Program Reviews

I am a classical vocalist, so I already knew that Vienna was THE place for me to study abroad. What I didn't know was how absolutely wonderful the program I would study overseas with would be! The cultural and musical education I received with IES Abroad Vienna was top notch as I expected, but this experience was truly life-changing in a personal context. I absolutely fell in love with life in Vienna, so much so that I hope to at least look into getting a masters degree in Austria, with the intent of pursuing a career in opera there one day. The faculty involved in the IES Abroad Vienna program are all wonderful and reliable individuals. They were devoted to every students’ personal health and mental well-being, but they also fostered an environment where we could venture out on our own in a safe and informed way. In addition to networking and professional connections made through IES Abroad Vienna, I formed many wonderful life-long friendships through program social events. If you are considering this program for study away, you should definitely do it!

I have found that throughout the years, my education has lacked diversity. I wanted to see what it was like to fully experience different cultures, and ethnicities and religion and how much I could learn from immersing myself in a country so rich with that for 5 months. IES Abroad's Health, Culture, and Development Program did an amazing job at teaching me and my classmates about South Africa and letting our curiosities spark to be able to learn as much as we could. We took numerous field trips around the city and country to learn about the public health system, the inequities the country faces, and the way that South Africa is grappling many epidemics. I have said it over and over that this experience was the best academic experience I have ever had. The staff in Cape Town are so wonderful at their jobs and care so deeply for the students that the relationships I formed with them are so much more than just advisors. When people ask me what my favorite part about my study abroad was, I freeze. I want to say the friendships and relationships I formed, but I also want to say the safari in Botswana, and going bungee jumping in Zimbabwe, and seeing Nelson Mandela's house in Johannesburg, and eating at the local markets with food from all over Africa, and cooking classes and the hiking and beaches. It's so hard to choose; however, it was not hard to choose South Africa to study abroad. And I would choose it again and again!

If you want to be immersed in your destination's culture, language, and people, this program will do all of that and more. With daily Modern Standard Arabic classes, you will make leaps and bounds of progress in mastering this language in speaking, reading, writing, and listening. The weekly cultural activities will give you an inside view of the diverse cultures present in Morocco and encourage you to explore various artistic, athletic, and academic interests. Finally, while the homestay will be overwhelming as you get used to using three different languages all the time, you will actually be able to dive into your new home and its community.

My time in Rome was the best 4 months of my life. The IES program did a fantastic job of immersing us in the culture by providing fun activities relating to Italian culture. We enjoyed pasta making, olive oil tasting, pizza making, honey tasting, and art-related projects with the Italian students. Essentially, the courses provided us with tours and information on the main attractions of Rome, but also the niche ones I would not have found any other way. Exploring the city was my favorite thing to do and I would find myself wandering around until I found something new and explored it. I was glad that the staff brought us to some of the most beautiful churches and I feel like I know a lot of Italian history. I made incredible friends and made memories with people I had just met just to enjoy this experience to the max. I was thrilled to have met such amazing people including the Italian mentors who gave us great insight being our age in Rome. We learned the dos and don'ts of the culture and I felt confident in myself to be independent in a new place. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who is still deciding. You won't ever regret it.

I studied abroad in Milan to learn more about fashion. I love how I had the opportunity to be immersed into a hands-on environment to truly see what fashion is like. We went on field trips to Florence to see the Gucci Gardens and Feragamo Museum. We as well did field studies in Milan to see a variety of window displays and store interiors. It was a very exciting and educational experience.

I also met many friends abroad. I enjoyed traveling with them and going out each night. We loved to visit the Navigli for apreitvo (An Italian specialty).

Studying abroad will always remain one of the best decisions I have ever taken during my college career. It was an opportunity for me to learn about myself more. I am already an international student in the USA, and at first, I did not know I needed to expand my horizons by participating in the Study Abroad Program as well. The IES Abroad Vienna Team is very organized and super interactive. It has been nothing short of a blessing for me. The classes were awesome, and the professors are excellent, they remain part of my connections today! My experience in Vienna has been rewarding, educational, transformative, and most of all, FUN! They really make sure that every participant is well cared for and has all the resources needed to thrive!

I had an amazing time studying in Barcelona during the Spring 2023 semester. A ton of preparation happens before you even board a plane to study abroad, and IES was extremely helpful in this process. Info sessions, advisor meetings, and thorough emails all took place in the months leading up to my abroad experience. Once I was in Barcelona, I had a ton of resources to make sure I was comfortable and enjoying my time abroad. One thing about IES that other programs do not offer are the multitude of events and experiences available to students. Weekend trips, fun local excursions, and opportunities to connect with other students in the program were constant. In addition, we were still given plenty of freedom and encouragement to travel and explore Barcelona on our own. Overall, I was able to visit so many cool places and made more new friends than I ever could have imagined.

When I signed up for my program I didn't know how much literary influence the city of Dublin has had on the rest of the world. Big-name writers from Oscar Wilde to James Joyce wrote about the life they lived in Dublin and being able to have that same experience was special. I left for Dublin with a strong interest in non-fiction writing but left with a new perspective and interest in short stories. There is something so special about the professors at IES Dublin, the way they believe in your abilities and support your learning. I felt so inspired after each class I had and encouraged to write about everything I experienced during my time abroad. I encourage anyone who wants to continue to expand on their creative endeavors to apply for this program, you won't regret it.

From the beaches to the mountains and everything in between, over the last four months I spent traveling, learning, exploring, and taking in every aspect of Barcelona and its culture. Although my trip started out rough; landing without luggage, knowing no one, jet-lagged, and classes starting the very next day, in no time at all, Barcelona became one of my absolute favorite places. Having the opportunity to live and learn abroad is one that I am always grateful for and so I strongly encourage others to try to do so as well. On my program with IES Abroad, I not only met the best Spanish teacher I have ever had, but also was able to meet so many cool people that I eventually traveled all throughout Europe, Africa, and the UK with. I also had the opportunity to take classes at other universities such as Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and Universitat Ramon Llull where I took courses like Start-Up Creation, International Marketing, Finance, and Producing a Sitcom. These classes allowed me to meet students from all around the world and gain a new perspective on my studies while working with all my Spanish professors. My favorite part of my classes was when I directed a Sitcom scene that my peers and I created. It was hectic to be in charge of everything and everybody, but satisfying seeing everyone work together to create something amazing. Barcelona reinforced my passion for travel and love for learning about new cultures. To live in a Spanish-speaking country after learning Spanish for 7 years and actually getting the opportunity to use my skills daily was an incredible feeling. IES Abroad gave me the opportunity to live a life completely different from my every day and it was a refreshing change of pace. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this whole experience, it’s that, as cheesy as it sounds, the world is so big, and I want to keep exploring it.

Studying abroad was one of the best experiences I could've had. Every day I noticed personal growth and confidence within myself and I am proud that I went on this journey fully by myself. After studying abroad I realized how much growth I made academically and personally. Any problem or question I had on the program was answered by the IES staff and was taken seriously. I was also supported by my peers and IES staff who I will remember forever. The relationships I made on this trip, the personal growth, and immersive experience has positively affected me forever!