Program Reviews

Not only do the program coordinators make you feel comfortable, the people that assisted me from day one to even today, several months after leaving Ireland, make it their priority to help each and every student so they have the best time abroad. The academics at UL were top notch and it felt like there were hundreds of clubs and organizations on campus to join! I ended up playing rugby for UL and my previous experience playing didn't matter, they want everyone to play, no matter their skill set! Regardless of the anxiety I felt before leaving for Ireland and coming home, I knew I was in good hands. The onsite coordinator, John, is the BEST person for the job. He is absolutely delightful and has so much knowledge about traveling to other countries in Europe and throughout Ireland. I honestly was worried about studying abroad because of my financial situation, however, the staff at CIS Abroad assisted me in figuring out how to fund my study abroad experience. AND!!! I was able to receive scholarships from them!

If you are considering studying abroad through CISabroad, do it! I went to Edinburgh from early January to late May of 2019 and it was the best decision I have ever made. CISabroad is an amazing program and we had all the support we needed throughout the entire process, and even now as CIS alumni. Edinburgh has SO much to offer and it is a great location nearby the airport, main train stations, and has a really amazing bus transportation system to help you get around. If we needed anything, CISabroad staff were more than willing to help in any way possible! This program really makes you feel comfortable wherever you go. With a director on-site, we had easy access to assistance and we always knew we had someone to go to when our families were often across the ocean.

This summer I spent eight weeks participating in a Public Health Internship. I was able to get hands-on experience in my career field. In addition to shadowing and observing, I was taught how to give physical exams and was even able to assist! This hands-on experience in the medical field is unparalleled to my participation in the US! I was able to do things I didn't think possible.

I was also able to travel on the weekends and experience things I have never done before! I went scuba diving, visited temples and tried new food all while challenging myself and learning so much about not only my host country, but myself as well! My host family allowed me to have the ultimate cultural immersion. At the end of the summer, I wasn't homesick! I got everything and more out of my abroad experience.

I cannot say enough good things about this experience and this program! CIS Abroad was the perfect fit for me and what I wanted out of my study abroad experience. I made the decision to study abroad on a bit of a whim, and CIS Abroad was there every step of the way to help me along. First, the staff at CIS Abroad's home office in Northampton, MA is absolutely amazing. The people there who helped me were there for me for the entire thing - beginning the process of applying, getting accepted, and all the steps of preparation up until going to the airport and arriving in London! The on-site CIS Abroad staff were amazing, as well. Everyone at CIS Abroad was there to support me, and they all were so genuinely excited to help me on my journey! They even reached out to me multiple times during my program, and even after my program ended, just to chat and hear all about my experiences and see if I needed anything. The University of Westminster was also amazing. The opportunities I had in my classes there were unlike anything I have at my home university. I actually still keep in contact with some of the professors I had abroad (one is even writing a recommendation letter for me!). I stayed at the Marylebone residence hall, and it was amazing! It couldn't have been more perfect for what I wanted. It was right in the heart of London, within walking distance to all of my classes, and the nearest tube station was right across the street! Not only did I have a great experience due to the CIS Abroad staff and the University of Westminster, I also made amazing life-long friends and made irreplaceable memories - and you will too! I cannot express enough how thankful I am to this study abroad program for shaping me into the person I am today. I always thought I knew who I was as a person pretty well, but studying and living abroad taught me things about myself that I never would have discovered had I not gone abroad! So, get excited!!!! By picking this specific program, or another CIS Abroad program, I can guarantee you will have one of the best experiences of your life. :)

I recently went to the Czech Republic this summer with CISabroad and I had an amazing trip! The team of staff members in the United States were incredibly helpful with making sure I had all the paperwork in on time. While I was abroad, my onsite director was very knowledgeable about the area and the lifestyle that people live in the Czech Republic. I also went on a few excursions with CISabroad that were really fun and I don't think I would have been able to go on otherwise! The Czech Republic is a very beautiful country with an incredibly rich and fascinating history. I would recommend this study abroad company to any college student considering an abroad experience, not only because they are really nice people, but also because their programs are super affordable!!

Honestly, every day in Peru there was a reason to smile and be ready for the day. I woke up at 8 AM every morning (very early for me) and never once had a complaint. Each morning I looked forward to my walk, grabbing fruit from a local market, or grabbing a drink with friends while watching the soccer games. CIS allowed me to make my study abroad my own, but made sure I was safe throughout. I never once was afraid for my safety while abroad, admittedly I had a small panic attack when arriving to Lima, Peru after not sleeping for 20 hours and arriving in a different country by myself for the first time ever, but after getting some food and water, I calmed down and realized that I could do it. That moment was when I started my own personal change, I hit the reset button on everything I knew in the United States and embraced everything that was coming my way, and that was the greatest decision I could have made. Study in Peru, end of story. It turned into the best time of my life.

Thanks to CISabroad, I not only went to Italy, I experienced the culture! CISabroad had a staff member on-site that would lead scheduled events to teach us more about living in Sorrento, Italy. We had events such as a lemon garden tour, a coffee/pastry breakfast at a local cafe, and a day trip to Napoli! If I did not study with CIS, I would not have had the experience I did. Additionally, CIS was great with helping me get settled in my living situation and did a great job with roommates! They have a quiz they send out so they can match you up with a good roommate for the month (or semester!). I actually am going to be meeting up with a couple of my roommates from the trip here in about a month! Overall the experience was beautiful and fulfilling, enriching my life with culture.

Rome is the absolute perfect place to spend an entire month just exploring. Its rich history and famous culture are definitely something worth seeing (and trying)! There is something new to do and see every day! The public transportation system is easy to navigate and there are plenty of English-speakers, which makes communication so much easier. The university is very nice and I feel as though I learned a lot from the classes I took. I took an Italian language class and a History of Modern Europe class, and even now I reflect on what I learned in those classes while attending school at home. CISabroad was very helpful in organizing several trips for the students and that made us more familiar with our area. By the end of my trip, I knew so much about life in Rome that I felt like a local.

In the fall of 2018, I realized I wanted to study abroad. So, after researching a few programs, I decided to study on the Amalfi Coast in Italy! I went through a program called CIS Abroad, who helped me to plan everything - from a basic packing list, to information about the student Visa process, to financial planning!
I loved Sorrento, where Sant'Anna Institute (the abroad school) was located, as it was a very authentic Italian experience; bigger cities such as Rome or Florence tend to be more high-density tourist attractions, which hinder traditional Italian culture. For the semester, I lived in a dorm located in the same building as my classrooms. Sant'Anna provided very safe and clean housing as well as access to kitchen spaces and balconies. The staff helped with any travel questions we had, and the teachers cared deeply about our success as students as well as young travelers.

Melbourne is a fantastic city to study abroad in! There is so much culture to experience- sports, festivals, concerts, restaurants, bars, and so so much more. There's also a lot of incredible nature right nearby in Victoria, and many naturally beautiful areas to check out all across Australia and in nearby New Zealand. As far as location, I cannot recommend Melbourne strongly enough! I had an incredible experience that is not available in most other locations within Australia and New Zealand due to the size of Melbourne and its reputation of being welcoming to people from all over the world. The University of Melbourne also offers a lot of fantastic academic opportunities and social experiences. As far as my experience with CIS, I think they did a good job and gave me what was promised. But if you can get into Melbourne with a different program for less, I would say that's fine.