IES Abroad Reviews

I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is interested in studying abroad in Japan! While you do not need to be fluent in Japanese to be in this program, you will definitely get a lot more out of the experience if you have taken a couple years or more of Japanese before starting this program. Since many people in Nagoya do not speak very much English, you will definitely be practicing your conversational Japanese often. This can be challenging at times, but your Japanese will definitely improve! At Nanzan University, you will be required to take Japanese classes, and you can also choose from a number of elective classes. I definitely recommend trying at least one of the art classes if you can. If you ever need help with anything, the CJS and IES staff members are very friendly and always willing to help! The subway system is pretty good in Nagoya, so it is very easy and safe to get around the city to visit various sites and attractions. You can also visit other nearby cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. In addition to traveling on your own, IES also offers awesome weekend field trips which are already included in the program fee! On these trips, you will get to eat a lot of great food, stay in nice Japanese inns, and do a lot of exciting activities that you probably wouldn't have the opportunity to do on your own. The field trips were definitely one of the best parts of the experience! Both the CJS and IES also offer a number of day trips to activities such as taiko/ musical/ kabuki performances and sites such as the Nagoya Castle or Shizuoka. You will definitely have a great time on this program!

I loved studying abroad in Buenos Aires. The city is so lively, there is always something to do and something new to explore. The Argentine people are also so welcoming and friendly.

I really liked my program also but wish I had made more of an effort to immerse myself completely in Argentine culture. The IES program is pretty larch (70-80 students) and it is very easy to only hang out with other Americans and speak English.

The staff at IES was amazing though. Everyone was so nice and helpful and friendly I love them all and miss them already.

I have nothing but great things to say about my program in Dublin. IES organized housing for the students; I lived with 4 other girls in a comfortable apartment in Ballsbridge (a safe neighborhood with lots to do, 10 minutes from Trinity College Dublin). Aside from the prestige of the university, one of the benefits of Trinity is that it is in the heart of Dublin. Many restaurants, theaters, pubs, and shops are within walking distance from Trinity. In terms of academics, Trinity is very welcoming to international students, especially the history, art, and writing departments. What really made my semester special was meeting locals and international students from all over Europe. I met students through the clubs I joined, which I highly recommend. I joined the hiking club, soccer team, and co-ed choir, activities which I don't have as much time for at my home University. In addition to the school, living in Dublin was an enriching experience. I loved getting to know a new city! The IES staff were always willing to give us suggestions of places to visit in the Dublin area and throughout the country.

IES was a great program. Although the classes varied slightly from those listed on the website, they were still interesting and taught in French by French professors. Students have the chance to volunteer or intern as one of their courses, which I highly recommend. The program offers Friday excursions to local museums and other points of interest, as well as a few excursions around France.

I studied abroad through the IES direct enrollment program at Queen Mary college in the East End of London. I wanted to determine whether or not I want to study abroad in the UK for my postgraduate degree and also generally experience London life.

As for the East End, it is a wonderfully diverse area. A five minute tube ride west and a bit of walking, and you arrive at Spitalfields market, a historic place that has been--like a lot of London--modernized to reflect the fashion forward culture of the citizens. On Sundays, if you walk through the market and down a few back streets, you arrive at--my favorite place--the famous Brick Lane market, with the best food I had in London, and lots of vintage shopping opportunities. A two minute tube ride east from Mile end, and you arrive at the Stratford mall, which is a facility built especially for and adjacent to the 2012 London Olympic Park.

In regards to the Queen Mary campus itself, there are two Queen mary College locations: the Mile End campus and the Whitechapel campus. I have only ever been to the Mile End campus, but I can say that it is very well integrated into the urban landscape around it. The campus itself gives the appearance to its students; it would be possible for a student to live within the contained area of the campus without leaving if they really really wanted to. There are several buildings where classes are held, but generally, the different buildings house different school departments. The classrooms varied from large lecture rooms that could contain, probably, a good 150 people, to small classrooms where a class of maybe 15 people at most could fit into. It took me approximately 10 minutes to walk from one end of the campus (where the dorms are) to the other (where I had a class), and most of the non-academic facilities (coffee shops, the campus pub, the cafeterias, the bookstore, the campus corner market, etc.) were within this area. The most interesting feature of campus, for me, however, was the Nuevo Burial ground, which is really just a graveyard that just so happens to be in the middle of campus. I also appreciated the close proximity to the Mile End tube station, which made it easy to get anywhere I wanted or needed to off-campus.

I loved having the opportunity to live with local German students. They were interested in getting to know me and even threw a party for me when I left! I volunteered at a local hospital during my time in Freiburg and that improved my German drastically. Everyone was very friendly and I had a wonderful time in Freiburg. I would have stayed for a whole year if I could have!

The professor and staff at IES Milan were so wonderful and they made my transition so easy. My classes were exciting yet challenging. The city of Milan has everything a student could every want or need. There is so much to do and see. Eating and shopping are both amazing. I made some wonderful friends during my time in Milan who I am still great friends with today.

Being a blonde in China meant that I tended to stand out wherever I went. But that was okay because it was a great starting point for conversation with total strangers, most of whom were very nice in Shanghai. Shanghai is a cool city where modern meets old. Here you get to experience China while still having access to many of the things you would at home. There is so much to explore in and around the city on your own or on the trips put together by IES. The best learning happens outside the classroom so get out and go places if you want to have a rewarding semester, make new relationships and return home with some amazing stories!

If you're looking to build a community of people who support you abroad, then IES Nantes is the program for you. I would say the value of this program is that you don't just build bonds with people from a variety of locations across the United States, you build strong relationships with French people. You'll have ties to your professors, your host family, and the staff at IES, along with their student assistants from the University of Nantes.

Also, if you are looking to really improve speaking skills, Nantes is the place to go. French is the only language spoken at the IES Center, so you get plenty of practice! Locals speak limited English, so you'll be on your own to navigate everyday situations in a foreign language. It is a challenge, but it is worthwhile, and by the end, you'll be glad you choose to go to Nantes.

This program was AMAYIGN! The IES Abroad staf made studying abroad such a great experience, and they were a huge help when it came to any needs that arose. The living arrangements are clean and very nice. The academics are challenging but not life consuming wich left me with lots of free to to enjoy the culture and travel. There are a large aray of courses offered, and IES even offers courses in German. If you have the time to stay an extra month, IES will help you enroll and take courses directly at the University of Vienna for no extra cost! Because Vienna is such a melting pot, getting to now the locals and area was great! I even joind a cheerleading squad and made some life-long friendships. Oh, and if you are interested in history, go to Vienna! They have countless museums and historical sites. The city is beautiful, the locals are awesome, the culture is diverse and fun, and the IES makes study abroad an adventure! Go to Vienna!!!