AIFS Abroad

Program Reviews

Abbey
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Summer in Galway

This has been an incredible summer in Galway! I’m glad Global Experiences had an internship program where I could work abroad while getting credit for my university. My internship placement was really fun & I learned a lot throughout my entire time. The on-site program advisor was wonderful & super helpful! The city of Galway is a great spot if you’re looking for a smaller city vibe. It’s beautiful, quaint, & there’s lots to do here! The accommodations were great as we had our own bedroom & bathroom with a shared kitchen area. It was amazing meeting all of the other interns & we all became friends fast. It was an experience I’ll never forget! I’m glad I chose Galway!

Pros
  • Walkable
  • Safe
  • Welcoming
Cons
  • Transportation
  • Limited nightlife
  • The weather
Alyssa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

No Regrets

I had no idea what to expect from this experience going in. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to go abroad and get experience that would help me in the future. Global Experiences was great helping me figure out my ideal location and ideal placement. I placed with a wonderful company. It was filled with the most kind and welcoming staff. I have never felt so comfortable and they took my thoughts and suggestions into consideration. Our point of contact here was absolutely wonderful. Any issue we had she was their to help. Anything we needed she was there to listen. Galway it's self is a charming city. It is full of history, great night life, and so many places to visit on the weekends. The eyre square is full of pubs, shops, and historical sights to see. A market happens every weekend which has so many artistic peices and food trucks. The locals are so nice to talk to and very proud of where they come from rightfully so! They will happily give you directions to the craic happening in town. They also have so many festivals it's hard not to find somthing happening in town! Lastly the accommodations are a quick bus ride into town. Even though you share a common area you have your own spacious room and bathroom. You share the common area with other GE interns. As for my experience I have made so many new friends. The other interns here are all so friendly, since we all are in the same boat we easily bonded over our interships and as time went on we become amazing friends. Overall if you are looking for a location that doesn't feel like a big city, has a big personality, and holds the most lovely people and experiences come to Galway!!!

Pros
  • Amazing locals
  • Great nightlife and day activities
  • Small town feel
Cons
  • Not many clubs here
  • Most Placements need to take a daily bus
  • Not a big city
Anna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Global Experiences Sydney, Australia Internship

Overall great experience. Australia was always on my bucket list and this was a great way to see Australia and gain work experience. It was great to meet other people from different Universities across the United States (and some Canadian). Sydney had everything for every interest. There was never a time where I was bored in Sydney. We took lots of day trips and some weekend trips to see different parts of Australia. If you have the chance to come, take it. It is an amazing culture to see! Also, the internship allows you to learn about the field you are interested in, but get a different perspective. You get to learn about the work life in Australia and network with many people!

Pros
  • Work experience
  • Get to see many parts of Australia
  • Make connections at work and with students in program
Crystal
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sydney Internship

I absolutely loved this program. The program adviser was amazing and it was a great experience. Sydney was an amazing place and always felt safe and had a Great support system there. Internship provided great experience and was great for resume building. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting an internship abroad and interested in visiting/ traveling to sydney. There’s also plenty of time to travel around australia on the weekends. Also great way to meet people in sydney and other interns studying abroad.

Austin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sydney, Australia

Prior to this experience, I had never been out of the States and I had never flown before. I was more worried about the flight over here than I was about living here for 2 months. But the GE staff was accommodating and welcoming and walked me through the steps from how to apply for a visa to how to transfer currency and even just tips on making it through the airport. I ended up having to come a week later than everyone, but the GE staff, specifically Andrea, made me feel so welcome and excited.

Pros
  • Resume booster
  • Natural scenery
  • City life
Cons
  • Rough weather
  • Expensive city
Alan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Very good experience!

