IES Abroad Reviews

My time in Freiburg Germany over the summer of 2018 was one of the best experiences I have had. The IES program is extremely organized and the classes I attended were so interesting. The information I learned in these classes was not only relevant to my major, but I have been able to use the information I learned and apply it to classes I am currently enrolled in at Indiana University. Beside having a great class experience, other aspects of the program such as my living situation and the friends I have met all made my experience that much more special. You will not regret studying abroad and while it can be intimidating, if you have the opportunity to go abroad I would highly recommend you do.

I chose to live in a communal apartment where I shared my common living space with other German students. I was intimidated at first because I did not know any German and was afraid there would be a major language barrier, but my roommates proved to not only be nice, but people who made me feel very welcome. A few nights throughout my time in Germany, my roommates made me traditional German meals. It was such a fun experience to not only cook a variety of different foods but sit and talk to my roommates and learn more about their culture as they learned more about mine.

Because my program was during the summer it was a much smaller program than a normal semester one. I really enjoyed the small size of my program as I was able to make friends with everyone I attended class with. I lived in the same complex with five people from my program and the rest were located in two different locations. We all really enjoyed spending time together so even though we did not live in the same building we all still found ways to spend time together and explore the city. Freiburg is an extremely easy city to navigate and so most nights were spent either doing homework or hanging out with my classmates at a nice restaurant or park. Since leaving the program I have stayed in touch with many of my friends and we are planning on getting together over break this year.

Studying abroad is an experience unlike any other because it not only allows you to understand a different culture from your own, you meet new people, and are encouraged every day to step out of your comfort zone and experience the world around you. I had an amazing time while in Freiburg and hope to go back one day. The city is not only beautiful, but full of history. Walking to class everyday was always enjoyable, and the food and places to go out were very unique. I highly recommend this program because I know it will not disappoint.

Studying abroad in Vienna was more than the classes and more than travel. It was rich with culture, language, and personal experiences. This program was a really great experience in a variety of ways. Built into IES's program is a unique independence. You are given the ability to live in the city, to roam freely, and experience firsthand the beauty around you. The independence also allows you to travel outside of Vienna, and even out of Austria through long weekends. I personally was able to visit Bratislava, Slovakia, and Procida and Naples, Italy. Others in my program where able to visit cities in Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, and more. Europe is a great location for quick and cheap travel between nations. Beyond independence, this trip provided a chance to meet students from all over the United States and to develop friendships that have lasted beyond returning to our home universities. Last, Vienna was so unique in its "cafe culture". Dozens of cafes existed in every district, each with their own unique style. My friends and I would sit at them for hours to do our school work or just relax and enjoy the city. I loved my study abroad experience this past summer.

Studying abroad in Dublin with IES was honestly one of the best decisions I have ever made. Dublin was incredible, and IES as a program was phenomenal. From the moment I applied to now, months after my return, IES has been in touch with me and always been there if I needed something. They were very helpful in my search for scholarships, and they are part of the reason I could afford to go on the trip.
This was my first time overseas and I was extremely nervous, but IES calmed my nerves quite a bit by making me as prepared as possible for any situations that may arise. I had a wealth of information about what my housing would be like, what to expect with my program, and who to contact if I needed help. The staff met me at the airport and helped me find a ride back to our housing arrangements.
The housing arrangement for my program was at Binary Hub, an apartment in the Liberties. Binary Hub was wonderful, the staff were very helpful, and I lived very comfortably for my six week program! I also became close friends with my suitemates and we did a lot of our cooking at home.
Dublin was the best city I've ever been to. IES did a great job of acquainting us with the city and the culture during orientation, but we were still given plenty of free time and freedom in general. We were given student guides who were available 24/7 to help us with anything we needed, and all of the IES staff was always friendly and within reach. They truly care about their students and were always looking out for our health and well-being. At one point during my trip, I was seeking physical therapy for my back, and the staff were so attentive to my problem and found me arrangements almost immediately. We had classes Monday-Thursday, and I spent many weekends traveling, something IES Abroad staff encouraged and gave us advice about frequently. We had an online trip-tracker which allowed us to tell our program when we were traveling outside of Dublin, how we were getting there, and where we were staying, that way IES could keep track of us and contact us in case of an emergency.
Overall, the program was an experience I will never forget and will forever be grateful for. I met so many amazing friends while I was there, from my program and from Dublin in general. I highly recommend IES Abroad to anyone who is considering studying abroad, and though I'm biased, I believe the Dublin program is by far the best they have to offer!

I've always been a science person because the way I'm introduced to languages at school was not appealing. When I went abroad, rather than language being part of a textbook, I got to experience language as the lifeline of a culture and community. I am very grateful for this opportunity to learn Spanish. I have had some experience with French in high school but had no experience with Spanish whatsoever. Nevertheless, I was able to learn a lot through fantastic teachers. I absolutely adored my teacher. She had an OK background with English, but I was able to learn through miming and actions. I looked forward to going to class everyday because Spanish felt more like a hobby rather than simply a subject in school. I heard the same satisfactory feedback about my peers’ teachers, who were in more advanced levels.

