Program Reviews

To begin with, Freiburg is a great place to spend a semester in. But what makes the whole experience so special is the much support and love that the whole IES Abroad Freiburg community gives.

Moving around is very easy because of good public transport infrastructure. And the food is so good. The Munster Markt is a great place to get local produce, ensure you try the Brotwurst with käse.

Take advantage of the opportunities to meet locals. Attend social events at the Stulinger park, go dancing at the Mensa garten, and even seek a volunteer opportunity if you can.

My experience with IES Barcelona was life-changing. I lived in a Residence Hall in Sant Marti, where my commute to class was 30 minutes every day by train. The public transportation in Barcelona is affordable, clean, safe, and easy to use, so navigating the public transportation was one of my highlights. The school location was in the city center with incredible views just down the street. I enjoyed studying by the Cathedral of Barcelona, which was only a six-minute walk from our classes! The courses were not too difficult but highly interesting. I took an Art History course where I had the opportunity to learn about the history of Art Nouveau pieces around the city of Barcelona. I also had the opportunity to take a History of Contemporary Spain class, where I was able to broaden my horizons in the Political Science field and compare US history and government to the history and government of Spain. In between work weeks, I was also able to travel. The Barcelona airport is a hub for international travel, so I was able to take exciting trips to several new locations. Overall, this program was the perfect study abroad experience where I became more independent and learned so much about the world.

My experience studying with IES Abroad in Rabat was truly life changing! In the four incredible months I spent studying in Morocco, my perspective was transformed, and I now have several lifelong relationships from my time with IES. The small and tightly-knit community that formed here amongst students, program staff, and faculty, as well as our loving and hospitable host families, contributed to a warm, inclusive, and welcoming environment. We were not afraid to make mistakes and embraced the thrill and challenge of living in a new country/culture. IES staff went above and beyond to ensure my classmates and I felt supported and safe, and enjoyed our experiences in Morocco. Navigating culture shock and language barriers became much more doable and fulfilling with the preparation IES gave us via our cultural readiness programming. Our classes were rigorous yet enjoyable, with many opportunities for students to expand their knowledge in fields of interest to them, including having access to both research and internship opportunities. Our professors encouraged us to make the msot of our experiences in Morocco, both personally and academically, offering additional supports for integration and immersion. The IES Center hosted weekly cultural activities and field trips which exposed us to the diversity of our host country, while furthering our language acquisition and cultural immersion. also becoming immersed in Moroccan culture. Without a doubt, I would recommend IES Rabat to any students looking for an immersive and exciting study abroad experience different from a typical exchange semester.

I studied abroad in Barcelona for 7 weeks, where I had the incredible opportunity to immerse myself in the local culture and meet amazing people. My coursework in Great 20th Century Artists and Spanish Language deepened my global perspective! In my normal day to day, I would spend time with my friends on the beach, studying in a cafe, or exploring what the city had to offer. I'm grateful to IES Abroad's dedicated professors and staff, and the friends I made along the way, who made the experience absolutely unforgettable!

Coming out of the worst time of my life last year, I had little to look forward to until I found IES’s Nagoya Summer: Language and Culture program. The application process was incredibly smooth and quick, and once I was accepted, so were the travel forms and health information. Arriving with the other IES students for orientation and some field trips, we were able to form connections early while acclimating to Japan and its wonders. And as we got settled into Nanzan at our respective dorms and with host families, making more friends was even easier.

Classes at Nanzan didn’t even feel like work. I found myself looking forward to going every day despite the 20 minute trek to school. It is inspiring being able to learn a language in its country of origin, while also getting to take electives and art classes to round out your experience.

Apart from that, we had a lot of free time (depending how many electives you took). Nagoya has so much to offer. My friends and I would go out for lunch or dinner around various subway stations after class, frequent the izakayas and karaoke places on the weekends, and sometimes take day trips to places like Tokyo and Osaka. IES went above and beyond with this- we had a built-in weekend trip to Kyoto including our own tour guide, an art activity, and an itinerary of all the best sites to visit.

My professors were wonderful, and along with the other staff at Nanzan, worked with IES to make sure we were all safe and comfortable. When I had a spot of trouble with organizing my housing, the IES program coordinators, the CJS (Center for Japanese Studies) staff, and the international director at Nanzan were all there to support me.

