CEA CAPA Education Abroad

Program Reviews

Odreille
4/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Study Abroad with CEA CAPA

This program lacked diversity, but the program itself was amazing. Most of the students in my program attended the same university, so it was hard to make friends. I also felt like those students from partner universities were treated differently from everyone else. I did love how we stayed in an apartment and how they had organized trips for us on some weekends. If you want to meet new people and make new friends, this isn't the program for it because it is very hard since the majority of students come from 3 main schools.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
We took a funded trip to the city of Pompeii and got a tour.
Pros
  • Good Communication
  • Issues take forever to be solved
  • Funded Trips
Cons
  • Lack of Diversity
  • Course Uncertainty
  • Language Barries
Uzochukwu
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Experience With CEA CAPA

I had a really good time studying abroad with CEA CAPA. I was able to see so many different parts of Madrid because of them. I think they did a wonderful job of really immersing the students in the program in Spanish culture through every aspect. Dance, food, fiel trips and more.

They also did a really good job with housing as well. I loved my Madrid apartment. It was geographically in a good spot and some of my new friends for life were the room mates they placed me with.

In comparison to other abroad programs, this was relatively cheap as well. I would absolutely go abroad again with CEA CAPA.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
When we went on a group trip to Seville, my friends and I got lunch at a local mediterranean restaurant. For our appetizer we ordered a plate of calamari. But when it came, it was not fried squid like what we were use to. It was a plain squid tentacle with a little bit of parsley on it. Pretty good, but I'm not sure I would eat it again.
Pros
  • good classes with not too much of a rigorous course load
  • fun activities for very cheap
Cons
  • can be a little unresponsive in times of emergency
  • should deal with maintenance issues a little better
Madison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An Amazing Program

Barcelona SAE is one of the best programs. They took care of everything that I needed for my time abroad. They helped show me how to apply for my visa, helped with scheduling classes, and arranged housing. The staff on-site are very responsive and willing to help with whatever you need. They planned many cultural events that you could go to, and the school is amazing. I lived in a very cute apartment that came with everything you could need. They made studying abroad very easy and enjoyable. I highly recommend this program.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I could do this all over again, I would stay in Barcelona more. I traveled a lot during my time abroad, and it was amazing. However, I wish I had stayed and attended more of the cultural events that I had access to through my program.
Pros
  • Great education
  • Many cultural experiences
  • Great Staff
Cons
  • Homesickness
Lauren
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Studying Abroad in Rome: The Experience of a Lifetime

Choosing to study abroad in Rome, Italy was hands down the best decision I have ever made. I learned from a new cultural perspective and experienced real life in another country. CEA CAPA provided so many opportunities for me to immerse myself in the Italian culture. Living with an Italian roommate was one of my favorite parts of the program. I got to build a relationship with her, learn from her, and make a new friend that will always remind me of my special time abroad. Rome became such a special place for me. Every day was exciting in the city, even when I was simply going to class. I would do it all over again if I could. I cannot recommend study abroad enough.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to any future travelers would be to truly embrace everything offered in the program. CEA CAPA does a great job of making you feel like you truly have been immersed in the city. By the end of the program, I wasn't ready to leave because it had become like a second home to me. CEA CAPA offers so many trips, tours throughout the city, and lots of other activities. I got to play in a soccer tournament, go to dinners with our Italian roommates, and hangout with other students in the program. I loved every minute and truly felt like a Roman by the end!
Pros
  • Living with an Italian Roommate
  • Learning Italian
  • Activities included within the program
Jacob
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CEA CAPA: An Amazing Time

I remember being stressed out, trying to decide where I should study abroad. Everyone I knew had gone or was going to Europe. I just wanted to switch things up. I made an amazing choice. From our arrival day the CEA CAPA staff was attentive and helpful. Classes started soon after and would meet once a week for 12 weeks at the CEA CAPA center located in the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). We stayed in a long-term hotel in Zetland which is well connected to both the beach (Coogee), Haymarket (where UTS is located) and the Opera House/downtown. These 3 months in Sydney were genuinely some of the most fun I've ever had in my entire life.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go to New Zealand. It is beyond beautiful. My friend and I rented a camper van and drove across the country. Peak life experience.
Pros
  • People are amazing
  • Great asian cuisine
  • The beach is near you at all times
Cons
  • Not much history because Australia is a new city
  • Weekend trips are more expensive than they are in Europe
Ismail
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Awesome experience for international students!

