CIEE Reviews

I initially chose to study abroad in Barcelona because I wanted to learn about international film and its roots in Spain. I couldn't have stumbled upon a better program, because CIEE was a fantastic support system as I pursued both my academic and creative endeavors. The faculty was so helpful in introducing me to the past, present and future of Barcelona. And the program offered the perfect combination of aid and freedom. Between travel throughout Europe and developing my own Barcelona music webseries (through resources at the Universitat de Barcelona), I had an unparalleled experience.

This program is totally based on the student. The difficulty and challenges to learn the language are dependent on how much the student is committed to learn. The flexibility and support of this program was the best. The staff really care about you, and about your life in China. I could not hope for a better place to spend my study abroad. Nanjing is more livable ando walkable than the other major cities in China.

I had studied Spanish for 8 years prior to my semester in Seville, Spain with CIEE's Communications, New Media & Journalism program. As a communications major, this program provided me with the best of both worlds--a way to combine my passion for storytelling with the goal of improving my fluency abroad. As a senior in my last semester of college, I'm looking toward the future and am feeling a strong draw to return to Spain. CIEE both supported and challenged me during a semester abroad, and from those moments of personal growth and pure bliss I feel confident in my decision to return for an extended stay post-grad.

The CNMJ professors are all about engaged learning. This is not a program where you'll coast through classes, but rather one where you'll create things with your peers to add to your portfolio. I interviewed locals and refugees for a bilingual magazine. I hit the streets to record podcasts on flamenco culture in Andalusia. I took an art course that toured me around Seville, taking me to the sites where the history actually occurred. The CNMJ program made sure that learning wasn't confined to the 4 walls of a classroom; a true experience abroad was built on cultural immersion. I am proud of the work that I completed while abroad, and it definitely has enhanced my professional portfolio when seeking internships and jobs back home in the states.

With the CNMJ program, we also went on trips to other cities and countries. There were only 33 people in the group, which made it easy to get to know new friends. We went to the port city of Cádiz for a day trip, and also spent a few days in Morocco where we were toured around by host families. The professors are so, so fun and very passionate about their jobs, which I appreciated.

The only downside to my CNMJ experience was with my host family. I ended up having to switch families, which was uncomfortable, but the CIEE staff made sure to coach me through the process. My second homestay was better, but it definitely was a more difficult transition abroad having to up and move again only a few weeks into the semester.

I would highly recommend this program to any communications major who is interested in an abroad experience in a Spanish speaking country. Seville is the perfect city for study abroad--I felt very safe, it's affordable, rich in history and a beautiful location. I'll forever cherish the memories I made during my semester abroad with CIEE CNMJ, and I look forward to returning to Spain soon.

What a city, what a country. Going to Saint Petersburg for my study abroad was probably the best decision I made in a while. The city is beautiful and people are friendly, though they usually don't speak English. Schoolwise I had a great time. Faculty and CIEE administration people were helpful and crazy nice. My Russian improved by a lot which I am really thankful for, mainly because I stayed with host family and we spoke a lot, aka I definitely recommend staying with a host family.

I studied abroad the fall semester of my Junior year, and it was truly an incredible experience I will always remember. One of the reasons I had such a great time was because I went with the CIEE program! In my opinion, the best thing about CIEE is the helpful and caring faculty and staff, who are always looking out for their students both in and out of the classroom. I ran into all the stereotypical study abroad issues - broken laptop, stolen wallet, missed flights - but there was always someone (usually Alberto) to talk me through the mess and tell me that everything would be okay.

I do have the disclaimer that I decided to take my study abroad experience in a slightly different direction than many others in my program, in the sense that I didn't spend too much time with the others from the ALA group. I am also not a Spanish major/minor, so I didn't take any classes at UB with the other CIEE students. This was the right decision for me, and I would probably do so again if I study abroad in the future, but the one thing I regret is that I missed out on the many trips and bonding experiences that CIEE provided. Because of my schedule - classes only Tuesday through Thursday! - and because I had a friend whose goals were in line with mine, I spent nearly every weekend away and therefore I can't really comment on the details of the weekly excursions. I can however, say that the multi-day trip to Andalusia I did go on with CIEE was a really wonderful experience, and CIEE planned activities that were engaging and made me want to return again in my own time! Also, the weekly excursions that CIEE plans cater to very diverse interests, from art to Game of Thrones to the outdoors, so I'm sure there is a trip out there for everyone.

