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ISA (International Studies Abroad)

Why choose ISA (International Studies Abroad)?

As a leader in international education for over thirty years, ISA is dedicated to providing university and college level students the opportunity to discover, learn, and enjoy a way of life other than their own. ISA offers a diverse portfolio of education abroad programs across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific. Our worldwide team provides high-quality experiences for university students at an affordable price. Each year thousands of students participate in ISA programs, including; Internships & Service-Learning, Veritas Christian Study Abroad, and EuroScholars undergraduate research.

Scholarships

ISA Scholarships

ISA by WorldStrides Diversity Scholarship

This scholarship is offered for summer and semester programs and is intended for students with identities historically underserved in education abroad. This can include, but is not limited to, individuals who identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, Alaskan Native, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, LGBTQIA+, First-Generation College Students, U.S. Military Veterans, students with disabilities, and/or students at Minority-Serving Institutions.

Value
$2,500 - $5,000

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

Our team at ISA is committed to providing exceptional support through identity-focused advising and resources for students, university partners, and ISA staff. We have developed our ISA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee to help serve all students and stakeholders, particularly the needs of underrepresented student populations. Our country-specific diversity pages offer information about the societies and cultural history of ISA destinations. This information can be used to start your reflection about how your intersecting identities relate to the host community context.

LGBTQIA+ Support

Our team at ISA is committed to providing exceptional support through identity-focused advising and resources for students, university partners, and ISA staff. We have developed our ISA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee to help serve all students and stakeholders. Our country-specific diversity pages offer information about the societies and cultural history of ISA destinations. This information can be used to start your reflection about how your intersecting identities relate to the host community context.

Neurodivergent Support

ISA is committed to facilitating quality programming to students with varying levels of neurodivergence. Our Health & Safety team is available to answer questions about insurance and medication, as well as provide students with materials on overseas access to support.

Accessibility Support

ISA is committed to facilitating quality programming to students with varying levels of accessibility. With our wide portfolio of program types and locations we’re confident there is a suitable and accessible program for each student. Accommodations abroad can be complex and take time, so those with accessibility needs should inform ISA of any accommodations requests as early as possible in the advising process. Please contact accessibilityteam@studiesabroad.com with questions or for more information.

Impact

Sustainability

We have partnered with Fill it Forward to engage team members and program participants in waste reduction practices. The goal is to encourage the elimination of single-use waste. Every QR code scan shows the impact of reusable bottles and unlocks a donation to environmental impact groups.

Ethical Impact

WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.

Reviews

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Savannah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Such an amazing experience!!

I had the absolute best time on my study abroad trip this past summer! The ISA representatives were so attentive and always made sure we were adapting well to the culture of Greece! The school was fantastic and the students and teachers were very friendly and accommodating! I made friends on this trip from schools all over the country and we continue to talk on a daily basis, and I was also exposed to culture that you simply cannot find anywhere else! Overall, this program is one of the most memorable experiences i have ever had and i would recommend it time and time again!!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Do as much as you possibly can! You are only there for a short amount of time so try and see all of the sights while you can!
Pros
  • Experienced new culture
  • Fantastic food
  • Made lifelong friends both in Greece and other people that studied abroad with me
Cons
  • The walk to school is very long but it’s beautiful
  • It is extremely hot in the summer times
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Karina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Barcelona Fall 2023

I loved going abroad to Barcelona so much! Upon arrival, ISA made sure we were set up with everything we could possibly need. They made sure we knew what to do in any situation we might find ourselves in and gave us resources I would not have otherwise known about. The ISA team was extremely helpful in communicating with the university I was enrolled in and making sure I had access to classes that UCLA would award me credit for. They were quick to respond to my emails and always available to answer any questions I had throughout my time. I would definitely recommend ISA to any student looking to go abroad and I would not change a thing about my experience!

Default avatar
Leslie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

New memories of an amazing experience!

The best 5 months of my life that I have ever experience. My whole study abroad experience has been great. I learned so much from my time abroad and it has really changed the way I perceive my life and my perspective of life. I met a lot new people from different culture and made a bunch of new friends. My program director, Gabriela Gamper, made it possible for me to learn and experience the Argentine culture to the fullest. She was really awesome. The whole experience was a lot to take in at first but it becomes a lot easier to handle later. I highly recommend that everyone should take the opportunity to go or study abroad.

