Program Reviews

Bond University has such a welcoming and beautiful feeling to its campus and the members of their community. I made dozens of healthy relationships with people from all over the world who came together at Bond Uni and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Looking back now, jumping into their community and this journey with an open mind and positive attitude shed a new light into my life. I went through such a positive and enjoyable adventure while learning in and outside of the classroom, but most importantly about myself. One of the biggest takeaways for me is that I truly fell in love with learning. It may have been the beautiful Australians or the perfect weather, or a combination of those two and more, but picking up new hobbies or learning more about other cultures and groups is such a privilege. I pick up every local magazine I can find now, and try to chat with someone new each day. All for the love of learning! Now, a month and a half after returning to New Hampshire I can only smile as I just went through this amazing learning experience where I met hundreds of beautiful and genuine people along the way. I am incredibly thankful for everyone involved with this trip and the people are the ones who truly make the difference!

My semester in Limerick was absolutely amazing, I have so many memories that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. I, like others, was nervous about going abroad, but the support I received both before and during my program was outstanding. CIS Abroad really makes sure that you are doing ok, and checks in often. If I ever needed anything, I didn't hesitate to ask! I am so happy that I chose the Limerick program because it was a more authentic experience in my book. Don't get me wrong, Dublin was really cool, but I personally liked being in a smaller city. I felt like I could really connect with the locals. The University of Limerick was great, I really loved all of my classes. It was a little confusing at first because the Irish education system is a bit different than that of America, but I got the hang of it pretty quick! The awesome thing about being an international student at UL is that you get several weeks to try out your classes before registering for them. I liked this because I could go to a few that I was unsure about to see how I felt before committing to them. There are also a lot of opportunities, both with CIS Abroad and the University, to travel around Ireland. Let's face it, while it is so tempting to start traveling to other European countries right away (although I highly recommend you do) it is nice to get to know your country as well. CIS Abroad has onsite directors that organize meals and excursions around Ireland, so you get an insiders look at the beautiful country. I loved that these excursions were an option for us, because it allowed me to see Ireland while taking away the stress of planning the trip. Overall, this was an amazing program, and I wish I could have stayed longer!

I am so grateful for my experience studying abroad in London at the University of Roehampton with CISabroad. The CISabroad team was incredibly patient, knowledgeable and helpful throughout the entire process. I always felt taken care of, and encouraged in my study abroad endeavor. Onsite accommodations were awesome. I chose standard housing and was placed in Bede House with four other CISabroad students. I had my own room, and was provided with bedding and a kitchen set, making moving into my ew space easy. Classes at Roehampton were eye opening, challenging, and engaging. I took part in two "London Studies" courses that specifically encourage international students to explore the city. My two onsite advisors, Anna Bermani and Linda Hallback were absolute inspirations. Both of them worked very hard to customize our experience, and ensured our interests and concerns were always taken care of. Our excursions ranged from market tours on Southbank to a weekend in Edinbrough. I can easily say that these trips with CISabroad enhanced my experience exponentially. Overall I am forever thankful for this life changing experience, which was so much more achievable with the support of CISabroad.

I chose CISabroad because this program looked amazing and my school would only allow two people through the school. I did the program with my bestie Krystal and throughout the process we were guided by one of the advisors. CISabroad is very helpful and get back to you immediately. I enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to worry about housing and if I had any concerns there are people to help you. I had such a great time in Kyoto and I made so many friends in the University as well as the program! There are a lot of things to do in Kyoto like going to the Pokemon center or getting dinner at an Nepalese restaurant. I went to the Nepalese restaurant so many times and I highly recommend it, especially if CISabroad puts you in the Rapport residence because its a 5 minute walk from there. CISabroad provided fun activities for us to do and if I hadn't done this program I would miss out on some special spots in the Kansai region.

