IES Abroad Reviews

I absolutely loved my abroad experience with the IES French Studies Program. I decided to apply to the program because I wanted to further my french language skills by taking full french classes. The courses were both challenging but insightful into the French activities. They give the student the option to be as involved or as little involve in the IES organized activities. They make sure that the students have all the tools to have an eventful semester. The administration was approachable, sweet, informative and ALWAYS readily available to help me with all my questions and concerns. I definitely recommend this program to anyone who wants to both immerse themselves in the French culture and challenge themselves academically.

Studying abroad was one of the best experiences of my college career this far. I found Paris to be a wonderful city full of art, history, and of course good food! In terms of transportation around the city, you need nothing more than a monthly transportation pass, good for the metro and buses. My classes were challenging but manageable and I loved the staff onsite. I met so many wonderful people and loved exploring the city with friends. Paris is a rather pricey city, so budgeting was a must. Otherwise, it's a city full of opportunity for exploration! I would recommend making a list of things you want to do before going so that you can see everything. I had a mad scramble at the end trying to fit everything in before leaving.

Studying abroad in Santiago, Chile was an unforgettable experience. I would highly recommend prospective students to consider choosing either this location or one equally "non-traditional". This way, you can gain a more intimate feeling within your study abroad program. The IES Santiago program fit perfectly with my interests because the smaller program size of 20 students made it easier to make friend within the program while offering ample space to make friends with the locals.

The most challenging aspects about my study abroad experience was adjusting to the Chilean dialect and to the university grading system. However, the IES staff were more than willing to answer any/all of my questions. The best memories I have of this experience is the traveling we were able to do throughout our semester. Chile is an extremely geographically diverse country and transportation is very accessible both domestically and internationally.

Not getting discouraged by the difficulty of communicating goes a long way. I personally benefited from plugging into a local Korean-Chilean church where I met friends who I continue to keep in contact with. I highly recommend finding a certain niche of local friends who can not only help you improve your conversational Spanish, but who will also show you parts of the city/country that you may never have stumbled upon on your own.

Going to Australia was one of the best decisions I made in my college career. Between the sunshine, great food, awesome trips, and amazing experiences I never felt like I was bored. Attending the University of Sydney was very different compared to my home school but in a good way. I go to a small school and Sydney has 44,000 people, so it was definitely a change. In addition, I was able to travel to Seal Rock, Melbourne, Cairns, and Thailand while I was abroad. These trips helped me learn more about myself and the world around me.

I loved every part of study abroad, thanks to IES. The academic center was new and in a good location. The administration were so supportive and helpful. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. I loved my home stay. I really can't complain.

IES Abroad is nothing short of spectacular! I just returned from the program in Barcelona (Fall 2014) and every bit of my expectations were surpassed. IES works to emerge their students in all the wonders of the city they live in, especially within the first month. They offer so many activities within the city, all guided by either professors and/or locals. In the program center, the staff is consistently there to help you with any problems or questions you may have, from getting housing reassigned to figuring out where to get a flu shot. I personally got REALLY lucky and had an amazing Spanish professor who worked to educate us so much on the country, culture, and language— and was always ready for our questions.

When I first made the decision to go abroad my number one priority was traveling as much as I possibly could, as it is for many students. I never gave much thought to how the program I chose when I went abroad would affect my experience. IES had such a large affect on making my abroad experience one that was life changing, and I truly felt like a local of Barcelona and gained a much more well rounded understanding of the culture. If you're currently on the prowl for the perfect program, IES (Barcelona) won't disappoint!

The Language and Area Studies Program definitely met and exceeded my expectations! Within a few weeks of the semester I fell in love with the city, and by the end I didn't want to leave. The IES staff in Berlin was really helpful/accommodating and made sure that we made the most of our abroad experience. While in Berlin, I stayed in a small apartment in the middle of the city with two German students, which was a great opportunity because I got to experience the city with Germans who had lived in the city for years. My day-to-day life was conducted almost entirely in German and so my German language ability improved tremendously throughout the semester. I also signed up through Humboldt University's "Sprachzentrum" and found two language partners that I still keep in touch with even though I am back in the US. There was so much to do in Berlin that not once did I ever feel like I was bored and looking for something to do. From the cultural aspect to learning German to the famous Berlin Nightlife, there was definitely more to experience that was possible in just 4 short months. I would highly recommend this program to anyone that has a passion for German and wants to spend a semester/year in one of the coolest cities in the world!

Studying abroad was one of the best experiences I have had while being in college. Living in Barcelona was amazing and I enjoyed living in a homestay to fully immerse myself in Spanish culture. Every morning I would wake up to breakfast with my host mom and I would end the day having dinner with her. She became like a second mom to me. Coming from a small town, I was worried about the transition to the big city but it was fine and the metro system worked great. The classes were taught in English and were very similar to classes at my home college.

I cannot say enough good things about IES Abroad: Delhi. Delhi, India although a challenging place to live for a little over four months, is possible with the right support system and guidance. Yes, I was apprehensive upon arrival, but after meeting the staff and experiencing life in Delhi for just a few days I knew it was possible. IES Abroad: Delhi does an amazing job of helping its students feel comfortable in the country they are studying in. Our first two weeks were solely learning what to expect during our time abroad along with site seeing and many firsts. We learned how to navigate around Delhi, took various field trips trying Indian food rom different regions and much more. The IES Abroad Delhi staff accommodated issues that arose with unsatisfactory home stays, student illness, and a variety of other concerns that came ip during out time in India. Not once did I feel uncomfortable about asking my IES family about something and found them to be great resources when traveling outside of Delhi or even when just looking for a nice place to eat or visit during our free time! I found a love for India and all it has to offer its visitors with the help of IES Abroad Delhi <3

In Vienna, I was able to gain new perspectives on classical music through my exposure to Viennese culture, classes on Austrian Composers, chamber music workshops, and watching amazing concerts by ensembles like the Vienna Philharmonic. IES gave me the ability to study music intensely while also traveling extensively through Europe. Vienna was an amazing city to live, explore, and learn in. The experiences I had and memories I made will stay with me for life. I can't wait until I can go back to Vienna!