IES Abroad Reviews

I spent Fall 2014 in Vienna with IES and it was one of the best decisions I have made in my time in college so far. I had studied German for two semesters before arriving in Vienna, but I was definitely not that confident in my speaking ability at first. However, the intensive German classes and my language pledge apartment helped me develop my skills and have fun speaking German as much as I could. I especially enjoyed the option to take a class in German in which we got to visit numerous cultural sites and many of the outstanding museums in Vienna with German speaking guides. It is a fantastic way to feel like a part of the Austrian community, to see Operas in German, or the Wiener Philharmonic or wander through the Kunsthistorisches Museum or Belvedere (Both famous art museums). And all of these opportunities are available to you whether or not you speak German well or just like to try like me. The city is incredibly easy to get around and well laid out. The IES community is also quite open and friendly. There are many opportunities (from filed trips, to small classes, or even just meeting in the famous Café houses at random) to develop lasting friendships and have your horizons expanded not just from an international perspective but also through classmates from all over the US. Fall is an excellent time to study in Vienna as you begin with summer, witness the leaves changing in fall and still are around to experience the Christmas Markets and the first of the balls in the fairytale Ball Season. However, I utterly recommend the experience any time of year. Vienna is well worth the trip and IES will help you make the most of it.

As overwhelmingly massive the city of London could be, I had never found myself so connected to the people in the city. From your very arrival, the IES London staff is hyper accommodating to get you settled in as quickly as possible. From there, the city was mine to explore for four months. I would constantly explore different districts and be fascinated by the astonishing street art in Shoreditch or the array of delicious food in Camden Lock. I would pleasantly interact with different people every single day and even recognize locals as they explore their own city. It’s a little easier to make friends in London it seemed. Maybe its because I could ask the staff exactly what suited my interests and they’d lead me in the right places, or maybe it’s because it seems everyone looks into your eyes in London, something I found hard to come by on my way home through Miami International airport. The city is full of charm, excitement, art, and beauty giving the sense that everyone is welcome. The public transportation alone makes you feel like you can travel the world instantly. Besides the sheer enjoyment of everyday life in London and all of the wonders it has to give to its residences, the IES program and time abroad is an incredibly fulfilling learning experience. The teachers hired by this program are brilliant professors and really make you reflect on your own thoughts and desires to ultimately help you grow. Sometimes it’s hard to grow when everyone around doesn’t seem familiar or perhaps, doesn’t know you. But the independence that you develop and is required to capture the most out of London comes quick and with many friends along the way. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve seen, the spontaneity of my life at the time helped shape one of the most positive experiences of my life. For the hundreds of friends I met along the way, I know it did for them to.

When I first came to Freiburg, I had no idea what to expect. My German hadn't seen much use outside the classroom, this was my first time living abroad, and I knew that I would not know anybody involved in the program. The affair could have gone in a few directions. It ended up being one of the best experiences of my life.

The IES Abroad staff created a community of individuals, a whole comprised of students from vastly different academic backgrounds. By providing us with numerous resources (ranging from the helpful "Cool Places to Go" to the essential "What To Do & Where To Go If Anything Bad Should Befall You"), our lovely administrative staff gave us a solid foundation which in turn made us feel more comfortable branching out in our own directions. While feeling always welcomed to attend IES events where I would get to know my fellow students better, I never believed myself put upon by the program, never saw my attendance at said events as being obligatory. In short, as I was getting settled in, IES was there if I ever needed them yet gave me room to pursue my personal plans (i.e. international travel).

Freiburg itself is among the most beautiful cities I've ever visited and I plan to return! The people were quite friendly and always willing/able to switch into English if need be. Though there are some labyrinthine parts of the city, the ubiquity of maps allowed for safe navigation while the exemplary public transportation system facilitated my dorm-to-class commute. (One could buy either a bike or a Strassenbahn Semester Ticket for a reasonable amount; having a personal preference for reading/looking out windows while traveling, I chose the Strassenbahn Semester Ticket). The Black Forest is, besides being readily accessible (especially with the Semester Ticket, which at designated time intervals allows one to take regional trains for free), nothing less than utterly absorbing in its beauty. In fact, from the Münster to the numerous art museums, this city was brimming with top-notch aesthetic experiences.

All in all, the IES Language/Area Studies Program in Freiburg was so much more than the typical study abroad experience. It was another home - and still is, for me. I look forward to returning to this wonderful city, reminisce about old memories, and make many new ones!

Going abroad to Madrid with IES was a great experience. The staff is extremely professional and truly cares that each student has a good experience. The classes are excellent as they are all taught by professors from the Universidad Compultense de Madrid, the best university in Madrid. My favorite was definitely Velázquez, Goya and El Greco at the Prado Museum as each class took place at the world-renowned Prado Museum and the class was taught by a curator from the museum. I lived with a host family in Madrid. While I was initially very nervous about it, it ended up to be one of my best decisions while abroad as it allowed me to be fully immersed in the culture and to practice my Spanish. There are no classes on Friday which allow students to have an opportunity to travel both in and around Spain and throughout Europe. Additionally, IES offers field trips every weekend in Madrid to sites such as the Royal Palace or the Botanical Gardens or to nearby cities such as Toledo and Segovia. Another benefit of the program is its size. I went in the fall of 2014 and there were 50 students. This allowed everyone to know each other, but it never felt too small. Overall, I would highly recommend going abroad to Madrid with IES to any motivated student looking to study abroad in a cosmopolitan city in a Spanish speaking country.