With regards to outside the classroom, homestay was the way to go. I was able to practice my Spanish with my homestay family, who were accustomed to hosting students. On the weekends, we were free to travel. On one weekend, we had a trip to Portugal. Throughout the month, the program planned various cultural activities such as salsa lessons and cooking sessions. I highly recommend this program to students who want a sense of independence to explore the Spanish culture and lifestyle while also under the security and support of an established program.

I studied abroad for a summer in Dublin with IES Abroad and couldn't have loved it any more than I did. I've wanted to do it all again since the second I got home. The IES staff, from the U.S. offices in Chicago to the Dublin site, was helpful from the second I was interested in the program. IES got me over to the Emerald Isle despite my fears and any other obstacles that came up and then made sure I had the time of my life. I learned so much in a short period of time through my classes(Irish Literature and History really enriched my experience), trips and events planned by IES (Gaelic Games, Northern Ireland weekend, and Irish music and dance nights), and exploring with the friends I made in my program. Dublin is a fantastic place to live and study and IES made sure we had all the support needed to accomplish everything we wanted to while abroad. I knew I could count on the staff while I was abroad and even to this day. I highly recommend exploring the wide variety of IES programs, specifically the Dublin programs. I can't wait to go back to Ireland and I hope to reconnect with some of the awesome IES staff members when I do!

Being abroad by yourself when you are only 19 years old can sometimes seem scary, but trust me it is an experience you won't want to miss. Not only did I learn so much about Spain and Spanish culture, I also learned more about myself and grew as a person. I became more responsible, more independent, and most importantly more aware about the world we live in. Salamanca is a beautiful college town, with a university that is over 800 years old! The classes were great, the activities IES planned for us were so much fun, and the memories I made were priceless! The most pure and traditional Spanish is spoken there and I found myself almost fluent when I left. IES included a trip to Portugal as well which was amazing! All in all, a 10/10 experience and would highly recommend!

This program allowed me to study and get credit for what I loved in my favorite country. I always have been very interested in Italian food, so to be able to learn more about it through lectures, lessons from a chef, and visits to gelato laboratories, cheese factories, bakeries and wine shops was all that I could ask for. I have come back to the United States as a much more knowledgeable foodie, and appreciate food culture so much more.

My name is Emma Roach, and I am a German and Linguistics double major at University of Vermont. In Summer 2018, I had the pleasure of living and studying abroad in Berlin, Germany in IES Language and Culture program. While I had visited Berlin for a few days a couple years ago, nothing can compare to actually living in a foreign country. I spent 2 months this summer living in a homestay, taking classes, interacting with locals, and getting to know the city. Having never lived in a big city before, it was a bit of a shock for me at first, but I quickly fell in love with the city. Berlin has so much to offer in terms of culture, art, museums, music, food, and people. There’s no way to see it all in such a short time, but through my experience with IES, I was able to really make the most of my time there.
I came to Berlin already knowing German, which wasn’t necessarily true for everyone in our program - many students didn’t know the language at all, but IES offers multiple levels of intensive language classes, from beginner all the way to a literature class for those who already speak the language. I absolutely loved the literature class I took, because it was really focused on literature about the city, so we were able to actually see the places our readings talked about. This made our course really unique, and different from any other literature course I had taken before. By taking this course, and living with a woman who only spoke German, my German improved tremendously during my time there, even though I could already speak the language well. The fact that IES offers such a range of language classes really encourages every level of student to come there, and the professors really make the experience amazing.
I’ve always been a strong believer in studying abroad, and my experience with IES only strengthened this belief. I would always recommend to anyone to go study abroad, because it can truly open up a world of experiences that you never knew were possible. I can easily say that I grew so much during my time in Berlin with IES, and my abroad experience strengthened and inspired my desire to return to live in Germany one day. I would recommend IES for anyone interested in studying abroad, but especially for those who might be worried about a language barrier - the IES language courses, starting from the beginner level, can give you a really strong understanding of the language even in just a short time. IES is really helpful and understanding in all matters, and I’m incredibly happy that I got to have this experience with IES Abroad Berlin.

Vienna is THE place to study abroad! It is a central location so it is perfect for other traveling, the culture and history is amazing, the food is incredible, and the city is unlike anything else. Through IES I got a lot of info about things to do, local places to visit, customs, etc. They also provided us with a dance class to prepare us for the Concordia Ball (a summer ball where everyone comes all dressed up and dances all night) - SO much fun!

I had the time of my life studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa! The city has everything you could want: beaches, beautiful landscapes and mountains for hiking, a vibrant nightlife, downtown shopping, art, and events, historical sites and museums, vineyards and wine-tastings, and much more! There is so much to explore and the time truly flies by. For classes, I took community health, and nutrition & HIV. The teachers were passionate and engaging, and I learned so much from them not just about South African healthcare but also about their culture and life. The classes are fascinating and you truly learn a lot and are at times academically challenged. You also get to go on fantastic trips through your classes, such as to public health centers and natural medicine practices. The final week of the program is class-free, and really just about traveling the country (including a safari!) before you unfortunately have to head back home. If you choose this program, you will make lifelong friends, live in the most incredible city on earth, and change your entire perspective on health, healthcare, and equality.