IES Abroad Reviews

The people who work for IES Rabat are an absolute godsend who support the students incredibly. They ease the transition from America to Morocco, sometimes a little too well. On trips it would feel like our hands were being held, but maybe that's necessary. The academics can feel like a hindrance because it seems like it can be simple busy work that gets in the way of actual academics or traveling. My host family was so welcoming and awesome, but there were a few families who were not as supportive. The walk to the IES Center from the medina is advertised 15 minutes, but that's only from one corner of the medina that doesn't have many families. Most of the other ones are around a 30-minute walk. 90% of the time i felt safe, but that's because i'm a male. Girls should almost ALWAYS walk with a guy to ward off street talk from creepy Moroccan men. The trips are relatively inexpensive and well worth it. Overall, i'd highly recommend the program to anyone willing to escape their comfort zone.

I always knew I wanted to study abroad. As my junior year in college approached, I felt compelled to study abroad to fulfill my desire for exploration, to learn the decorum of another culture, and to expand my knowledge of international politics and affairs. It was a plan that seemed cemented in my future, something I had penciled into my life as early as elementary school. Before going abroad I was told by numerous sources that I was going to return a changed person, with a novel outlook on life. This was a change I hoped for, however I was skeptical of how different I would actually be upon my return. Never before had I ever felt drastically different, so I was not sure what this “new me” would feel like. Now that I am back from studying abroad, I can confidently say going abroad changed how I view myself, how I view others, and allowed me to realize my true passion.

That is the beginning of a paper upon my return to UC Santa Barbara. It is a true testimate to the fact that I cannot get Vienna off of my mind. It was an extraordinary trip in which I met some of my best friends, both American and Austrian, and learned so much about a culture I previously knew nothing about. The staff were also incredibly warm and inviting, and were constantly planning fun activities for us. This was also the first time I have ever lived in a big city, not to mention on my own, and I felt safe and at home in Vienna. Going abroad honestly does change you, and I cannot wait to return to the beautiful city!

Honestly, I was so anxious about studying abroad before I left the US. It seemed like such a huge undertaking, and I didn't exactly know what to expect. However, IES did a fantastic job of helping us students acclimate to our new homes. The staff is really friendly, and they are more than willing to answer any questions you have. They organized a lot of outings that help you get exposure to Parisian culture, and one thing that I really appreciated is that they never made me feel like a tourist. They really want you to feel like a resident, which I think made the whole experience so much more meaningful.
If you want to get the most out of the program, I would HIGHLY recommend setting up a homestay arrangement. I loved my host family; they were so welcoming and gracious, not to mention adorable and awesome. They offered me a lot of classic and unconventional French foods, provided suggestions on things to do in the city, and helped me develop my language skills in a new way. They were amazing, and I class myself as lucky that I got to spend four months with them.
The last thing you want to do while studying abroad is actually study! But with IES you are required to take five classes each term, no matter how much you want to deny it. The classes aren't too terribly difficult. My experience is that you get out of it what you put into it; if you don't want to learn about the subjects, you probably won't learn anything, but if you actually do care about your grades (which I did, because I'm a goody-goody), you can get a lot out of them. Classes are all in French, which adds a whole new level of difficulty to the program.
If you're interested in taking a class at a real French university (such as the Sorbonne or the Institute Catholique de Paris), I'm going to warn you right now: my ICP class was the HARDEST class I've ever taken in my life, but after I was finished with it, there was a huge feeling of accomplishment. I would advise that you only take an exterior class if you're up for the challenge.
Ultimately, I appreciate the experience of studying abroad more than I can put into words. It's not just a matter of developing your language or visiting museums; it's about testing yourself, pushing yourself to master new challenges, and learning more about yourself both as an American and as a world traveler. If you're willing to give up some of your old habits in favor of new, exciting exploits, then by all means, go for it.

