CIEE Reviews

The CIEE staff did a phenomenal job of ensuring we learned about Indian culture through immersion and gave us the skills to navigate the country on our own and create a meaningful experience. Not only did we learn about culture, but we had important discussions about modern India that apply to any field of study. India can be overwhelming, but this program made it a fun experience and the staff were always there to support us. They truly treated us like family. Three years later we're still in touch and I've gone back to visit!

The program was well planned. This includes all of the awesome trips we went on and the daily planned activities. The coordinators were phenomenal, supportive, and fun. They were always therefor advice and provided us with apt knowledge about the society we were staying in. The professors were knowledgeable, and class was never boring. The whole experience was definitely one for the books. I can’t wait to visit again!!

This program went above and beyond my expectations. The classes were taught by very knowledgeable instructors that helped me further develop my Arabic language skills. Courses are filled not just with language instruction, but real-world application as well forcing you at times out of your comfort zone for your benefit.
The program coordinators and staff genuinely care about the students and constantly go out of their way to improve the experience both in and out of the classroom. They assist students in so many ways, supplanting the experience even more.
You'll find it really hard to be bored in this program. There are excursions included in the price of tuition nearly every weekend which are planned well and also serve to enhance the educational experience. Cultural activities are planned on most days the rest of the program helping you immerse yourself in unique ways throughout the experience.
I am lucky to have been so fortunate to study with this amazing program with such amazing people.

I was able to participate in this program the summer after I graduated and was one of the best experiences I have had throughout my college career. The program coordinators genuinely care for you and are willing to go out of their way to help, and this was extremely helpful especially coming into a new setting like Morocco.

Moreover, you are truly able to get your money's worth as the program plans excursions essentially every weekend at no extra cost to you. This was an excellent way for me to really get to see the richness and full-extent of the Moroccan culture while also being able to practice my Arabic out in the streets.

Overall I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in learning Arabic and interested in learning more about Moroccan culture.

This Study Abroad Program was the most amazing experience I have ever had. CIEE welcomes you warmly to the country with amazing staff and immediately makes you feel comfortable and at home. Traveling to the Middle East can be a little stressful, but once I stepped off the plane at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, I was met by the program leader, who without a doubt was the sweetest person I have ever met. Any sense of uneasiness I had been feeling was immediately gone and replaced with excitement. CIEE gives you opportunities to travel and learn the history and cultures of the country. University of Haifa also gives you opportunities to travel with planned weekend excursions. If you are planning to travel around the country independently, the train is the best (and my favorite) way to get around. The train ride to Tel Aviv from Haifa was around an hour and a half and is best done as a weekend trip. Also purchase a bus pass (rav kav) so you don't have to search for coins or awkwardly hand the bus driver a large bill and wait for change every time you want to go somewhere. Rav kavs also make it so you don't have to pay twice if you get off and back on within an hour and a half period.
Also, eat your way through this country. I promise it will not disappoint.
The people you meet on this program are so incredibly special. I cannot express how much I loved this program. I hope that everyone who goes has an equally amazing experience.

Studying abroad in Hyderabad, India, was one of the best experiences of my life, and this was largely due to (a) the amazing CIEE program and staff, (b) my homestay, (c) the cultural context, and (d) international and local friends.

(a) The CIEE program itself provided enough structure, but also flexibility, in creating an enriching study abroad experience. There were unique opportunities presented to us such as the arts-based classes (classical dance, henna, etc), the "fieldtrips" (the scavenger hunt around the city, visiting a weaving studio), and seminars delivered by local lecturers. The CIEE staff are incredible - they became not only my support, but my friends, and we are still in touch. The staff goes above and beyond to make this a wonderful journey for all students, and they go out of their way to accommodate the needs of each.

(b) One of the ways the program staff accommodated me was by allowing me to secure my own homestay. This made a huge difference for me because living outside of the university was important for my interests as a student of anthropology. I enjoyed my host family immensely, and I learned a lot from my daily commute using public transportation, which was challenging.

(c) Hyderabad itself has so much to offer. It is bursting with flavors, sounds, scents, colors, and people. It has an interesting mix of North and South India, but yet it has its own history and culture as well.

(d) My friends from the CIEE program, as well as from my university classes made my stay in India so full and fun. I had a roommate during my homestay and it was great to develop a close friendship with her. We even traveled together, and those are some of my best memories - my favorite being our trip to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. I also made some Indian friends who I learned so much from.

Overall, this was one of the most transformative semesters of my college years. For each person, it is and will be different, but that's what makes study abroad so powerful. With CIEE Hyderabad, you're sure to benefit from it greatly!

I really enjoyed my experience in this program. From orientation to my departure back to the U.S. I knew I had support from the administrators of the program. They made sure that we had the resources we needed (or at least knew how to find them) and were there to ensure we had a fun time as well. I really felt like they did what they could to ensure our time abroad was the best it could've been. Honestly great.

I can't begin to say how happy I am with my semester with CIEE Arts + Sciences in Hyderabad. Hosted at the University of Hyderabad's Study in India Program, this program offers a manageable introduction to Indian culture, history, and society. The program courses are designed for international students, with the option to study in the broader university and customize your curriculum as desired. Students can integrate as much into university life as wanted, and can branch out off campus through homestays and volunteering. The staff is caring and capable, experienced in working with American students and full of recommendations and advice.

Hyderabad is a dynamic city that is changing every day, with young professionals from all across India (and the world) calling it home. The tech industry is most well known here, but there are also many nonprofits, NGOs, and social enterprises with interesting missions and employees. (This also means that English is common, as well as Hindi and the local language Telugu.) It is a mix of north and south Indian cultures, cuisines, styles, and more, making it a great microcosm of the country. It's also centrally located which makes travel to different cities by plane, train, or bus possible.

Five years out, I credit this experience with helping me discover my career path. This past year I was even able to return to Hyderabad to work at a nonprofit; I lived just a short drive from campus. I am still close with my host family and friends from the university. This recent experience wouldn't have been possible without the connections and experiences I gained through the CIEE program.

Living in India was life-changing in the best way! It was so beautiful, the landscape, the people, the food. Everything was incredible.the culture shock made me a stronger person so I feel like I can go anywhere in the world and feel confident. My favorite place was Varanasi on the river Ganga. The staff were like family. It’s just amazing.you are able to experience the amazing Hyderabad while traveling through India on the weekends. I even developed close relationships with my Indian classmates. No words. DO IT!

Spending my time abroad has been a dream of mine ever since starting college. Due to certain circumstances, I was not able to go during any school semester, but stumbled upon this opportunity from CIEE to spend my summer in Dublin, Ireland. I thoroughly enjoyed my 3 months there to really be immersed in a different culture and learn more about myself and the people around me. It was for sure one of the best summers that I will never forget. From all the people I met, places I visited, and memories I made.