Pros
  • Great food
  • Amazing Culture and people
  • Beautiful country
Cons
  • Big crowds
  • Homesickness
  • Difficulty readjusting coming home
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Polly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best semester abroad

I've studied abroad 4 different times, but Madrid with ISA was probably my most favorite experience. I got to practice my spanish in and out of class, experience the night life of Madrid, and connect with other abroad students and create some of my strongest friendships. My apartment stay allowed me to grow so close with the other girls I was living with and my next door neighbors. We had a built in family that laughed, cried, and traveled all around Europe together. I'd do it all over again if I could .

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Anyone wanting to do this program should save up money before coming!! I did that and it was the best decision ever. Take advantage of the time you have abroad! Try everything - food, dance classes, last minute flights. This program allows you to have the flexibility to travel and learn and that's a gift you can't let go to waste :)
Pros
  • No school on Fridays @ Universidad Nebrija
  • Intensive Spanish Course option to help with transitioning and learning the language
  • Awesome study abroad community
Cons
  • Class Attendance will count for or against your grade
  • End of the semester comes out of nowhere...
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Emma
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Once in a Lifetime Experience!

Studying abroad in Málaga, Spain was an unforgettable experience filled with endless memories! I knew I always wanted to take advantage of a study abroad opportunity during my time in college but I found it difficult to find the right program for me. Once I was introduced to ISA and the programs they offered I was hooked! They offered an endless amount of support before, during, and after my time abroad. The program allowed me to immerse myself in the culture, people, and endless activities that the city, and country, had to offer. From walking the endless beaches, meeting students from various corners of Europe, and building lifelong memories and relationships with fellow students in my program, the experience was one to remember! Every day brought new discoveries and adventures, shaping an experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. Although I was only there for a month, Málaga truly opened my eyes to the opportunities that exist outside of the US and helped me in determining my future career path.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
In the US, many Americans think of a tortilla as a thin flatbread made of either corn or flour; however, in Spain, that is not the case. While trying to find an affordable and easy place to get lunch after class our program director recommended we go to a lunch spot owned by a local couple. When we first went, I was surprised at how many options were similar to an American lunch spot but one thing stood out to me, the tortilla. A tortilla in Spain takes on an quiche-like shape and consistency. At first, I was scared to try it because it seemed very foreign to me, but once I took the first bite, it became one of my go-to meals.
Pros
  • Easy and affordable public transit
  • Beautiful beaches and boardwalks
  • Plenty of food options
Cons
  • School was a bit far from our housing

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

Would you believe me if I said finding this program started with a deck of tarot cards, a scrying crystal, and a world map? Well, it did. That and a random desire to go to the closest place to middle earth that I could find. It just so happened, once I took the initial steps of interacting with my university's education abroad office, that ISA was the first third-party program that could make such an abroad experience a reality. With a desperate desire for a change, I jumped towards ISA.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

My home university helped point me towards ISA. All I knew at the time was that I wanted to go to New Zealand, so getting introduced to a third-party who could make it happen was quite a leg up. They also processed my requests for getting course credit. That way I wouldn't have to worry about my classes not being transferable to my home university.

The ISA program did a lot in answering my numerous questions and in settling any fears I had about whether or not I'd make the right deadlines, if the forms I filled out were correct, and whether or not I was a valid applicant for financial scholarships.

Don't get me wrong, I did plenty of paperwork and planning on my end. Especially in getting my VISA and plane tickets, selecting classes that would work well with my degree, and ensuring all forms were submitted on time (as well as payments). But ISA was an added comfort since they put up with my slew of pestering nervous questions.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Abroad, the classes will be graded differently or perhaps even more thoroughly than you're used to. The important part is for you to strike a balance. Do your best but don't get so wrapped up and nervous about doing things wrong that you don't explore. Messing up is 100% okay. Necessary, even. The point is to learn, enjoy, and grow as a person.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

You're talking to the queen of college hermits. My average day (in-between the epic things like horseback riding up Battle Hill or taste-testing at the Wellington Chocolate Factory) may seem mundane to many. But there are wonders in the small day-to-day things, too.

During a uni day I'd wake up early, usually before my roommates, and mix up a cup of instant coffee with breakfast. Then I'd walk from 'The Cube' (the+ housing complex where the international students are housed with the new uni students. I lived on the top floor, and you'd bet I could feel the wind sway the building) to Massey University. I'd complete my day's classes, with a good coffee break just before lunch, and once done I'd head back to the Cube to put away my stuff. From then on, it depended on how much homework I had to get done. I'd work a bit longer, cook, talk to my roommates, etc.

