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iXperience

Why choose iXperience?

Bootcamps. Internships. Travel. See the world. Get ahead this summer with the highest ROI Summer Abroad program in existance.

iX Summer Abroad is a unique 6-week program that combines a career-focused bootcamp with a hands-on internship in that field, all in an incredible city abroad.

iX focuses on four key career paths: Data Science, Management Consulting, Investment Finance, and Software Engineering. Choose between our campuses in Lisbon, Portugal, or Cape Town, South Africa, and join students from around the U.S. accelerating their careers while exploring a new city.

Read reviews, get detailed information, and speak to our Admissions team at https://ixperience.co/for-university/ix-summer-abroad

Founded
2013

Reviews

Payton
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

IXperience’s Pre-Med Program- Best 3 weeks ever!

IXperience’s Pre-Med Program in Cape Town, South Africa gave me 3 of the best weeks of my life, a time that I will forever look back on and be in awe of the experiences I went through. While I was excited about the weeks to come, I was definitely nervous about traveling to South Africa, finding friends, and getting an experience that would be worthwhile. However, this trip completely exceeded my expectations and is hands down the best trip and resume booster I could have asked for.
I logged over 70 real, physician-supervised hours for my med school applications. I followed local mobile clinics, toured medical facilities, shadowed multiple doctors, and even got to observe surgeries led by the talented and well-known Dr. Ian Victor. The contrast we experienced was incredible—we observed high-end preventive care at Expand Health, but also got to dive into the public side of health care in Cape Town by following the Guud Mobile health clinic and visiting the mobile night clinic in Hout Bay, which completely shaped how I think about medicine and health administration.
Not only was this trip educational, but it was also incredibly well-run and secure. Safety was a top priority throughout the entire program—the staff was exceptionally supportive, our daily transport was highly structured, and I felt completely safe and at ease the entire time.
Beyond clinical experience, the housing was also great, and I made lifelong friends in my cohort exploring Cape Town and going for walks together. I came in wanting to build my resume, but I'm leaving with unforgettable memories, a tight-knit community, and a much deeper perspective on global health—if you are on the fence, absolutely go for it!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Say yes to everything! IXperience provides lots of optional excursions and group outings, and one of the main things I regret is not doing more of them because the ones I did join were some of my best memories. A few of my favorites included going to Boulders Beach to see the native penguins swimming, surfing in the Indian Ocean, and going on many different beautiful hikes!
Pros
  • Incredible resume booster- getting to experience a side of healthcare different from the U.S.
  • Making lifelong friends
  • Building connections with highly intelligent medical professionals
Cons
  • Long travel time to get there
Willow
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

iX PRE-MED: BEST EXPERIENCE EVER

I truly cannot emphasize enough how transformative this pre-med program was—it was genuinely the experience of a lifetime. Having completed some clinical shadowing in the U.S. beforehand, I can confidently say that opportunities like the ones iX offers are incredibly rare. Through mobile clinics, emergency departments, operating rooms, and even exposure to biotech startups, I logged over 70 verified clinical hours and returned with not just experience, but meaningful stories and perspective.

What sets this program apart is its authenticity. This was not “voluntourism.” The physicians we worked with were volunteering their own time to teach us, walk us through procedures, and ensure that every patient gave informed consent for our presence. In some cases, patients even allowed us to practice using ultrasound equipment and perform guided physical exams, hands-on experiences that are almost unheard of at this stage in the pre-med journey.

Beyond the clinical exposure, the sense of community was just as impactful. I grew incredibly close with my cohort, and living together made the entire experience even more memorable. Cape Town itself is absolutely stunning. Whether we were going on safaris, attending rugby games, surfing, taking pilates classes, or exploring the city’s food scene, there was always something incredible to do.

This program didn’t just shape me academically; it was deeply personal and formative. I built lasting relationships with driven, like-minded peers who I fully expect to stay in touch with throughout my journey to medicine. I also felt consistently safe and supported, with attentive staff regularly checking in, and the added bonus of living right by the ocean made it all the more special.

I cannot recommend this program highly enough, and I know I’ll be returning to Cape Town one day! This was truly the most unforgettable experience!

Stefano
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My IXperience Experience

My experience with iXperience in Cape Town in the Investment Banking program was genuinely exceptional. From start to finish, the program was thoughtfully organized and delivered an experience that was both professionally valuable and personally memorable.

The staff were outstanding: incredibly supportive, responsive, and genuinely invested in helping students succeed. What stood out most was how accessible and helpful they remained not only during the program, but even afterward. They were always willing to offer guidance, introductions, advice or recommendations as we continued exploring careers in finance.

The professors and instructors were fantastic as well. The material was challenging and practical, and the instructors brought real industry insight into the classroom. It felt less like a traditional academic course and more like an immersive introduction to the professional world of investment banking.

Another highlight was the people in the program. The classmates came from impressive universities around the world and were ambitious, curious, and collaborative. The friendships and professional relationships built during the program were one of the most valuable parts of the experience.

The housing location and overall logistics were also excellent. Everything was extremely well coordinated, which allowed us to focus on learning and enjoying the experience rather than worrying about day-to-day details.

And of course, Cape Town itself is an extraordinary place. Between the natural beauty, the culture, and the people, it’s hard to imagine a better setting for a program like this. The activities organized throughout the program allowed us to experience the city in a meaningful way while also building strong connections with the group.

Professionally, the program provided exposure to industry concepts, professionals, and perspectives that helped clarify my interest in finance. It was an incredibly enriching experience both academically and socially.

