IES Abroad Reviews

The program staff was extremely supportive and always willing to answer any questions that I had about anything from courses to customs for my host family to travel arrangements. My host family has been hosting American students for almost twenty years, so they knew how to make me feel very welcomed, including sharing delicious meals with me three times a day.

I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who wants to experience a culture first-hand. It was an incredible opportunity to learn!

NZ was amazing- by far the best six month experience I could have asked for!! From Auckland (where I was based) to Dunedin, the country is beautiful and filled with incredible people. There is never a shortage of things to do and see. Each day my schedule was flexible and would go to the beach after class one day, caving a different day, tramping the next, playing on the uni's ultimate frisbee team, and the like. Weekends I traveled with friends to places both near and far. Getting around in NZ is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. If you choose to go, be sure to visit the South Island and make sure that you have enough time to enjoy everything around you. Somehow time seems to fly by faster in NZ than in any other place. I cannot wait to get back!

Studying Abroad in Milan was an unforgettable experience and amazing opportunity. Especially since Milan is not a popular tourist destination, you are able to fully immerse yourself in the city and Italian culture. Milan is a thriving city in Italy and offers plenty of things to do. It has a deep cultural roots, especially in design, art, and fashion. Not only is the city great, the IES staff is absolutely wonderful. While it may seem intimidating at first, the IES staff does a great job allowing the students to become independent, responsible adults. They do not "hold your hand" through the process, which allows for personal growth. The program offers a variety of classes, catering to the student's needs. I would highly recommend the program to students interested in studying abroad. My studies in Milan served as both excellent educational and cultural experiences that I will always remember.

Pros: The IES EU program in Freiburg gave me an experience that had an impact on my future plans. I loved the many days we spent traveling around Europe and meeting with high level officials of EU members states and the EU itself. The staff members did an amazing job handling the travel logistics of more than 60 people. It was nearly stress free for me. Our meeting with high level officials were efficient and worth our time in most cases.

My dorm was comfortable. My dorm-mates were very tolerant, inviting and easy to get along with. They influenced my philosophy in life. They made want to enjoy life while seeking to reach full potential. My professors were easy going and very approachable.

Cons: The library inside the IES building was too small especially because Freiburg University library was in construction at the time and the temporary library was a 15 minute train ride. Plus, it was limited hours for non-University student.

The academic challenges of the program were not up to the same standard as my home school, but I am glad it was not. If it was, it would have made the traveling aspect of the program very difficult. Professor could have been more aggressive in asking tough questions and challenging how we go about thinking through the class material.

Milan was great and the program was one of the best and I had a lot of fun with both the people that were part of the program and also the student that were in the program.

Bonus tip: Definitely check out a soccer game in Milan. The atmosphere alone is amazing!

I would recommend this program to anyone. I enjoyed studying in Milan probably more than I would have in another Italian city because it is not a typical place for American students to study abroad. It is not a tourist destination. It forced me to step outside my comfort zone, speak to people in Italian and live in the everyday Italian lifestyle. IES Abroad was also a great program because the staff was very supportive and the group of students on the program was great.
For anyone studying business, I would recommend taking advantage of the fact that IES Abroad has an affiliation with Bocconi University, the top University in Italy. I took classes there which I absolutely loved because it gave me the chance to really experience what an Italian college is like and I met a lot of people outside of the program.

The IES Staff made my experience at IES Milan. From the beginning, the greeted us with open arms. The staff always had a smile on, willing to help us pick classes or just talk about the study abroad experience. Housing provided us with a beautiful apartment, in a great location in the city, right near a metro line. And while the staff never babied us, they always were there as a support system, in case of emergency or just if we wanted to talk.

Get out of your comfort zone, learn the language you have been studying and reviewing for countless hours in class in the U.S. Where better than in the country of origin, France?

I highly recommend this program to anyone who is seeking to immerse themselves fully into French culture, life, and language.

On various matters:

Though the French in general are considered timid and sometimes unfriendly, it is up to you to immerse yourself and make friends. Go out of the way and meet people, go to social functions and public events. Throw yourself out there, what is the point of studying abroad than to get yourself out of your comfort zone.

I had the most amazing and inclusive host family ever! They conversed with me always and included me in their day to day activities as if I was one of the family. I went to mass with them and they invited me to their house in Brive-de-Gaillard in the center of France.

The administration was an excellent one, and I can say that having been the President of my class. I got to work with the administration to ensure that the program was going well and that the students smoothly transitioned into daily foreign life. A very accessible, organized, and friendly administration.

The program is an excellent one and it is very well structured

I studied abroad with IES in the Galápagos Islands for a semester. It was amazing! We spent the first month in Quito, so we had the opportunity to see the sights and experience the culture of the mainland. The next 3 months were spent on the islands. I felt really safe there, had a great host family, and loved living in a very small town. My classes were great, and I learned a lot! We got to snorkel/dive with sharks and sea turtles, see some unusual plants, and learn about the wildlife - like giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and sea lions! The Galápagos Islands truly are a magical place.

A student who truly wishes to go to Italy fully intending to learn the language and be immersed in the culture would most benefit from such a study abroad program. If that is the case, I would encourage choosing to live with a host family. While students are warned that some homestays are further from the academic center, my homestay was less than a fifteen minute walk away and could not have been in a better area. Though not too busy at night, it was a great area for living, especially given its proximity to the center of the city and school. In terms of safety, I never had any big problems, but as in any large city, it is definitely necessary to be street-smart and try not to travel alone at night.

The program itself provides a good channel through which to experience Italy and the Italian lifestyle on your own, as you are given a good amount of independence. Organized field trips allow for those less inclined to travel to experience other parts of Italy, and the academic schedule was generally such that one was able to balance work and personal life. The school organized a field trip to Naples,Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast over the course of a weekend, and it was one from which the students obtained both a great deal of information and enjoyment. For those seeking an additional challenge, as many students take just four classes, the possibility to obtain an internship is a great option.

If I could repeat those four months and more, I absolutely would, as my time abroad proved to be one of the best- if not the best- time of my life, especially personally and culturally (and, as is obviously the case in Italy, food was never scarce, and there was always something to everyone's liking!) Studying in Italy has certainly instilled in me a desire to return and live abroad again for a longer period of time, which I am already planning to do, for graduate school. It was such a treat to be able to wake up each day in a different country and truly feel at home with the people, lifestyle, and surroundings. If I have one regret, it is not having spent a second semester abroad.