As an international student in the US, I didn't initially consider studying abroad since I was already "abroad." I thought it better to stay in the States, build my resume, explore the country, etc. However, this program completely changed my mind, and I can't recommend it enough to anyone!

You get to escape the winter weather (which, around Chicago, is quite brutal), explore probably one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and meet people from all over the world. Sydney is much more multicultural than I expected, and it's truly the perfect mix of a big urban artsy city + beach town + stunning national parks.

Specific to people studying any discipline in mental healthcare, my internship experience in Australia was likely more meaningful than anything I could have obtained as a psychology undergrad in the States. There are plenty of excellent research centers that allow you, as an intern, to gain hands-on clinical experience and academic publications. Anyways, all in all a great program!!! Can't recommend enough :)

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I went diving in the Great Barrier Reef and this sea turtle and 6-foot-long maori wrasse started swimming alongside us for a good 5-10 minutes!
Leila
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TOTALLY Recommend

I had a blast learning about cultures and making friends it was my first time leaving the country. I am grateful for the staff for the support and fun trips. The south of France is high in culture, and low in tourists. It is beautiful and close to a really helpful airport. I miss being there, the train can get you to Italy plus various spots in France. The city doesn't get boring. There is music, beaches, and artworks. The people are super friendly and accommodating, most spoke english too which helped!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I did it my senior fall, so I would go back and do it sooner, so I had more time to explore as a student in following semesters
Pros
  • trips
  • meeting people from different states
  • support contacts
Cons
  • n.a
Riley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study Abroad in Budapest, Hungary

If you are genuinely interested in interacting/integrating with another culture/society as an American, Budapest is a great place for you. I felt that I was treated well by locals and they took an equal interest in me as I did in them, which many of my friends who studied in Spain/France/Italy could not say (though I'm sure those places lend themselves to great experiences as well). With that, I did have some friends of indian descent who felt like they experienced some racist treatment, so consider that (I am British white, genetically). Staying for longer than your 3 months could be a challenge though, so do what you can ahead of time if that's your plan.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
A peice of advice to a future traveller is to really consider literal environment changes, and that you won't be able to order exact products you know on amazon or from your pharmacy. Along the same lines, you'll have to eat almost entirely new food (new, like not exactly what you know). I underestimated both of these things and didn't prepare quite like I should've. An example, I didn't consider how much harder it would be to avoid lactose or how dry the air would get in the winter.
Pros
  • Welcoming culture.
  • Cheap, relative to US.
  • Fun Activities.
Cons
  • Winter depressing and cold.
  • Difficult residency process.
Jackson
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My experience with CEA CAPA in Sydney

My experience with CEA CAPA in Sydney is something that I will never forget Sydney as a city was incredible, but the support from CEA CAPA made it even better. I enjoyed excursions such as an overnight at the zoo, and a show at the Sydney opera house. Throughout the quarter, they would also host lunches/dinners that were great ways to get a free good meal in while checking in on how we were doing. They also served as a great resource whenever we had questions about things we should do in Sydney. For example, they recommended the Bondi to Coogee Beach walk that was beautiful and scenic, and gave some great food recs as well. Wish I could do the 10 weeks all over again, but would definitely recommend CEA CAPA as a great agency to go abroad with, and Sydney as a great destination.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Kangaroo
Pros
  • Beautiful nature and scenery
  • Great Food
  • Great balance of city life and nature
Cons
  • Long plane ride
Selena
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Real life experience

Studying abroad in Florence gives you a surreal experience that allows you to be engulfed into a whole new culture. The experience challenges you in all the right ways and expands your global knowledge significantly. The city is rich in history with so many intricate details scattered throughout. Florence maintains the art of family businesses and true craftsmanship. This experience makes you feel like you are actually a part of history. The amount of exploring you can do is endless, and you’ll find character in the city with amazing hospitality.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I were to do it all over again, one thing I would change is not being so fearful the first week. Instead, I would’ve probably leaned more into my fear and just explored by walking around. For me that first week, I was a little nervous and it was a new environment, which I think is okay, but it resulted in me not exploring as much until I got comfortable. As the second week occurred, I was more open to exploring on my own and with groups. I say face the fear early on because that’s what the space is meant for to challenge yourself and to explore something new every day.
Pros
  • Architecture
  • History
  • New experience
Cons
  • Smell of cigarettes
  • Low spatial awareness
  • Staring or judgmental looks