In terms of classes, I took one spanish class with the CIEE program, and I really enjoyed it. My professor was kind and passionate, and the small class size made discussions easy and comfortable. I took three art courses with the Universitat de Barcelona, which were different than I expected (side note: Another great thing about CIEE is the freedom to choose to take basically any class you want from UB). Be very prepared to do work on your own without prompting from the professor, because doing only the minimum required assignments won't be enough to get the most out of the classes. The structures of the classes I took were very different from those in the US, and emphasized being pro active and pulling extra hours in order to produce truly great work. Studying abroad is a lot of fun, but I think it's also important to make sure you are being academically challenged, and taking classes in Spanish at UB is a great way to do so!

In conclusion, if I had to describe the benefits of studying abroad with CIEE in one sentence it would be this: CIEE provides you with the support and the freedom to make your study abroad experience whatever you want it to be!

My semester in Morocco was life-changing. In the classroom, with my cultural peer, local friends and my host family, I explored linguistic, religious, socioeconomic and gender dynamics - which ultimately inspired the topic for my undergraduate thesis. My semester was engaging, educational, and fun - CIEE-led trips brought me all over the country, including trips to Meknes, Fes, Marrakech, Tangiers, and Chefchaoen, but they always provided historical context and introduced us to locals so we weren't just tourists but truly immersed in the language and culture of Morocco. CIEE staff was supportive and understanding to the point where my Resident Director's family became my second host family. I am still in touch with them today, nearly 4 years later! My semester with CIEE exposed me to the beautiful diversity of Morocco's landscapes, people, and culture, and every day I pull from lessons and moments from my time abroad.

The CIEE Architecture & Design program in Barcelona, Spain surpassed my expectations for a well-rounded, challenging, and enjoyable study abroad experience. The CIEE program advisers guided me with academics, housing, costs, and safety from the beginning of the application process to the final weeks of the program in Barcelona. During my semester I participated in the ELISAVA Study Abroad Design Track that consisted of three courses at the ELISAVA: Barcelona School of Design & Engineering, one course at the CIEE program headquarters, and an internship at a publication company in the heart of Barcelona. Additionally CIEE Barcelona provided all of its program attendees the ability to participate in program events such as scenic hiking, cooking classes and food tasting, intramural soccer, and social language practicing events with native peaking students from Barcelona. Weekend excursions to historical landmarks outside of and near Barcelona were also features of the program abroad. The opportunity to visit other parts of Catalonia and/or Spain with fellow students was definitely a highlight of the program and was included in the overall cost!
Academically, I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience from my courses at ELISAVA and CIEE. The professors at ELISAVA offer a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill that is relevant in today’s field. It was also an advantage to take their courses because many of them continue to work in their fields. They made sure to balance the curriculum with hands-on projects, conceptual and practical work, and field trips to some of Barcelona’s design hubs and art museums. I also received an excess of insight from my professors at CIEE, comparable to the quality of education I would receive back at my home university. The course I took at CIEE was incredibly enriching because half of the time we would go outside of the classroom to learn about Barcelona and the history of its architecture and design. This way I did not feel at all that I missed out on seeing the cultural and historical landmarks and beauty of Barcelona. All of my classes at ELISAVA and CIEE were small in size but my fellow classmates came from diverse backgrounds and concentrations, like myself. In my opinion, it was definitely an advantage to learn from other students from the U.S. and around the world, sharing experiences and ideas, especially when working together on multi-disciplinary design projects.
I would highly recommend anyone that decides to study at CIEE Barcelona the opportunity to intern at a company or start-up in Barcelona. The experience truly prepares you for post-graduation work and challenges you tremendously. The great takeaway with interning abroad is the ability to master and strengthen your already learned skills in language and design and enhance them exponentially. I worked at a publication company as an interning in-house graphic designer alongside international business professionals. My supervisor and coworkers at the company were incredibly helpful with guiding and explaining the company’s work process. Everyone in the office was beyond considerate of my lack of language skill and was profoundly passionate in their work. At the end of my internship, the publication company published my design work and offered a contract for future projects as a freelancer from the U.S. I tell most everyone back at my home university that you don’t have much to lose if you just try. I have noticed in my recent design work and even with school projects that I have improved with communicating, short deadlines, and my creative process all simply because of my real-world experience interning in Barcelona.
To top it all off, I lived in a beautiful area of Barcelona near the old Gothic city and El Born, an ideal destination for design and retail. My commute to the CIEE office, the university, and my internship were very easy and manageable every day from my homestay location. I stayed with a wonderful and hospitable family who made sure my stay was the best possible. I was able to practice my Spanish speaking skills, observe the rich culture and tradition of the family, and learn from them their experiences and recommendations about the city.
I would highly recommend CIEE’s Architecture & Design course in Barcelona, Spain. The program staff, professors, and student mentors made absolute sure that everyone, including myself had a safe trip. The program was not only satisfactory and pleasurable but above expectation and outstanding. There is so much to learn and discover about Spanish and international design, architecture, culture, and language. The beautiful city of Barcelona is the ideal place and CIEE made sure to nurture that experience.

