AIFS Abroad Reviews

I decided to study abroad with AIFS spring 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. Prior to going I had not done much research on study abroad programs but decided to take a shot in the dark and go with AIFS. This ended up being an amazing decision for me because the program offers everything you could ever want at an affordable price. I had never been out of the country before studying abroad so I was extremely nervous but AIFS provided me with support and guidance from start to finish and I never felt lost or alone. My favorite things about the program is the support from the staff and the included weekend trips. With the program price, AIFS offers several weekend and day trip excursions that were so much fun and a great way to meet other students in the program. Overall I don't think there is a program out there that can top this one and I am so glad I made the choice to study abroad with AIFS.

While preparing to get ready for this study abroad everyone through Global Experience was super helpful. The portal they set up for each intern can easily answer all questions but if you wanted to get into more detail they we were eager to help. Adjusting to the new life style can be challenging for some and our director did a great job of making sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying their time living in Sydney. She would always post upcoming events happening in the week and that was super helpful to stay busy. If you looked to go outside the city the staff would help point you in the right direction. I was fortunate to get landed in a perfect job because my boss understood I was here to learn but I was also here to explore Australia. Being able to travel and get days off made a huge difference; my work made sure I got the full experience while I was here in Australia. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend to anyone.

I've always wanted to study abroad. But when I found out freshman year of college I could intern abroad, this really stood out to me. I had always thought about it since I started college but never thought it would actually happen. I applied on a whim, and it was the best thing I could have ever done. From the beginning to the end, Global Experiences makes you feel safe and really takes into consideration what you are looking to get out of this experience. They placed me in the perfect internship. My office was fun and lively. I learned so much on the job that I plan to use in my career. I am beyond grateful for this experience and if anyone is unsure if they should do it--you should! I can guarantee that you will not regret it! Not only will you learn so much, but you will have the opportunity to travel, make new friends from all over the world, and really immerse yourself in another culture. Even better, if you're looking for a resume booster, this is it!

This was an incredible experience. Not only was the internship itself amazing, but the excursions and location were amazing too. Andrea, our location coordinator/program advisor, was so helpful and supportive. She never hesitated to go out of her way to help us, and when I had issues with my internship she handled it immediately and helped make my experience even better. I ultimately ended up learning so much more from my internship because of her. That is one of the biggest benefits of doing an internship abroad program like GE, having the support and advice of an advisor (as well as a guaranteed internship and housing). It made all the difference having that outside support, more than I ever counted on. It was nice having so many excursions through the semester as well, it made it feel a little bit like studying abroad again (which I loved). Sydney itself is an amazing city and was so fun to explore and go out with the friends here. All of my roommates and I got along really well and we're all traveling together for a couple months after this trip, which is just another unexpected benefit. Australia is a great country with such friendly people, and its so close to so many other really cool countries to explore after. My internship was amazing, I really learned so much about the industry and ended up with a huge portfolio project which is exactly what I wanted to get out of this internship. I only wish I could do another internship abroad after this!

The internship is a great experience because it really got me out of my comfort zone. It was the first time going out of the country, so first time going to Sydney, and first time doing an internship. I didn't know what to expect so I kept an open mind and went for it. Through this process I have met some great people, lifelong friends, and people like Andrea, the program advisor, who is there to help and support you along the way. Sydney is a safe country and through the internship there are fun excursions to see more of the city and bond with all the other interns in the program. I have done some amazing traveling through this trip and have seen, done, and learned so much with my time here. My advice is to make the most of it because what you put into it is what you get out of it so enjoy the journey. I am very grateful I got to intern abroad and Global Experiences for making this happen for me.

My experience during the fall semester in Sydney was one of a kind. My placement at the Ensemble Theatre company was an absolute dream and I could not have asked for a more positive and fun work experience! My coworkers were incredibly warm and welcoming and I truly felt like I had joined a family. They even invited me to their Christmas dinner! GE provides an experience that offers equal parts of self growth while also providing a support system for when being in a new country gets to daunting. Our advisor Andrea was an absolute dream and constantly went out of her way to make sure we were having the best experience possible. She even stored my suitcase for me once the program ended! The social outings were a ton of fun and provided a great setting for seeing different parts of this huge city (My favourite had to be the hunter valley wine tours!). On top of the incredible sites, amazing eclectic food and overall relaxed vibe, Australians are super friendly by nature so this is definitely the city to hit. Overall I really don't think I could have asked for a better experience. I absolutely love Sydney and have met some phenomenal people (a few of us are travelling asia together!). I gained a ton of work experience and I am leaving here with a new outlook on my future.

