Program Reviews

Studying abroad in Australia during university had always been a dream of mine and I am so happy I was able to go with a TEAN/ISA program! This program was extremely helpful and supportive throughout my application process, once I arrived in Sydney, all the way until it was time to head back home to the US. The staff are always available to answer any and all questions applying students may have and provide thorough instructions on how to complete the application process. Once you arrive in Australia, all students attend a 5-day orientation packed with so many fun activities where you get to know your peers and how to best assimilate to the Aussie lifestyle. Throughout the semester, the program hosts multiple different cultural experiences and events. The program provides many resources and point of contacts students can utilize throughout their stay to make their stay as enjoyable as possible. I would highly recommend for everyone to study abroad during their time in university, and if you choose to do so, go with a TEAN/ISA program! You will not regret it, the memories will last a lifetime!

I absolutely loved my time abroad. The TEAN staff were incredibly accommodating and helpful. Throughout the semester, our contact in Australia took us on trips around Sydney, from tours of the Opera House to surfing on Bondi Beach. Additionally, they contacted us often with lots of useful information before the program started. We also had the opportunity to go on excursions to other parts of Australia and the surrounding countries. I was able to take a weekend trip to Melbourne and a week trip to Fiji beforehand. There I made some amazing friends and lifelong memories. During the semester, I studied at UNSW in Sydney and had the most magical time. Studying abroad is definitely worth it.

Thank you TEAN for giving me the experience of a lifetime! Four months after my study abroad I still think about Australia every single day. I dream about my daily beach walks and swimming in the aqua waters. Pretend that my drip coffee is as good as their lattes and make my own smashed avocado toast and wonder what they do different. I text my abroad friends daily and we reminisce on the good ole days. Somehow all the trips, beach days, classes, and movie nights in the apartment helped me develop into a more independent and open-minded person. None of this would’ve been possible without TEAN. They made helped every step of the way starting with helping find us deals on flights, organizing an orientation where we spent a couple days meeting everyone in the program, setting up the best housing, and even having fun events throughout the semester before helping us get back home. I have struggled to find a critique for TEAN but my only complaint is that I am graduating and can’t do it again!

I must start by saying that my time abroad in New Zealand was absolutely the best experience of my life. I stayed there for the full 6 months that my student visa allowed me to, and I am so grateful to have gone through TEAN's program. I met some of my best friends (from all over the globe), went on multiple road trips around the entire country, walked on a glacier, surfed, and so much more.

TEAN was absolutely AMAZING. They were always just a quick email or phone call away if I needed anything. My university did not have any courses pre-approved for the University of Otago, but TEAN helped me immensely throughout this pre-approval process. Additionally, I was very unsure about what university I wanted to study abroad at in New Zealand. I switched around three times before settling on the University of Otago! TEAN was so incredibly flexible and understanding and helped me ultimately decide on Otago (which was undoubtedly the right choice for me).

The TEAN representatives at the University of Otago were also outstanding. They were Kiwis (from New Zealand), and were a great resource for any questions about Kiwi culture, recommendations for travel, food, or just about anything! They went above and beyond to plan fun outings for their TEAN students. What I really appreciated was that they were there if we needed them, but they also let us explore and have our own individual experiences. Planned events were frequent enough to keep in touch and check in, but spaced out enough to let us explore on our own. I really can't say enough good things about how TEAN takes care of its students while they are abroad, while still allowing them to be independent with their experience. Thank you TEAN!!

Dunedin is amazing. I've been home for a few months and I'm ready to go back. TEAN made the transition to New Zealand go smoothly and relieved a lot of my (and my parents') arrival stress. TEAN's orientation sets you up for success and the continued events during the semester showed me attractions in Dunedin that I did not know existed. The outdoors were incredibly accessible and close and every place that I visited was my new favorite location. The whole country is right out of an adventure blog. I traveled as much as my class schedule would allow for, but still have a massive list of everything that I still want to see. Dunedin and New Zealand will always hold a place in my heart.