I had an absolutely amazing time in Freiburg. IES does a great job organizing the program. The staff was very friendly and helpful. My German improved drastically. All the classes in this program are taught in German, and I greatly enjoyed the cultural immersion aspect of the program as well. I learned so much about Germany and the region of Baden-Württemburg, as well as the history of Freiburg. The living situation was great, as I lived in Händelstrasse, a student apartment building in a pretty affluent area. My three roommates were all German, and we spoke mostly German around the apartment, which helped improve my language skills as well. Furthermore, Freiburg is a very safe place to live and study. I never felt uncomfortable or like I was in danger, even walking back to my dorm late at night.
Overall, the semester I spent in Freiburg was one of the best experiences of my life, and I would definitely recommend the program.

My experience in London through the IES Abroad Study London program harbored personal independence and growth that I can apply to all aspects of my life. IES Abroad provides a gentle guide for students while allowing them to be independent discoverers of the world around them and receptive learners of the cultures in which they immerse themselves. Within weeks of the program, I had become well-acquainted with and an avid navigator of London. During my time in London, I discovered strength in adaptation and a heightened confidence in my abilities. I became fully self-reliant and learned how to budget and cook for myself. The coursework in which I partook was valuable and engaging, and the internship component of the program rose above and beyond my expectations. Through my experience with my internship, I was able to work with a variety of talented and accomplished individuals form the UK and Europe. The environment of the workplace was highly interactive and communicative, which provided me the opportunity to sharpen my professional communication skills. I learned about the inner-workings of a large-scale organization and made contacts with whom I plan to maintain life-long connection. Additionally, I cultivated valuable friendships with other students in my program who share similar life ambitions and who will remain an important part of my personal growth journey. The impact that my study abroad experience had on me was a product of my actions, the location, and the IES Abroad program. The IES Abroad program provides support and opportunities that facilitate an enriching growth of perception and understanding of the world that positively impacts the way in which one chooses to lead all areas of his/her life.

This program is new so there were a lot of knots that needed to be untied, but overall my experience was not a bad one as so much as me getting out of my comfort zone. From day one I had to learn the bus system and how to navigate the city and to be totally independent. My host mom though really sweet was not the doting mother, she cared but she still gave you boundaries. The classes were OK as with any institution you will have some good some bad. Overall I had a good experience

When I decided to study abroad, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. London, England was the only choice for me. I wanted to learn everything that I possibly could from the extraordinary people in this wonderful city. My ten-year goal at the time was to actually live in London, England and establish a life for myself there. I wanted to use my study abroad experience as a sort of "tester" for eventually living there.
I chose IES Abroad because it offered a flexible program that could work with both my majors. I am currently pursuing a double-degree in theatre and business marketing at my home university and wanted a program in which I was able to study both of these subjects. IES Abroad London - Theatre Studies program allowed me to focus on my theatre classes and be with fellow theatre majors while also taking additional business classes.
IES Abroad also makes it SUPER easy to travel while doing a semester abroad, but it is not required to travel independently. I participated in almost all of IES Abroad's travel programs and was not disappointed. I visited all of the places that I wanted and learned even more about the country itself.
After a semester abroad, I really wanted to come home to the States, but the IES Abroad program staff and professors made this one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

The housing conditions were very clean and spacious, like an American hotel. The program included multiple fun excuursions and field trips, both as part of the curriculum and part of the program. We were given free time to explore on our own was well. All in all I would definitely recommend IES Shanghai, the program was small which made it feel more personal. Studying abroad was one of the best experiences of my life and completely unforgettable.

My experience in Granada was much more transformative than I had ever expected. I grew more, learned more spanish, made more mistakes, and made many, many more lifelong, remarkable relationships and experiences than I had ever expected. Going to Spain, I knew that living in a completely new country would change me in some way, but I never could have imagined to what extent. I became a much more independent and adventurous person, and Granada was the perfect place to develop these characteristics. I grew attached to the city, and by the end it was really hard for me and the rest of my program to leave. The hilly, close-knit barrios, incredible views of the 13th century Alhambra fortress, historic buildings, and snowy Sierra Nevada mountains on the horizon make up an amazing setting in which to live, study, and explore. The endless tapas restaurants, quaint cafes, hiking trails, sports fields, schools, museums, and theaters provide a multitude of activities to constantly entertain oneself. However, I believe that it was the people that truly made my abroad experience in Granada so wonderful. I was surrounded by a friendly, open community who were willing to help me with anything, but also willing to push me out of my comfort zone. Granada was the perfect place for me to spend the semester abroad, and I would recommend it to any student looking for a unique, adventurous, fascinating abroad experience.