CEA CAPA Education Abroad Reviews

My time in London with CEA CAPA was one of the greatest experiences in my life. All of the staff I encountered during my time there were incredibly welcoming and helpful. I was easily able to tell that the staff genuinely wanted to help with any situation you had, weather it was academic or not. I really enjoyed all of the activities that the program offered at no additional cost to us, allowing us to experience more of the city in a fun and supported way. The housing would have been better if it had a working elevator when I lived on the sixth level of my flat, other than that the housing was relatively nice. The area I lived in was very nice, and it was relatively far from the center, but it was nice commuting and seeing more of the city on the daily.

During the summer of 2026, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy through CEA CAPA. For three weeks in June, Florence became my classroom and my home as I studied Art and Architecture while experiencing Italian culture firsthand. The program allowed me to earn academic credit while learning in a completely different environment than a traditional college classroom. Instead of only reading about art, architecture, history, and culture, I was able to experience them in the places where they were created. My Art and Architecture course met in the afternoons, and much of our learning extended beyond the classroom. Florence is filled with centuries of history, so simply walking through the city became part of the educational experience. I was surrounded by historic churches, museums, piazzas, sculptures, and buildings that connected directly to what we were studying. Being able to see these places in person gave me a greater appreciation for the history and culture of Florence and helped me understand how a destination's past continues to influence its identity today. Outside of class, one of the most valuable parts of the program was learning how to live independently in another country. I had to navigate a new city, adjust to cultural differences, communicate with people from different backgrounds, and become comfortable being outside of my normal routine. Even simple experiences, such as grocery shopping, using public transportation, ordering food, or finding my way around Florence, helped me become more independent and confident. Living abroad encouraged me to be more observant of the culture around me and more willing to try things that were unfamiliar. The program also gave me the opportunity to travel throughout Italy. During my time abroad, I visited places including Rome, Cinque Terre, and the Dolomites. Each destination was completely different and allowed me to experience more of Italy's history, landscapes, food, architecture, and tourism. Traveling between cities also gave me experience planning transportation, navigating unfamiliar places, and adapting when plans changed. Some of my favorite memories came from exploring these destinations with other students and experiencing places I had previously only seen in pictures. More than anything, my summer in Florence changed the way I view travel and international experiences. I learned that studying abroad is about much more than visiting a new place. It is an opportunity to become part of another culture, even for a short period of time, and to learn through experiences that cannot be recreated in a classroom. I returned to Texas A&M with greater independence, confidence, and curiosity about the world around me. My experience in Florence also inspired me to become a CEA CAPA Study Abroad Campus Ambassador. I now have the opportunity to share my experience with other students, answer questions about studying abroad, and help students feel more confident about pursuing an international experience of their own. Florence was one of the most meaningful parts of my college experience, and I hope I can encourage others to take advantage of similar opportunities.

I loved how studying abroad made me more independent. Constantly buying flights and figuring out public transportation in different countries has helped me grow. Living in Europe is a completely different experience than living in the USA. CEA CAPA did an amazing job of helping students with everything along the way. They gave many opportunities to meet people, volunteer, and intern. I really enjoyed taking classes in Spanish, as it is 1 thing to speak a language but different to actually learn content in it.

I went to Granada in the spring of 2026 with only knowing 2 other people from my home university. I also went as part of the early start program (about 1 month before everyone else) and could not recommend it more! There was a small group of us at first, and we became super close with each other and the super amazing CEA staff! We would go on day trips and get to really know our city before anyone else arrived! It was also nice because we got to start classes early and get a feel for the semester. Once school started, we were able to travel and meet new people with the comfort of being familiar with our city, which I think really helped ease the stress of going abroad! My host mom was also the greatest person I could have imagined living with. It was just one woman, but she was so kind, caring, and really wanted to help me in any way she could. She cooked my meals, and we would watch game shows and talk at every mealtime. She helped improve my Spanish so much and made Granada feel like home. The staff in Granada is so great, and they put so much care and effort into what they do, if you are considering Granada, all I can tell you is to GO GO GO! You will not regret it!

I had such a great experience studying abroad in Rome through CEA CAPA. I was able to intern at SciamLab as a Data/AI intern, which gave me the opportunity to gain work experience while also living in and exploring a new country. CEA CAPA was really supportive throughout the entire experience and made the transition to living abroad so much easier. I learned a lot, met so many great people, and made some of my favorite college memories. I would definitely recommend the program to anyone considering studying or interning abroad!

I recommend visiting Tokyo at least once in your life! The city feels futuristic yet retro at the same time! The Summer in Tokyo Program allows college students to connect with local students and learn about Japanese culture. If you are looking for adventure, Tokyo is so vast that their is definitely something for everyone! From video game culture, to traditional Japanese culture the city felt alive! Also pushing yourself outside of your normal environment teaches you about what you really are able to do. The only limit is your willingness to explore and try new things!!

My experience in Granada was overwhelmingly positive. The CEA staff were so kind and helpful. I met a lot of great people through this program. I learned about literature and history in an immersive way. My favorite parts of this program were walking tours of the city, where we would visit historical sites with a guide. In addition to this, the city had so much to offer. There was never a dull moment. I remember walking to brunch after class and walking to tapas in the evening. In five weeks, my Spanish improved a lot. Overall, Granada was a great experience.

I had the time of my life spending the summer in Costa Rica. This program is the perfect fit for you if you love biology, environmental science, learning Spanish, or pre-health, and if you love exploring both city and nature. Costa Rica has some of the best beaches, forests, animals/birds, an awesome night scene, amazing people, and delicious food. You will be pushed outside your comfort zone, but also welcomed to the comfortable home of your host family and a super supportive onsite staff. For true cultural immersion, San Jose is perfect. For beaches and more touristy attractions, a cheap bus ticket can take you just about anywhere. My only drawback was occasional safety concerns, but being sure not to walk alone at night and keeping an eye on your belongings will keep you safe. I would highly recommend this program to any prospective students!

Studying abroad in Madrid, I was able to immerse myself in Spanish culture with the help of CEA CAPA! Included in my program costs was a big beautiful apartment I shared with 8 other girls (which sounded daunting at first, but it truly was so spacious that it didn't even feel like 9 girls lived there), trips to Toledo, Segovia, and Sevilla, a cooking class where we made paella, tortilla de patatas, and a delicious almond cake, a flamenco show that included dinner, tapas night where we sampled different tapas, and visiting a Palace de Aranjuez near Madrid!

My trip abroad to Barcelona was amazing! I did the 5-week summer program and felt it was the perfect amount of time for a long vacation while not missing home too much. I was able to visit additional places like Marseille, Tossa de Mar, Sitges, and Madrid. My favorite part of Barcelona was how walkable it was! We had free transportation cards which were very useful to get from one place to the next. However, if you preferred to walk it was totally doable. Unfortunately, in June/July it was very hot and I wasn't anticipating how much I would sweat. I recommend bringing a fan, handheld or battery powered! Luckily my apartment had A/C and it was definitely necessary after a long day in the sun.
As for the staff, CEA CAPA was extremely helpful. They review cultural practices and expectations with you, give you restaurant and attraction recommendations, and go over safety practices and concerns. There happen to be some conflict among students in my program and the staff addressed it immediately to resolve any issues. Two roommates were having issues and did not want to share a room anymore, the staff were able to find additional housing for one of the girls and were very accommodating.
Overall, the traveling, exploring, and immersion of new culture was the highlight of my trip abroad. And I never felt alone as I was supported by staff every step of the way.