CEA CAPA Education Abroad Reviews

The French Riviera is a stunningly beautiful place. Every day, you get to walk along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and look upon the snow-capped French Alps. I regularly take walks and runs along the peninsula of Antibes for exercise and enjoy the beautiful views. And because of the school's (Skema) class schedule, you can typically arrange your class schedule to a few days a week, allowing you to have extended weekends to explore more of the French and European scenery. While I studied abroad, I had the privilege of traveling to 11 different countries. Simultaneously, I had the opportunity to connect with other students from around the US and around the world, hearing their stories, experiences, and backgrounds.

The CEA CAPA London Education program was life-changing! I learned so much about English culture: common slang, social cues, food, clothing, and more, but most importantly, I discovered a lot about myself. I gained new interests like renaissance and landscape oil paintings from browsing the National Portrait Gallery. I realized I enjoy spontaneity if I am well-rested and have a fully charged phone, and I am willing to step away from my color-coded schedules sometimes. And I am much more capable than I give myself credit for. I can find my way home even when I somehow end up in Waterloo which is several tubes stop away. I can make a $2,000 personal budget stretch for 3 months without sacrificing my hand painted coffee coasters from Wales or my "Mind the Gap" T-shirt from a stand in Camden Market.

And I can ask for help even when I am embarrassed.

Like all study abroad experiences, my time in London had its difficulties. However, the CEA CAPA staff were incredibly supportive and made me feel like I was not alone. For example, they were patient with me as I navigated a new ADHD diagnosis, and made sure I had the learning accommodations I needed. Also, they came and picked me up in an Uber when I was running late to class after locking myself out of my flat. In addition, they helped me find more accessible routes for my service dog, Rosemary, and I, so we did not struggle during commutes. And, best of all, they advocated for me when Rosemary and I ran into public access issues during a field trip to the football stadium.

Surprisingly, I was the very first student from Hollins University to bring a service dog abroad. It's not easy being the first, but CEA CAPA helped me carry the burden of paving the path for other service dog teams who may set foot in London. The staff even awarded Rosemary a "Best Dog" certificate and a dog toy of a Tube train (which is already losing some stuffing, but still intact! LOL) that I will cherish forever. I could not have felt more special.

I will always be grateful! Thank you, CEA CAPA!

When I initially decided to study abroad, Seville actually wasn’t where I planned on going. I had originally applied for a program in Valencia, but it filled up extremely quickly, so I pivoted and chose CEA CAPA Seville instead. I wasn’t disappointed about the change, but I knew very little about Seville and had no idea what to expect. Looking back, I’m so grateful things worked out the way they did because I left Spain feeling like there truly is no other city in the world quite like Seville.

One of the things that made my experience so special was the people I met. CEA CAPA brought together students from colleges and universities all across the United States, which gave me the chance to form friendships with people I probably never would have met otherwise. Some of my favorite memories from studying abroad are with the people I met through the program, whether we were exploring the city, going out at night, trying new food, traveling for the weekend, or just spending time together in Seville.

I also completely fell in love with the city itself. Seville has such a distinct personality, from the Andalusian culture and food to the architecture, history, nightlife, and energy of the city. There was always something to see or do, but over time it also became familiar enough to feel like home. My classes added another layer to the experience by allowing me to learn about Spanish history and culture while actually being surrounded by it every day. There is something completely different about learning about a country's culture while being able to walk outside of class and experience it for yourself.

Studying in Seville also gave me an incredible opportunity to travel. I was able to explore other parts of Spain, visit surrounding European countries, and even travel to another continent when I went to Morocco. Traveling was definitely a highlight of my time abroad, but one of the best feelings was coming back from a trip and realizing how excited I was to be back in Seville.

What started as an unexpected change of plans became one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. I went into the program knowing very little about Seville and left with a genuine love for the city, its culture, and the people and memories that made it feel like home. Seville was an unexpected surprise in every sense, and I truly could not imagine my study abroad experience happening anywhere else.

