cared for the students in a rough situation.

Overall I really enjoyed my experience. I really enjoyed the classes I took at UCL, and being on the IFSA program led me to meeting new people not just from London but from around the US as well, many of whom I now consider to be good friends. Also, this goes without saying, but London is an incredible city, and I wouldn't have wanted my abroad experience in any other place.

This program has truly been an amazing experience for me. IFSA did a great job of serving as a resource to help navigate all aspects of my London experience. While the school itself kept me engaged academically, IFSA did a great job of introducing me to social activites and travel destinations to explore outside of the classroom. This was beneficial because sometimes it is hard to sift through the abundance of online research sources available to find things to do, so hearing recommendations from an organization that is familiar with what is appealing to study abroad students made my life so much easier! I would certainly consider going on another study abroad experience with IFSA!

Studying in Buenos Aires marked the first time I had lived in a big city. It took me quite a while to get used to the city, on top of Porteño Spanish. Familiarizing myself with the relevant buses and subway lines made navigating and seeing Buenos Aires much easier. Perhaps unsurprisingly, my time there was a bit tumultuous. I chose IFSA's Cinema Concentration, meaning I took classes at La Fundación Universidad de Cine. All of my professors were engaging and easy to work with. For better or worse, the Cinema Concentration is small, meaning that the other international students I got to interact and take classes with was correspondingly small. It also gave us the chance to do some film and entertainment-centered cultural excursions: live performances, going to the movies, as well as traveling to a film festival on the coast. On-site staff were always amiable and able to help me with whatever I brought to them, whether it be housing, travel tips, or places to inquire for playing tennis. Hitting at the Club Ciudad de BsAs gave me great chances to talk with a variety of people from the area. As an aside, Mario, the program director, is particularly wonderful.

I spent Spring 2018 abroad at the University of Otago in Dunedin. I am an environmental studies major and I grew up in Hawaii. I loved my classes because two of them were environmentally focused and the other two were focused on Polynesian/Maori culture. I spent almost every weekend outdoors, either hiking or sailing. New Zealand is such an incredible county to explore! IFSA was a great program because it gave me the freedom to choose my own classes and do my own thing, but also always had activities and meet ups that I could attend if I wanted to. It was nice to have the support of IFSA, which many students who directly enrolled at the University of Otago didn't really have. I especially loved the trip to Orokonui Ecosanctuary, which is a bird sanctuary where we volunteered one day.

Melbourne was an incredible city, packed with things to do and people to meet. I lived in the center of the city, with the campus being about a 20 minute walk away. The tram system was great--super fast and easy, making transportation quite affordable and useful. I reccommend taking a day trip to Phillip Island, a short hour and a half public bus ride or rental car away. Here you can get the true Aussie experience--pet a kangaroo and see koala, as well as watch the famous penguin parade. I joined some clubs, including the University of Melbourne Wake-boarding Club and Mountaineering Club, where I go to go camping, hiking, skiing, kayaking, you name it. Through these clubs and through my classes I met so many new people from all over the world! Melbourne was an incredible city to live in (voted most livable city for numerous years in a row!) and I loved my experience there!