Overall, I could not recommend iXperience more highly. The combination of strong academics, incredible people, thoughtful organization, and the unique setting of Cape Town makes it a truly special program.

Iris
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Study Abroad Program!!

I honestly don’t think there’s anything quite like iXperience. The program is six weeks long — the first two weeks are an intensive bootcamp that sharpens your industry skills, and the next four weeks are a hands-on internship with a company that matches your interests and strengths.

During the bootcamp, you learn real-world skills that most colleges don’t teach — things like management consulting, investment banking, or data science — all taught by experienced industry professionals. Then you immediately get to apply what you’ve learned in your internship, working on meaningful projects and building client-facing, professional skills.

I spent my summer in Lisbon, and it was truly unforgettable! I met amazing people from around the world, explored a beautiful city, and gained so much confidence in navigating the corporate world. It was the perfect mix of learning, travel, and career growth — I’d recommend iXperience to anyone who wants to challenge themselves and make the most out of their summer.

Caleb
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Investment Banking Program - Summer 2025

This past summer, I had the opportunity to join iXperience in Cape Town, South Africa, where I completed their Investment Banking program. I had a few friends go in prior years so I thought I had an idea of what was going to happen. iXperience exceeded my expectations and was one of the best decisions I have made. iXperience made me feel ready for a career in finance. On top of the professional development, I was able to make some of the greatest memories of my life exploring a new city with some of the coolest people that I met in the program. Since I completed the program it has been a highlight of my resume in interviews, everyone is so interested and curious about working abroad. This was the greatest experience of my life and I’d highly recommend iXperience to anyone looking for a unique program that blends professional development, cultural immersion, and unforgettable experiences abroad.

What was your funniest moment?
This program is packed with activities and excursions for students to have fun, I was fortunate enough to spend my birthday while in Cape Town. I was able to have fun the entire day with all the awesome people I met in the program surfing and hiking. As someone who grew up in Central New York, there is almost no opportunity for surfing or the stunning hikes that Cape Town has to offer.

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

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

Ayman Siraj

Ayman is currently majoring in Chemical Engineering at the University of Southern California.

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Why did you choose this program?

It was the last year I could really pick my 'own' intern destination and I wanted to experience a new country I had never been to. Next year I'll be a junior which means I'll be at the mercy of companies to place me.

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

The application process is pretty straightforward. You apply, do an interview and wait for your acceptance. They provide all the documents you need if a visa is required. The stuff I organized on my own is the weekend excursions with other interns.

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

Take a travel adapter that works in South Africa, some of the travel adapters you buy from Amazon don't work there. Plan out weekends so you don't waste the weekend planning what to do. South Africa has too much to offer so know what you want to do.

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

You have class twice a day, each session is 1.5 hours. Time between and after classes is spent finishing exercises/projects, and nights are usually spent working or eating/going out with others. During the internship you're pretty much free to do what you want after work!

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

The only fear I had was not being picked up from the airport, but I was! Other than that the rooms and internet speed could use some improving.

Staff Interviews

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

Russell Cunningham

Job Title
VP Global Operations
Russell Cunningham

Russell's experience stems from 7 years as a Naval Officer, complemented by formal education in the Industrial Psychology sphere - bolstering iXperience's operational portfolio in each international location through high attention to detail, a keen understanding of human motivation in the world of work, and a general love for travel and adventure.

What is your favorite travel memory?

As a Rotary Youth Ambassador, I exchanged at a High School in Chaska, Minnesota for my senior year in 2004. This was a series of firsts for me - my first flight in an airplane, first time experiencing snow, and first stint 'out of the nest'. This was also a time before Facebook and Skype, so the 17-year-old version of myself was not tethered to my homeland and I was truly able to immerse myself in all that foreign travel has to offer. I still consider it one of the most formative experiences of my life.

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

With my foundation combining the rawness of the military with the awareness of human sciences, there was little room to be exposed to tech. Joining iXperience has opened my eyes to the sheer power that technology has on the world of work today. I now consider having a basic understanding of digital platforms to be a form of professional literacy, and it has shaped my ability to strategize, plan and track all of my efforts, both within my role at iXperience and within my personal life.

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

It is always special to hear testimonials from students about how their experience with iX has impacted their lives. I have been fortunate enough to have heard many such stories, but one that really resonates with me is from a student that came to iX without fully understanding what to expect from this journey. He left some weeks later having made meaningful friendships and falling in love with Cape Town - so much so that he decided to take the leap and make a permanent relocation to work for the international tech-based company that he interned for.

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

Currently living in Cape Town, I may be a bit bias, but this place is truly special to me - within a 50-mile radius, there is truly so much to see and do. From mountain ranges to wine farms to world-class surf to safari's to amazing food and stunning scenery, this place really does have it all. These are just a few of the many reasons that launched the success of our first location.

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

We are truly a team of A-players that have banded together to create something meaningful within the international education space. Our passion for unlocking human potential through challenging the status quo aligns us, and our rich tapestry of backgrounds keeps our vantage points unique and fresh. I am always the proudest just before we gear up for the arrival fo our first batch of students for the summer - this is when I get to witness what ot really means to be a team, with everyone contributing, caring and focussing on delivering a world-class product.

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

Being people-centric. I believe that emphasizing the happiness and feeling of fulfillment of the men and women that make up a company is the cornerstone of success. Yes, there is loads of literature that supports this notion, but it can be practiced in many different ways - finding which way supports your companies vision and having everyone buy into it is crucial, and this dovetails with hiring people that will embrace the companies policies. Ensuring that all staff gain some form of intrinsic reward in their roles means that their personal success will be aligned with the companies success. I believe that iXperience does this incredibly well!

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