IES Vienna was a great program to start off my international traveling. They have a wonderful staff who helps you every step of the way, and even has a lot of fun with you! Vienna is consistently the safest city in the world, and ranked the best city to live in, and it's obvious why. The city is magnificently clean and I did not feel unsafe once during my entire stay. The other great thing about Vienna is it's location in Europe. Because it is in Central Europe, it makes for easy, short trips to so many different countries! And generally it is a lot cheaper, too! The program is for music students as well as cultural students, so you get a really great mix of people in the program, and for those of us who are less musical, you get to hear some really great music from your friends! The apartments are really great, and if there are any issues, the staff is there, willing to help. The classes are a little harder than the general study abroad type courses, but it creates a challenge that is worth it, because you get to learn so much. Overall Vienna is a city to die for, and you would be making a mistake not to choose this program!

I spent my summer interning in London at an arts organization. It was a great way to be immersed in the culture and I had a wonderful time. London is a great city and has so much happening year-round. Many weekends, my friends and I would just travel around finding local festivals, shops, museums, and streets to explore. There's so much to discover! London is a diverse city, but very welcoming to Americans and I never had any security scares or felt scared in the city. It's a very easy city to navigate, because you can take the underground and bus system everywhere.

The City: Nagoya is not a tourist stop for people visiting Japan, it is one of the industrial centers and therefore there are a lot more opportunities to speak/practice Japanese Language. However, the city does contain numerous art/design, history, and science museums, parks,botanical gardens, an aquarium, zoo, in addition a variety of restaurants, shopping districts, clubs, and bars. Major sites include Atsuta Shrine and Osu Kannon Temple, the Nagoya TV Tower and Sky Hall.
The School: Nanzan University is in the hills right outside the city near Yagoto. The international students building is brand new, and the staff is friendly and helpful (they will all know your name by the beginning of the semester.) Classes focus on the arts and social sciences, with the most emphasis on Japanese language classes for three hours every morning. Homestays are chosen through specific information
The Program: The IES program offers countless benefits including guided all-inclusive travel to countless places outside of Nagoya like Nara, Takayama, Kanayama etc. in addition to concerts, musicals, and other events in the city.

Yup, Vienna, Austria was voted this year, for the third time in a row, as the top city to live in in the world. It's easy to understand why the minute you step foot there - you'll see it in the kind Viennese, classy architecture, amazing food, clean transportation, diverse ambience - the list can go on forever. I could literally sit here and write for hours about my four month long study abroad experience there, but I will share a few highlights. My negative experiences are easier to relate, because they were literally limited to 1) feeling homesick for only a week (in the last month abroad) and 2) to be quite honest, not wanting to leave Vienna. My study abroad program, IES, was simply phenomenal. They provided a wide range of courses, with amazing professors, and when I had a major conflict with a class (that could have deterred me from graduating), the advising counselor and teacher did everything in their power to help me - including contacting IES headquarters in Chicago - and they did. The staff were always approachable and super friendly, and they fortunately acclimated us extremely well to the culture; I know a lot of former study abroad students including myself keep in contact with them still. And one of the highlights definitely was IES Vienna being in a palace. Yes, you read that correctly. Our classrooms, musical performances, library, computer lounge, and counseling office were all in a small palace located in the very heart of Vienna. My classes were super enjoyable, taught by Viennese (I would recommend taking a music class - one of my professors performed in concerts and operas in the city and I was able to watch him live!). And Vienna itself is, simply put, absolutely breathtaking and an unforgettable experience. The IES Vienna staff encouraged us to always "Squeeze the juice!" which essentially meant Carpe diem, or seize the day. And I learned to really apply this in Vienna and still do until this day. (My Facebook status currently is "Carpe every diem" and a fellow Vienna study abroad student commented "Squeeze the juice!!") Whether you like music of all types, or classical or modern art, or eating amazing pastries, or roaming enchanting palaces, or sitting in a coffee shop with some of the world's best coffee in one hand and a good book in the other, or shopping through streets filled with boutiques and stores, or simply wandering down ancient streets and taking all that in - Vienna is the place to do it. Like the popular slogan says which you will see everywhere in Vienna - it's either now or never!

Living and studying abroad in Freiburg was everything I dreamed it would be and more. I know that sounds cheesy, but in all honesty, there were times that I just didn't feel like what I was doing was real life because it was simply so amazing.

The program through IES was the perfect way to balance independence in a different country while simultaneously knowing that any problems or questions you have, there is someone there who can and will help you out. The staff at IES really works to make your experience the best it can be, and as a student of the German language, this included not only language immersion but also cultural immersion, which are two hugely important factors when considering going abroad.

