Program Reviews

I absolutely loved my time abroad in Florence. Everyone is extremely kind and welcoming and they will support you through whatever may arise. The staff are friendly and really make an effort to get to know you. The classes are fun and engaging. The program offers so many free trips, activities, and opportunities to make the most of your time abroad. It was tricky because with Florence not being a main airport, you had to navigate around that to get places. However, the high speed trains were cheap, super helpful, and quick (unless there was a train strike). It was the best spring of my life!!

I was nervous going into this program, because Antibes is a small city and a unique location for study abroad, but I could't be happier that I chose CEA French Riviera. As soon as I got off the van in Antibes, I fell in love with beauty of the city. It's big enough to have all the amenities you would want: restaurants, bars, even a couple of museums, but it's small enough that you can walk anywhere, feel like part of the community, and easily explore without feeling overwhelmed. That why Im happy I chose Antibes over a big city; while a bustling city like London or Paris is amazing to visit, Antibes is a much nicer place to live. The staff at CEA were extremely helpful with any questions and concerns I had. They had an orientation in the beginning that made it easy to get to know everyone, and free excursions throughout the semester where we could participate in fun and unique activities as a group, like perfume making in Grasse and a three course pasta lunch in northern Italy. Overall I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad, especially those who are looking for a small city and want to travel while abroad.

Spending a summer in Prague taking Differential Equations alongside an Art and Architecture course was one of the most cohesive academic experiences I’ve had. The program managed to balance serious math with the chance to live inside a European city that feels like a textbook for art history, architecture, and Czech culture. I loved walking to and from class in the center of Prague, and immediately grabbing a group of friends to go find whatever Gothic cathedral or a Cubist we'd yet to have seen. On top of that, realizing how much structure, symmetry, and pattern tie it all together is astonishing. Academically, Differential Equations was definitely rigorous, but very doable if you stay on top of the homework. The smaller class size meant I could ask questions constantly, and the professor was approachable in a way that felt different from lecture halls for general education classes back at Umich. We moved quickly, but the class gave more than enough time to be able to absorb the content, and had office hours on certain days for those who needed a bit more explanation. I actually appreciated doing math, and work as whole, in a new environment, because being slightly out of my comfort zone made me focus more and procrastinate less. The Art and Architecture component was where Prague really came alive. Instead of just looking at slides, we were in the streets, churches, and museums several about twice a week. Class felt like a guided tour with academic depth: tracing how the city moves from Romanesque and Gothic to Baroque, Art Nouveau, and modern styles. Standing on Charles Bridge while hearing the history behind the statues, or looking up at the Astronomical Clock after learning about its design, made it easy to connect what we were learning to the physical city. Those site visits were also a great way to get oriented in Prague without feeling like a clueless tourist. On top of that, the Czech professor also knew all the more underground and quality museums that we students would've probably never explored. Living in Prague itself was a huge part of the experience. The public transportation is reliable and easy to learn, and it made the whole city feel accessible. Everything in general is relatively affordable as long as you're not in the most touristy areas of Prague (Prague 1), and grocery stores became my best friend on busy days. I felt very safe walking around with friends, even at night, and the city has a nice balance of calm neighborhoods and lively spots for going out. It was also very manageable to travel on weekends, whether that was to nearby towns in the Czech Republic or other countries, without it taking away from the coursework too much. Another big highlight was the community. Because the program combines all students and puts on many events to go other places, I met people I probably never would have crossed paths with on campus. Working through tough homework problems in a café one night and then debating our favorite buildings after an architecture walk the next day created a fun, collaborative atmosphere. Those relationships, plus the shared sense of discovering a new city together, made the experience feel supportive rather than overwhelming. Future participants should know that this program is a good fit if you want both a fairly strong academic component and time to explore. It’s not a “vacation” study abroad, but the closest thing to it. While Differential Equations isn't a walk in the park, the schedule still leaves room for wandering cobblestone streets, visiting cafés, and just sitting by the Vltava river with friends. Bring comfortable walking shoes, be ready to use public transit constantly, and don’t be afraid to try a few phrases of Czech. Overall, my study abroad was amazing because I gained not only a better understanding of differential equations, but also with a deeper appreciation for how design and history intersect in a foreign environment. If you’re curious, open to new experiences, and willing to balance work and exploration, this program is a fantastic way to earn credits while actually living what you’re learning.

I feel that everybody should study in Dublin, Ireland because it is truly one of the best places in the entire world! From the food to the academics to the people, it is truly amazing here and everyone should become a part of the Irish culture. I also met the most amazing people while I was and everyone here is very inclusive and nice. You will never find yourself bored here. It is also very easy to travel all around Ireland because they have reliable public transportation which gives you the opportunity to go see all the amazing sites that Ireland has to offer.

It is challenging to think of words to describe this chapter of my life. My time with CEA CAPA was so full. We went on adventures as a community of students from all over the country. We travelled to places around italy and learned with our hands dirty and our "R"s rolling. There was no shortage of support from the staff, both before the program started and while it was happening. To this day I feel that if I needed something, anyone on that staff would drop everything to make sure I was taken care of. This is not normal in the best way.

Coming from a large family, I never had the opportunity to see much of the world growing up. Naturally, I was drawn to the idea of studying abroad, but was worried that my lack of experience with travel would make it dangerous to take such I leap outside of my comfort zone, but I have to credit CEA CAPA for being so supportive in helping me through every step of the process. No matter whether I had questions on housing, navigating to class, or simply how to get involved with the community of Madrid, CEA CAPA was always incredibly responsive and a great source of assistance throughout my experience.

I honestly think CEA CAPA was the perfect choice for my time abroad. They made the whole experience incredibly safe and fun, which let me relax and enjoy everything Barcelona had to offer. The classes were great, but what made the biggest difference was how passionate and knowledgeable the local professors were. They didn't just teach the material; they truly brought Spanish culture and history to life. Having that supportive and secure base allowed me to feel confident enough to explore the city, travel, and truly gain a global perspective.

Studying abroad in Barcelona was truly one of the most incredible experiences of my life. The location of our housing allowed us to be truly immersed in the culture of the city, which was so full of life and energy. Getting to shadow abroad internationally through the CEA CAPA Atlantis program was a life-changing experience and enabled me to see the inner workings of Spanish hospitals and how they were both similar but different to hospitals in the United States. Everyday felt like a new opportunity to learn - not just in the hospital settings, but also through the city, the people, and the experiences that came with living abroad.

This program was amazing. The support we got from our professors and the on site staff was super helpful to adjusting to being in a new country and studying in that country. My professors were probably the best professors I have ever had because I could tell how passionate they are about their jobs and helping/teaching students studying abroad. The classes were amazing and I learned so much, which you cannot learn as well from home. We also got to travel to different parts of Spain as part of the program which was awesome, because we got to see different cultures around Spain and see beautiful sites. Overall the academics as well as the location I was in was amazing and I would definitely go again.

Studying abroad in college was something I've wanted to do for a very, very long time and this was such a great program to have that experience with. Personally, I got super into museums this summer - the art and history in Madrid (and the rest of Spain!) is wonderful. Madrid is a beautiful city to explore, and the program staff give you so much support in housing, academics, and social events. There was so much included in the program and I really felt like CEA CAPA wanted me to have the best experience possible.