This experience was better than I expected. I came here to just get a little work experience and have fun but I’m leaving with way more. This experience makes me want to move back here to Barcelona somewhere down the line based off my time. My internship experience was with a great company that opened my eyes in many ways. This was not just something to say I’ve done it, but more of an opportunity to do more when I am
back home. Our host Inma and Elena were amazing. Very very nice people who made the group feel like family. They were helpful with most anything. Also great events hosted by the two. Overall, this experience likely changed my life and I would definitely recommend.

Pros
  • Work experience
  • Amazing fun city
  • Great food
Cons
  • Shared rooms
  • Having internship options
  • Expensive
Caroline
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Internship Experience

My experience with Global Experiences was invaluable! I loved the way this entire experience was set-up. GE first provided their interns with "tools" which were great resources to have such as a strengths assessment, learning about workplaces around the world, and how to be a successful intern. Next they provided us with great guidance having a welcome and exit orientation, weekly-check in's, and a midpoint reflection with my host employer. This guidance really helped me become more self-aware, which was key on my entire journey to learn and grow as much as possible. Lastly, GE did a phenomenal job of networking. I was able to share my experience with other interns, learn through cultural events provided like: a cooking class, art tour, and city tour. I was able to network and increase my professional development through a strengths workshops and weekly-check ins

Pros
  • networking
  • resources
  • guidance
Samuel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An Unforgettable Experience

My Global Experience as a whole was one to remember and will forever be a lifetime experience! I have met amazing people along the way that I will be able to count on in the future. From the beginning, my onsite GE coordinator Lourdes was attentive, lovely, and caring with everything we had going on! Any questions or concerns I had, Lourdes was there! I could not thank her enough! Creating bonds with locals in Madrid will always be something I will cherish! Muchas gracias por todo Lourdes :) <3!!

Pros
  • Meeting locals
  • Sightseeing
  • Relationships
Chapel
1/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Not worth it...

When I first started this experience it was going really well. My advisor was helpful and it made me excited and hopeful. When arriving to London it was going great until the program actually started. The program leader in in London should not be in her position. She is extremely unprofessional and speaks in a very rude manner to participants. She treated us like children when we're all adults trying to learn more. I understand the topic of a Visa is important but the way she spoke was unacceptable. She called most of the participants unprofessional and sent us all multiple threats. Her position must be stressful with the amount of people in the program but if you can't handle it without staying professional then it's time to find another job. I have never met anyone so unprofessional in my life. For us to be paying so much and to be treated like kids, it's terrible. My interactions with her along with all the other unhappy participants made this experience more negative and not worth the money. Also, the housing is horrible. It is in a bad part of town and the company unite students is cheap. They lost SO many of my packages, never answer the 24/7 phone, and are so unhelpful if you have any problem. Which you will have a lot of problems like broken appliances in the kitchen and in the bathroom, terrible wifi that goes out every weekend, bugs, smells, it goes on. For paying so much money I expected better housing.

Cons
  • Terrible London advisor: Shaani
  • Terrible housing
  • Waste of money
Response from Global Experiences

Thank you for reflecting about your time abroad and sharing your feedback with us. It is extremely important for us to know when we are missing the mark on interns experiences. It sounds like you have started working with team members to resolve the issues you have encountered, but if you are still left unresolved please email your point of contact and we can continue to work together.

Lillian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Madrid- Una experiencia muy bonita

I can sincerely say that my time in Madrid changed me. During the last months, I have come to understand more about myself, about life, and about my career. This program allowed me to meet extraordinary people that I will not forget. Through it, I got to visit the most important attractions that Madrid offers, and even explore its surrounding cities; Toledo and Segovia. I can say that I felt safe since the first day, as our coordinator, Lourdes, was always attentive to what we could need and how we were doing. She truly cared for us, and her positive energy was contagious. She also shared some really good life advice with us.

Pros
  • Meeting new people
  • Tours
  • Support
Cons
  • Before reaching the city there were issues with timing regarding interviews and placements
  • A couple of my peers thought meals could have been included in the tours to Toledo and Segovia.