IES Abroad Reviews

What at first I thought was extremely cumbersome eventually became one of my favorite things. I am talking about my daily 25 minute walk to and from classes. At the beginning of the program I would hate it but by the programs end I became to love and enjoy strolling the streets flooded with people and excitement.

An amazing experience. The teachers at IES were incredible people and always supportive. We learned Spanish that was used in everyday life in Granada and lived with host families. I loved my host mother who cooked gluten free food for me and I felt safe and comfortable in this beautiful walking city. There's a stunning view of La Alhambra from the windows of IES. I had fascinating classes and also had an internship with a local flamenco dance studio. We learned how to work in a Spanish work environment and write resumes in Spanish. I learned so much and am so grateful, I highly recommend this!

This program is surreal. You get to see, taste and experience so much in one semester. The people on the trip are so nice and knowledgeable; the professors are good and the speakers are so interesting! Please make sure that when you're thinking about this program, to ask yourself whether you want to gain some intercultural competence, because this program allows you to also do that. You gain confidence, travel to 10+ countries and 20+ cities-- it is amazing. You also learn more about some of the European capitals and the way they function within the EU. The Black Forest is just around the corner and you can visit it whenever you want. The nearest airport is an hour away and can lead you to some sweet escapes into some of the best places that Europe has to offer.

My overall experience with IES Abroad was extremely positive. Upon arrival, we had 1.5 weeks of optional orientation activities before class started. By participating in these events, I made friends, adjusted to the new time zone, and got to know Barcelona. My program did not have classes on Fridays, which was perfect for weekend traveling! Also, there were several optional trips that IES planned to different Spanish cities. I went on many of these trips (including those to Granada, Costa Brava, Mallorca, and Madrid), and I thoroughly enjoyed the activities they planned and the ability to travel with other students in my program. One down side to these trips was that there were several sites I wanted to see but was unable to visit because our schedule did not permit it. I also did not like how most of the dinners on these trips were hotel buffets, which prevented me from trying as much of the local cuisine as I had hoped. In regard to my classes, I was extremely satisfied. I loved my professors, found them extremely approachable and helpful, and learned more than I expected. However, my Spanish did not improve as much as I had hoped, as I spoke in English during most of the day with my friends. I also had an amazing experience in my home stay (students can also elect to stay in dorms or apartments). Throughout the semester, I learned so much from my host family, got to have home cooked meals every night, and was able to practice my Spanish much more than students in other living arrangements. I had such an enriching, fun, and memorable semester, and I would highly recommend IES Abroad Barcelona!

The IES Abroad experience was everything I could have imagined and more. IES Abroad: Delhi did a phenomenal job of getting students from all different backgrounds acquainted and immersed in the culture. In sum, the program was a seamless transition, a well-oiled machine. IES Abroad: Delhi's semester calendar was also very lenient and laden with many cultural activities for students to enjoy. The semester calendar even afforded me the opportunity to meet my family in India for the first time! Program staff was simply amazing, and with such a small centre of only eleven students, everyone in the program became very good friends. I miss IES Abroad: Delhi every day and I am forever thankful that such a wonderful experience had such a profound impact on my life.

I chose to study abroad so that I was not one of those adults saying "I wish I had studied abroad in college." I did not want the regret of wishing I had gone away. I know people who don't study abroad and say, "I will when I'm older." In reality, how easy will it be to travel for four months with a professional career and a family?

Study abroad Australia introduced me to beautiful beaches, unforgettable friends from all over the world, intriguing cities, and the most memorable experiences. I lived in the village apartments at UNSW with five other girls from all over the world. Beijing, Malaysia, Singapore, and England. Most students in the village apartments were international students like myself. I had my own room and shared a kitchen, two bathrooms, and a common room.

The most memorable experiences I had were snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, jungle surfing in the Daintree Rainforest, traveling to different parts of Australia on the weekends, visiting New Zealand and Thailand, and living 1.6 miles from the beach.

I would 100% recommend IES to other students. Before departure, they give you all the essential information and really prepare you. While abroad, they organize many day trips and dinners which immerse you in the culture and take you to places you most likely wouldn't go otherwise.

I had the time of my life in New Zealand. Adventures beyond my wildest dreams. The location was absolutely perfect, nestled between the Southern Alps and the Sea, Christchurch was an ideal place to be for an adventure seeker. It was a short bus ride to daily hikes, and a really good location for other South Island travels.
The program director, Eunice, is beyond words sweet and knowledgeable. She was my NZ mom and made the experience much more culturally and academically enriching.
IES also sets up a break trip to Rarotonga, a tiny little dot of an island in the middle of the Pacific, nestled between Fiji and Tahiti. It was an incredible price for the absolute trip of a lifetime!

I would recommend IES Christchurch 100% to any student looking for an adventurous time in an English speaking country.

My favorite thing about doing IES Rome was going on field studies during class time. These involved trips to museums, archaeological sites, monuments, and even villas. Seeing Rome first-hand was incredible and this made the experience unique compared to other programs around the world. The professors were incredibly passionate about their classes, and went above and beyond to make our time in Rome the best it could be. For example, in my Forma Urbis (Roman Archaeology) class, Prof Gianni Ponti spent the semester getting special permission from the Roman Department of Antiquities so our class could visit the excavation of the Imperial Fora. This was an incredible supplement to the already engaging class, and it was these little parts of the program that made it such an amazing learning opportunity.

Studying with IES in Delhi was just the experience I was looking for: unique, challenging, and full of opportunity. Adjusting to live in a city and country very different from my own home city in the US is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, and IES was excellent ins supporting that though great tips, cultural immersion, an orientation period which included visiting some less-touristed local stops and ism of the best coursework of my undergraduate career.

Milan is an incredible city, especially for a musician. IES makes sure you will not miss out on any of the amazing musical opportunities that the city has to offer. Participating in this program is one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to expand their musical horizons.