No matter what was going on, I would conclude my day with a walk down to the water. Sometimes, I'd take Cuba Street where I'd meet all sorts of characters and see people walking about. Other times I meandered. One way or another I'd make it to the ocean and get to look out at the white sailboats and the water that had so many emotions of color depending on the weather. For a girl who had spent most of her life in swampy, mosquito filled woods, it's certainly a sight to behold!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was that my experience wouldn't bring change. That it wouldn't be all transforming and adventurous. I am pretty much the human manifestation of a tortoise. I can get shelled up and quiet. All at once, I wanted to be different.

I'm still the girl who loves sticking her nose in a book and taking long walks with no destination in sight. I'm still quiet and strange and often in my head. But I'm not JUST those things. By going abroad, I learned that it is important to love not just the environment. It is also important that you love you as a person in that environment. I'm still the tortoise. Going abroad just helped me appreciate my shell.

The thing about going abroad is that you may change locations, but you don't change who you are. By going to New Zealand, I got to see movie-worthy scenery, met people from all over the place, and experienced how capable I was in caring for myself. Most importantly, I learned to better love me.

What are some things that you regret while abroad?

  • I never tried whitebait or the NZ green lipped mussels.
  • I didn't go to the bottom of the South Island nor see glow worms.
  • Having to lug a power strip ~18,000 miles in total because the voltage is different in NZ, and trying to use a US power strip blew out the apartment's electricity twice before I realized what was going on.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Allison Ferris

Job Title
Resident Director
Allison has lived in New Zealand for five years and has worked for ISA for over two years. She has lived in three of seven continents and dreams of visiting Antarctica in her lifetime.
Allison Ferris

What is your favorite travel memory?

If I had to choose from volumes of memories, I would say that my favourite (so far) would be the cherry blossom season in Korea. Coming from East Coast Canada, our summers are relatively short and we are known for excessive amounts of snow. So in Korea, when I saw all these cherry blossom trees that were chock full of blooms and drifted down with the wind like snow falling softly to the ground, I felt at peace with the choices I'd made, nostalgic for home and mesmerized by a beauty I'd never seen before.

I remember roaming the streets or the park near my apartment just absorbing the fragrance from the blooms or taking photos.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Running ISA's Bridging Cultures Programme opened my eyes to the rich heritage of Māori, the first people in New Zealand. Over many BCPs, I have had the privilege to better understand te Reo-Māori language, waiata-songs and the importance of whānau-family which is not necessarily limited to your relatives.

I also understand that my country has a lot of room for growth in incorporating our First Nations people's heritage and culture, beyond a day of recognition or a few keywords and/or phrases. No country is perfect; however, New Zealand has arguably done a remarkable job in acknowledging failures of the past, while fulfilling promises made to the people.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I'll never forget the bundle of energy that is Josh; an enigmatic combination of intelligence and excitement that made for a very exciting semester. Josh came to NZ and brought his love of airplanes with him, so what was the very first thing he did when arriving in the country? He managed to get himself the best seat on the plane...the pilot's seat..on the AirNZ long-haul flight to Auckland. Although it was largely for a photo-op, as soon as I heard the story, I knew then I had someone special in my cohort. Josh would later go on to correctly identify the aircraft model based on the sound of the engine while in air.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Hands down, I'd jump at the chance for the ISA Galway summer programme - Irish studies at the National U of Ireland. Not only would this satisfy my dream to get to Europe, but it would also be an opportunity to learn about my family's history in Ireland. Way back when, longer than I'd care to admit, I researched our family genealogy, and I would love to find our family crest that I discovered so many years ago.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I came to New Zealand as an international student; although older than the students that sign up with our company, I still wish that I had ISA to help navigate some tricky things that came up and just to answer questions as I had them. I always communicate with our students that we are available when they need us and sometimes that is days or even weeks into their semester. I am very proud of how my team and I are available to students and we always ensure students' questions are put up the chain until we get them an answer.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

A successful company delivers on the promises they make; ISA offers students a quality experience in countries across the globe and employs on-site staff to maximize that experience. In order to deliver on those promises, a successful company must be comprised of people who are actively committed to the job they signed up for. Here in the Pacific, the on-site staff have extensive experience in education and/or studied abroad themselves. Knowledge combined with passion equals a standard of care for our students from pre-departure to arrival and success at their site.