Coming from a small school where you are secluded to your small campus and community, need to have a car to get around, have limited options for adventures and food, I was inspired to go abroad for the opportunity to create a new day every day. I studied abroad in High School with AIFS in Granada, Spain and they made my transition and experience seamless and life-changing. I was eager to go abroad with them again because of how positive my past experience was and they had the best program for me. I wanted to go to Barcelona, Spain, be immersed into Spanish language and culture, and stay on track with my liberal arts studies and AIFS UPF Program met all of those needs and beyond. On top of all my requirements for my study abroad experience, AIFS hosted cultural events, lead us on day and weekend trips, and provided support when needed.

When I arrived in Barcelona, AIFS was there to orient me with the city, peers, and UPF campus. Our homestay and classes were chosen for us so little work was required on our end which made the transition easy and comfortable. During my second semester, I lived in a residencia, Residencia Onix, with other AIFS students and international students and that experience was amazing. I lived with a Spanish roommate and we learned so much from each other. Throughout my year abroad, I had an amazing time getting to know the staff at AIFS in Barcelona through events and trips. They are caring, generous, and intelligent people who were always willing to listen and help. They felt like family that brought about a sense of comfortability while in a foreign country.

Furthermore, I really enjoyed my classes offered at UPF: Intermediate and Advanced Spanish Language, Social Movements in the XXI Century to Globalization, Understanding Globalization, Pictures of Spain in Contemporary Cinema, Spanish Literature, and Contemporary Spanish Art. These classes allowed me to immerse myself in Spanish and European Studies while getting credit towards my majors. All of these classes that I took at UPF were very challenging because of the grading system and having tests count towards the majority of your grade but I learned a lot. The teachers were engaged and advocated for your success.

In regards to location - Barcelona is the best place to go abroad. It is such a large city with a fascinating history, beautiful landscape, amazing beaches, inspiring architecture, diverse and energizing Catalan and Spanish culture. The city gave me the opportunity to do something different every day and easy access to traveling around Europe.

My experience interning abroad has been life changing. I had three goals when I landed. To enhance my Spanish-speaking skills, make a difference in my internship, and travel. I am happy to say that successfully completed all three of my goals. I got to practice my Spanish daily in Barcelona and lost the fear of making mistakes and just let it out. I was able to help my internship organization with some very important documents, gain hands-on experience in the clinical field, and conduct a educational intervention in the organization that raised awareness about HIV/AIDS to each client who came in for testing. Finally, in three months I was able to travel to 9 countries and 22 cities. I would recommend going abroad to every single person and hope that you take full advantage of such an incredible opportunity.

I decided to intern abroad as a segway into the working world as I just graduated college in May. I am so happy I did! A lot can be said for immersing yourself into the working world in another culture. You learn so much about their culture, more so than you would if you were just studying abroad, since you're interacting and working with Italians every day. The staff is very helpful and always at your disposal if you need them. They also schedule social events which get your program together to bond & see more of a local side of your experience! Our program had a few dinners, day trips, and activities such as a cooking class. It is really nice and fun because they are things that you may not typically do by yourself but your program provides it for you. I really enjoyed my experience and wish it didn't end so soon! I would definitely recommend this to anyone!!

I had three goals when in mind when going abroad and those were to gain experience at my internship, enhance speaking skills, and travel around Europe. I am happy to say I successfully did all three!! During my internship I was able to gain hands on experience in a clinical setting, which was beneficial for me because I want to pursue nursing in the future. I let go of the fear of making mistakes and was able to practice my Spanish with locals. Lastly I was able to travel all throughout Europe. During my time here I travel to 9 different countries and 22 different cities. As you can imagine I was very busy and enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend this program to future interns and promise that you will love it as long as you take full advantage of it.