Throughout the summer I participated in IES’s Correspondent Program as a photographer. It was amazing to record pictures of us having the time of our lives and think about how these could help future students who are looking at this program. After returning to the US, I also applied to the Ambassadors program and had a lot of fun helping the IES table at Penn State’s Education Abroad fair. I’ve been inspired to change my major to Japanese language, and I plan to participate in the JET (Japan English Teaching) program. So not only did the program give me an awesome summer, it keeps impacting me, my career path, and my hopes for the future!

The amount of support I received from the staff at IES Abroad Berlin was phenomenal. Anytime I had questions about who to go to for an issue I was having or if I needed to talk to someone, there was always someone to hear me out. My internship was also a wonderful experience as I got to work with people from different cultures and had the opportunity to work in multiple different areas and not just focus on one, which I feel helped me work better with the team as a whole. My classroom time taught me a lot about the workplace structure between the U.S. and Germany and how they compare.

Cape Town is an ideal destination for those seeking a summer with a bit of everything. If you’re a nature lover, this city is a dream-Table Mountain hikes, national parks, safaris, and beaches that look unreal. If you enjoy city life, Cape Town has amazing nightlife, concerts, markets, and some of the best food from every corner of the world. You’ll never run out of things to do. With that being said, be very mindful of your spending. Things, especially food, might seem cheap if you are coming from a more expensive country, but they slowly add up.

My weekly schedule consisted of Mondays through Thursdays at my internship site, which was at the Scalabrini Center of Cape Town, and Fridays in an internship seminar. The Friday class gave us space to talk about South African work culture, the history of Cape Town, and the challenges or discoveries we were experiencing. It was also a great time to bond with the other interns and feel grounded in our purpose.

One thing future students should know: if you want to meet locals, you have to go out of your way. The program itself is mostly international students, so your best chance to connect with South Africans is through your internship site, going to local events, joining clubs or sports, or initiating conversations. It’s absolutely worth the effort, but don’t expect it to happen automatically. People are very friendly and genuinely interested in learning about you, so don't be scared to strike up conversations with the locals.

Overall, I truly loved my summer. Cape Town offers incredible growth, beauty, and experiences, and my internship allowed me to learn in a hands-on and meaningful way. It’s a program for anyone who wants adventure, independence, and a deeper understanding of a complex, vibrant city with a rich history.

For anyone interested in Politics, International Relations, the EU, or traveling, this is a fantastic program for you!

We learned so much about the 7 EU branches and even had a Model EU final project (I represented Italia). I am still in touch with the 34 other students in the program.

It was really cool to see so many political sites, including the EU Parliament in Strasbourg, the Swedish Parliament, and the EEAS, Commission, and Council of Ministers in Brussels. We also went to a Ukrainian mission. Being able to visit these government buildings and interact with representatives made understanding the EU more real and comprehensive as opposed to reading from a textbook. I learned so much!

I loved my time in Santiago. I was there for two months in summer of 2025 and I participated in the health studies program with IES. I think this program did a great job connecting the clinical observations through UC Christus with the content and terminology we were learning in our Spanish for healthcare practitioners class. This program also included fun field trips to the nearby cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar as well as activities such as snowshoe trekking. I also had the opportunity to do some independent travel to the Atacama desert (however it is really chilly in the winter which is when I went) as well as Argentina and Uruguay. If this is something you are interested in I think this program really gives you the opportunity to do that.

IES Abroad Amsterdam has friendly staff that were always kind and responsive. I had tons of questions before my semester, and they were always helpful.

If you are a history major, Amsterdam is a great place to be; there are tons of museums, spanning a wide range of topics, with various language options. With IES Abroad, you can access almost any museum you want for free. It was so fun to explore the city using museums as my guide.

For travelers, Amsterdam has a big airport, that flies direct to most places. While the prices aren't as low as London, planning your trips in advance or being flexible will open up so many options to you.

For people who love night-life, there is an amazing scene in Amsterdam! Intimate bars, crazy clubs, Amsterdam definitely has options for however you like to spend the night.

Something to note, Amsterdam is often rainy and cloudy. I got very lucky my semester; it was sunny and beautiful almost the entire semester! Compared to my home college in Minnesota, the weather was wonderful even in February. Keep in mind your preferences while choosing a location. If you love a cozy rainy day, Amsterdam will provide!

Safety wise, I would say being smart is the most important thing. Only in the most busy spots of the city did I ever worry about my bags; pickpocketing is definitely less present here than Rome for example, but still be aware. I was never really scared for my safety when traversing the city alone as a woman.