IES Abroad Reviews

This past summer I had an internship in Barcelona, Spain. I was given this great opportunity through IES. This experience and summer was one that I will never forget. Everything from networking events in Spanish to the crazy wild night life of Barcelona made this summer the best one I have ever had. Working in a Spanish environment did present difficulties, but there were none that I was unable to overcome. As I learned to absorb the differences around me and appreciate my circumstances I fell in love with my internship and the Spanish culture that I was immersed in for the entire summer.

One of the best decisions I have made. The incredibly supportive staff was there when needed and still allowed for independence when desired. Having the option of living in the student dorms was also a great decision. I had the freedom to come and go as I pleased as well as an opportunity to explore further the daily life of a citizen of Salamanca. From buying groceries to going for tapas with friends, I could not have been more fortunate in terms of friendliness and safety of the city. The crime rate is impressively low and people are more than willing to go out of their way to help you if you are lost or searching for something. If I could do it again, I would not choose anywhere else!

Rome was the best place to study abroad, and I could not have chosen a better program. My school was right across from the Castel Sant'Angelo, on the Tevere, and only a few blocks away from Piazza Navona. How could it be more magical?! My teachers were so fun and engaging. They really used the city to their advantage by taking us on as many field studies as they possibly could. I also participated in some cooking classes and dinner parties as well. What a great place and program to be a part of!

To be completely honest, before leaving for Granada I wasn't sure how I felt about studying abroad. I had heard great things about the program, but I was terrified to leave the comforts of my home college go to a place I'd never been to before. It turned out that parts of studying abroad were scary, like when I got lost in the city walking back from class, or frustrating, when I couldn't think of the right Spanish words to communicate with my host family. But overall studying abroad was an extremely rewarding experience. I was worried before about living and fitting in with my host family, but the people in my host family were some of the nicest and most laid-back people I had ever met.They answered all of my questions and cooked some of the best food I've ever eaten. The teachers at IES were smart, enthusiastic, and fun to talk to about any topic. I felt my Spanish getting better all the time. I loved being able to buy pastries filled with chocolate on the way home from class, or going out to tapas bars and getting wine and food for two euros. I've been back in the United States for about five months, but I still think about and miss Granada all of the time. I hope I can go back some day soon.

IES Barcelona was an amazing experience. The course work was at an appropriate level for a study abroad program. I had some really great professors and was able to take classes to learn more about Barcelona as a city! Living in Barcelona for three months and studying with IES is an experience that I will never forget.

I absolutely loved living in London. The administrators were very helpful and nice. IES organized a bunch of trips throughout the semester that were awesome. You also don't have classes on Fridays so you have plenty of time to travel as well. The program was small but this wasn't a problem for me. You end up knowing your teachers and classmates really well. Classes weren't that challenging, in my opinion, but they were really interesting and I learned a lot. As for housing, you are very centrally located, right near King's Cross Station. My most memorable experiences were the markets! Overall, I had a great experience, and I can't wait to go back.

I loved every single minute of being abroad, and I learned so many valuable life lessons. I became a more confident person, and I learned the importance of mastering public transportation. The people who work for IES Abroad are wonderful people who helped me when I did not know what to do. They also challenged me by not solving all of my problems. I quickly found my favorite London spots. The food in London was probably one of my favorite parts, because it was so diverse. I loved that there were a lot of free museums, and the parks were always enjoyable to walk around. It was also nice that there were so many places outside London that I could get to easily. I am so grateful for my study abroad experience, and it will forever have one of the biggest impacts on my life.

Studying in Paris with IES Paris BIA was one of the best decisions I've made! The staff members are super supportive and helpful. The academic courses are at appropriate levels, that you will accomplish your academic goals as well as have enough time to enjoy Paris. Field trips are offered through out the semester, the best ways to explore Paris and other cities nearby!

Vienna, Austria is a gorgeous city located in the central region of Europe, which made it extremely convenient to travel to other cities within Europe and gain the most out of our travel experiences. IES staff also provided us with information on websites and agencies that were helpful regarding student travel.

While I was in Vienna I was able to travel to Salzburg, Austria via train and go on the Sound of Music bike tour, we went to Prague for a weekend via bus, as well as Slovakia for a day trip via bus. Also, one of our weekend field trips with IES staff included taking a bus to Budapest!

Monday through Thursday we had class in a palace that was located in the first district of Vienna (the city is split up into over 20 districts). It was a great location and was within walking distance from our apartments, which were in district 6. It was about a 20 minute walk, or you could take the U-bahn, which is Vienna's subway system--the U took about 6 minutes.

I really enjoyed my Psychology & Society class, which met Mon.-Wed. The field trips we were able to take were very interesting and I was able to learn so much. A couple of our field trips included: the Sigmund Freud Museum and the first psychiatric hospital in Vienna.

I had never taken German before, so I took a beginning German class while in Austria. We had class Mon.-Thurs. and learned quite a bit in a short amount of time. We had German homework almost every day, but it wasn't bad and allowed us not only to learn, but also to practice the native language.

As I said before, our apartments were in the 6th district and had an incredible location! We were located between Vienna's large farmer's market/flea market and Vienna's largest outdoor shopping center. The location was great, but so was the apartment itself. My apartment had 6 girls in it and consisted of three double bedrooms, a kitchen, one full bathroom, and one half bathroom. We also had a living area and a washer in the apartment (Vienna doesn't have dryers).

I thought IES abroad was helpful and loved my time in Vienna! There was so much to do, including concerts, the opera, festivals, museums, and the list could go on and on!

The IES Advanced Spanish Studies program was absolutely amazing. The academics included being directly enrolled in a local Spanish university which was very unique and the courses were challenging and new. The homestay living is incredible to improve your speaking, eat traditional meals, and be part of a family. IES as a program is incredibly dedicated to helping each student succeed academically and personally.