For classes, IES offers a wide selection of topics but also gives students the opportunity to enroll at the university, which is an incredible opportunity, as this university is one of the best in Germany. If you decide to only enroll in IES courses, however, you are not missing out on much because these classes are taught by some of the most wonderful professors. They aren't just there to teach you about some topic; they're there to inspire you and help you. It's so obvious that they do what they do because they love it. In addition, with a destination like Freiburg, the overall group is somewhat smaller than in a major city, which is beneficial for academics because class sizes remain small and intimate.

The living situation varies per person; however, there is a general layout. IES divides students into neighborhood groups, so a handful of IES students will live in the same complex. There are usually various areas around Freiburg where students are placed, but everything is easily reachable. Within these complexes, there are different buildings where German and other international students live. IES has reserved rooms for their students, and you may end up living with anywhere from one to five or more flatmates of various nationalities. Your flatmates will become really useful resources for figuring out Freiburg! Also you will always have your own room but will have common bathrooms and a kitchen.

Freiburg itself is a great place to be. There is always something to do in the city, but I never felt overwhelmed. And if you're more of an outdoorsy person, then Freiburg is also perfect because it's in the Schwarzwald region, which provides plenty of hiking opportunities.

So much to say.
1. Academics: All about the EU, one German class (plus more if you want), similar to high school: small assignments for every class, plus quizzes, tests, presentations. Not too time-consuming though, plenty of time for fun. Not supposed to miss more than two classes or else your grade goes down.
2. Housing: Lived with German roommates in a really nice suite. Lovely city, walkable and also a tram. Grocery store was a 5 minute walk away.
3. Immersion: Not the best program if you want to immerse yourself in German culture. Most time spent with classmates in same program. All classes together, in one building. On the upside, it results in a pretty tight-knit group and is a lot of fun.
4. A lot of time is spent traveling. ~10 day field study trips all over Europe, transportation and lodging included in cost of program, amazing way to travel with your whole group and see different cities, but be warned there are mandatory presentations and lectures during these trips, which doesn't leave a lot of time for thorough sightseeing. Also fun day trips at extra cost, like sledding in the Swiss Alps. Definitely go on that trip, so fun. Finally, weekends and spring break to travel on your own. Take advantage, traveling was one of the best parts of this program!
5. Internship: I did the EP internship in Brussels for one month. Amazing experience to live there and go to work at the European Parliament everyday. Downside: work is what you make of it, some offices you get assigned to will not be as encouraging in giving you meaningful assignments. Also costs a lot of extra money.

Top Reasons to do this program:
-Lots of travel around Europe
-Freiburg is a beautiful university city surrounded by the Black Forest, small enough to be comfortable and not intimidating, big enough to offer nightlife, restaurants, festivals, history, etc.
-Format of program allows you to learn a lot about the EU, also make good friends with everyone else on the program. Staff are great, very helpful

Spending a semester in Argentina was the stereotypical life-changing study abroad experience everyone talks about. IES was a great and supportive program, and though they were willing to help you when you needed it they weren't breathing down your neck all the time. Part of that may have been because they program was a bit larger (about 100 students) so you were really free to make your own friends and choose your own experiences. They offered some program trips and excursions but you could still decide most of your own weekend travel. I actually spoke no Spanish before heading to Argentina and ended up in the intermediate program, where I learned so much I would say I am very comfortably holding my own in a conversation now. Part of that was certainly my own choices to make Argentine friends and only speak Spanish with my host mother. That was another hugely helpful part of the program and my homestay was absolutely wonderful. Classes were classes, and there were definitely times when spending time in the classroom felt silly because you were in Buenos Aires, but I had great professors all around. I took an Argentine history course which everyone should take (you are living in this country, so you should understand what has happened in the last 100 years), a literature course on drugs and violence (awesome), and two Spanish courses. Both of my academic courses were in English, and only with other IES students, but I also know students who took IES courses in Spanish and/or directly enrolled. The social scene was unbelievable and nights were generally late, so expect to live on a different sleep cycle. I joined a gym and went to yoga classes and a lot of the people I met through those activities became my good friends. Going to dinner at 11 pm and then heading out for dancing until 3 or 4 am was generally a reasonable weekend night!