Deciding to study at the University of Queensland in Brisbane through TEAN was by far the best decision I have made. Throughout the process of deciding on which school I wanted to study at and looking at classes, TEAN was extremely helpful. My experience in Australia began in Cairns with TEAN orientation. This was a great opportunity to meet other students and begin to embrace the Australian culture. Orientation also included a snorkeling trip to the Great Barrier Reef, white water rafting, skydiving, and a trip to Hartley's Crocodile Zoo where we got to see koalas and kangaroos. Brisbane was such a beautiful city and always so many things going on such as farmers markets and concerts and festivals. Our Brisbane TEAN advisor also scheduled various events and check-ins for us throughout the semester to make sure we were adjusting smoothly. I loved all my classes at the University of Queensland and also had lots of opportunities to get involved and join clubs. Studying abroad through this program I have also met such awesome friends that I know I will have the rest of my life. I highly recommend this program, I only have positive things to say about it!!

This program is one of the best short term winter programs I have done. Korea University has a beautiful campus and great facilities. The professors were also amazing. I was able to take a class accredited for my major (Communication major) and have the chance to learn and then participate in Korean culture. I got an insight into Korean popular culture and how it is influential worldwide. I understand now. It is worthwhile to see the love for Korean culture (kdrams, kpop, Korean health and beauty products) and where it comes from. The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) also was very supportive. They provided support pre-departure and in-country. Before departing, there was a pre-departure orientation where we got to hear about the logistics upon arrival and during the program. We had a welcome and farewell dinner from TEAN. Also, in-country, the resident director was amazing. They gave great recommendations and were always responsive through Kakao Talk (Korea's messaging app). TEAN also had cultural activities as part of the program. We had a movie night were we ate Korean pizza and watched a Korean movie. There was a day where we went to the DMZ and Korean War memorial museum. I felt very supported by TEAN and my home university when going abroad. Overall, it was a wonderful experience thanks to TEAN and my university for making it happen! I would go back and do it all over again.

My study abroad experience in Seoul, South Korea was phenomenal. From animal cafes to nightlife the city of Seoul has a lot of extraordinary events. During my time in Seoul, I got to step out of my comfort zone and learn while living in a completely different culture. Each week Korea University hosted cultural events to immerse students into new and fun experiences. From the first to last day in Seoul, TEAN staff were always there and ready to help whenever. TEAN hosted its own orientation of Anam and Korea University before our official KUISC orientation, which I found more efficient and helpful than the one provided by the university. During orientation, TEAN gave us T-Money cards for the metro, which were godsend to our time studying abroad in South Korea. During the course of KUISC, I made amazing friends that I cannot picture my life without now.
During the Summer, the Korea University campus is full of greenery. The campus architecture makes the University look like a modern-day castle. In the Summer, the temperature is scorching, and the sky is mostly sunny. Located in the campus underground area, there is KU study rooms, a Morning Glory (stationary store), a CU (convenience store), cafes and restaurants, a cafeteria, and KU Optical. While classes were in session, I got to connect with knowledgeable professors in their field and learn in a small class setting, which facilitated the learning process. Professors hold office hours in addition to teaching classes, which are very useful. If you take third to fourth-year level classes, it will be difficult, but I learned great study habits during my time abroad.

The Education Abroad Network made preparing to study abroad easy! They were always just an email or phone call away before and during my semester abroad. At the University of Newcastle I joined two student organizations that really defined my experience and made it unforgettable. In the Newcastle University Mountaineering Club I met a bunch of really cool Australians that were welcoming and willing to teach others. The University of Newcastle Exchange Student Network was great for meeting students from Australia and all over the world.

These were some of the best weeks of my life! I arrived nervous about going to a new country without knowing anyone else on the trip, and I left wishing that we'd had more time there! I loved every moment, but my favorite parts were hiking in the Blue Mountains, surfing in Byron Bay, and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. We learned about conservation in the classroom and on hikes, and we were both able to have intimate experiences with nature and experience city life. Our teachers were so knowledgeable and made class really interesting! It was only three weeks, but we saw and experienced so much in that time. Still, I wished we could have stayed longer! This is the perfect trip for adventurers and nature lovers alike!