Dublin is such an amazing city. It's very multi-cultural, so you'll run into and get to know people from all over the world. I met people from South Africa, Brazil, fellow Americans, and people from all across Europe. Everyone in Ireland is extremely welcoming and friendly. They love to hear all about you and tell you all about themselves. They're truly fascinating people. CisAbroad did an amazing job at making sure that the students would be helped in making sure that we had everything we needed to do or have before we left, when we were there, and even helped us to re-acclimate ourselves to being home. CisAbroad has on-site advisors in each of the countries it has programs in, which is very helpful in case you have questions about certain things or need a guide for figuring out the city. The program also provides cultural excursion trips which let us visit different places in Ireland with the safety of a group and guide. Our on-site advisor in Ireland was great and such a friendly guy. My time in Ireland was the most memorable time of my life thanks to the help of CisAbroad.

This was an incredible journey I embarked on in the Fall of 2018. I headed to London, nervous, excited, and ready for a great experience. What I got was the best 14 weeks of my life, thanks to a great location, school, and CIS abroad. CIS does an amazing job helping you apply, prepare, live abroad, and even return home. The entire experience feels like you're on your own still, and you gain a lot of independence, but its comforting to know CIS staff is always ready to lend a helping hand. Studying abroad should not be a pain, and they understand that and want you to get the best out of your time. Included excursions were some of my favorite memories of studying abroad. Seeing the highlands of Scotland and exploring the U.K including Brighton are times that stick with me looking back. Anytime I had minor problems, with financial aid or in life, the support I received allowed me to feel completely comfortable adjusting into London. It truly is incredible and I am so grateful for CISabroad and the wonderful University of Roehampton, which had a great campus life and international student population. London center is a close distance and something I miss looking back. I am so glad I cherished every moment, the highs and lows, all making for an unforgettable experience.

I studied at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies in Kyoto Japan. During my time there, CIS helped with anything and everything I needed. If they couldn't help, then they found the people that could. The school itself was the best I've ever attended. The facilities were up to date, the staff were helpful, the teachers were patient and knowledgeable. The dorms that I was placed in were more like small apartments, complete with their own bathroom and kitchenette. They were small, but very comfortable. As for fun time, there was a lot to do. There were plenty of things to discover, plus CIS prepared their own excursions for us. I met many different people, natives and foreigners alike, and made a lot of great friends. Overall, this was singlehandedly the best experience I've had, and I look forward to the spring semester.

Studying abroad in Stirling, Scotland was the best decision I ever made. The people there are so kind, and the Scottish land is stunning. I felt so supported while there, and I made so many great friends from around the US and the world. The University itself is gorgeous, and the international student staff was great. There are three housing options we were able to choose from. I lived in Alexander Court, which was nice, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend. It was one of the older buildings and was also quite far from the center of campus (about a 20 minute walk). If you can, try to live in Willow Court which is a much more central option. I would also recommend the off-campus housing on Union Street, because you will be right in town and have easy access to grocery stores, nightlife, the train station, and whatever else you may need. I would recommend Stirling to anyone who wants to go abroad!

This program was a lifesaver! My university requires Japanese major students to study abroad for at least one semester, however, I learned that due to complications that they would be only allowing two students to go through the school. Since my best friend Jenny and I wanted to be placed in the same school we decided it would be best to look for a third party program; and I am so glad we chose CISabroad! From the get-go the program was super organized. They had a portal set up so that I could see what paperwork I had to get done and when. Also, I was immediately set up with an advisor that I could get in contact with super easily throughout the whole process (this was extremely helpful when it came time to do visa applications!). Once I got to Japan, they gave us a fun orientation in Tokyo where we got to browse all of the local hotspots and get to know our site director, Jeff (he is amazing!). The whole time that we were there we could contact Jeff at literally any hour and he would get back to us super quickly. He also took us on excursions throughout the trip, like getting to see a Shinto ceremony at a shrine (that was closed only for us!), or feeding deer at Nara! It was absolutely amazing!

My semester in Rome with CIS was easily my favorite semester of college. A year later, I am reminiscing on the incredible experience I embarked on last January. I immediately felt at home even though I was in a different country because of how the program gets you acclimated to your new city and school. What I thought was really cool about CIS was how they incorporate excursions around Rome and Italy with your group to show you the beauty of your new home at no extra cost. The school was great for my interests, which include international relations and business. Rome proved to be a center location with access to all of Italy and abroad, thanks to the easy-to-use train system and multiple airports within the city. Rome is like a second home to me, I can't wait to go back!