The summer I spent in St. Petersburg was a life-changing experience. My goal was to achieve fluency with my language skills, but I received much more than that. My diving head first into all the events and opportunities CIEE provided I was exposed to all aspects of Russian culture and life in St. Petersburg. The coursework was engaging and the campus is gorgeous. The tours were well organized, interesting, and I always learned more than I expected. The staff were absolutley wonderful. More than anything, however, I learned from the young Russians I met during my time there. I made multiple lifelong friends through the program's events to help us students meet Russians our age. I would highly recommend the program to anyone looking for a new adventure and especially for those with a proficient level in Russian language. My advice for students going to St. Petersburg is to go on every tour, attend every event, and take advantage of your free time. Go explore with Russian friends, don't spend all your time with your classmates. That is how you will maximize your brief, but unforgettable time in the Venice of the north.

I studied in Lisbon through CIEE my junior spring. It was amazing. It exceeded beyond any expectations I may have had going into the semester. From the get go I fell in love with the city and only wanted to explore. Upon meeting everyone in my program including the program advisors I knew the next couple months were going to fly by. Everyone was so kind and endearing and as each day passed I grew more and more attached to the group I was with and the city I was in. This semester undoubtedly changed my life for the better and led me to become more confident in myself and my desire to adventure outside of my comfort zone. To anyone who is nervous about studying abroad- that's okay. It's great to be nervous because then when you see to whatever it is you're nervous about, you will grow immensely. I have nothing but positive memories from this program and am sure that this semester will be one that I will never forget.

It’s hard to summarize four months into just a few lines. In fact, I would say it’s almost impossible to encapsulate the CIEE Iringa program in only words, and believe me I’ve tried. My family and friends are probably tired of hearing story after story about my time in Tanzania, but these are stories that I think I’ll be telling for years to come. I gained so much through this experience: new perspectives, knowledge, relationships, and families. Living in a developing country has its own sets of challenges but every step of the way Justin and Paulo, our fabulous program directors, were there to help. They were receptive and really wanted the most positive experience for us. They truly welcomed us as if we were family. But, they manage to hit the perfective balance of guidance without being overbearing. I got to build relationships with Tanzanians: the nuns in the cafeteria, my roommates, my host family, and research assistant, who helped make my experience unique and culturally authentic. Learning Swahili, living with a host-family, and just soaking up the culture of the Iringa region made the program so powerful. Hands-on learning works best for me and so this program was the perfect fit. Time in the classroom was important but the excursions, research project, and daily adventures of navigating a new place were really the highlights for me. The support and friendships of my fellow US students were irreplaceable. I fell in love with Tanzania and couldn’t be more grateful for this program.