Studying abroad in Seville with CEA Abroad was one of the best decisions I made during college. Seville was the perfect city for me because it had everything I wanted from living in a city while still feeling intimate, welcoming, and deeply connected to Spanish culture. I loved getting to know the local community, building relationships with my professors, exploring beyond the tourist areas, and experiencing everyday life in Seville.
One of the highlights of my program was having the opportunity to teach English to 10-year-old Spanish-speaking students at a local school each week. It gave me a completely different connection to the city and allowed me to experience the importance of family, community, and generational relationships in Seville firsthand. It became something I looked forward to every week and was one of the experiences that made Seville truly feel like home.
CEA Abroad also gave me the opportunity to grow in ways I did not expect. Being away from home and everything familiar could be challenging at times, but I learned that so much of studying abroad is finding peace and joy in the uncomfortable. I came home more independent, confident, and comfortable with change.
My biggest advice to future students is to fully embrace the experience. Meet locals, ask questions, try new things, explore beyond the places everyone recommends, and don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. The more I immersed myself in Seville, the more meaningful my experience became. I would choose to study abroad again in a heartbeat!

Over the summer I spent 8 weeks abroad studying engineering and math in Prague and I can only say good things about this program. My time abroad not only made me a better engineer and student, but helped me to gain confidence and experience that I would not have had studying at home. Prague is a perfect city for history, sightseeing, and travel to other European countries. Classes and student resources in this program are fantastic, CEA CAPA does a fantastic job making sure that students are cared for and have the opportunities they need to thrive in a new and unfamiliar environment and I cannot recommend this program enough.

Last Spring I had the chance to live in Florence, Italy for 3 1/2 months. In that time span, not only did I complete classes towards my degree in my University in the States but I also got to experience the "way of life" in a whole other matter. I would choose to do this over and over again if I could, and would not change a thing! I ended going by myself and meeting 7 other random girls at our loft apartment in Florence and immediately creating life long friendships with them. Walking to class everyday, grabbing a snack at appretivo hour, and climbing Michelangelo during my free time are all things that I took for granted for being back in the States now, and my main goal is to spread the idea that EVERYONE should go abroad once, to create life-long memories.

Studying abroad through the CEA CAPA program in Barcelona was the best decision I've ever made. I visited places I never thought I would, make so many amazing friendships, and found a new home thousands of miles away. This program in particular gave me the opportunity to volunteer at a local elementary school, which was one of the most impactful parts of my experience. I was so nervous going in, but I am so happy I went. I grew so much from this experience in terms of independence, confidence, communication skills, etc. I cannot recommend this program enough!

My experience studying abroad with CEA CAPA in Barcelona was truly amazing. I had high expectations going into the program, and they were completely exceeded. My apartment was in a great neighborhood that felt extremely safe while still giving me an authentic, local experience. It was also close to everything, which made it so easy to walk around and explore the city every day. I also had a great experience with my classes. My professors were extremely understanding and supportive, which made balancing academics with everything else that comes with studying abroad much easier. The CEA CAPA staff was incredibly welcoming and played such a big role in making my experience as great as it was. They offered so many activities, events, and opportunities that helped me meet people, experience Barcelona, and feel comfortable living in a city so far from home. Overall, studying abroad in Barcelona was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, and I’m so grateful I chose to do it through CEA CAPA. I would absolutely recommend the program to anyone considering studying abroad!

I really loved my time abroad in London while studying at the University of Westminster! I think it was a eventful and enriching experience for both my academic and personal skills. I highly enjoyed the Crime classes I got to take there with my professor and peers, who later became my close friends. I also think I grew a lot character-wise, I learned to become more independent and how to adapt and function in a completely new environment. I truly think it is a great experience for anyone considering study abroad.

My experience with CEA CAPA was so memorable and flourishing toward my growth personally and professionally. I studied and interned at Marriott International in the Human Resource department. I got exposed into an international internship which was a great opportunity as a sophomore. I was able to have a good class and work schedule to manage visiting 13 countries while abroad in the spring semester of 2026! I met many students from America as well, which felt more like home when going to school.